Help Me God

The Dodgers

Slipping in and out of conciseness I see bits and pieces of the countryside. Little shaking movements wake me. I jolt up and my head bangs the car ceiling. Austin turns over to me laughing. Placing a gentle hand on my arm he laughs out.
"Are you ok?"
I glare at him which only males him laugh harder. Grrrrr. My headache now became a throbbing drum circle in my head.
"Yea im fine." I grunt through clinched teeth. Getting out of the car i sling my string drawn bag over my shoulders.
I look around. Wow. They should get an award. This boy is wearing cowboy boots, a plaid shirt, and now a cowboy hat. Trees edge all around their house. I can see the fence that hold the horses. I see a few.
"That painted one is Apache. But you'll be riding Ranger. Hes a trail horse. Hes the calmest one we got."
Lucas's finger points out to a painted horse. Its brown and white. Then his finger glide toward the direction of a black horse.
Mrs.Dodger opens the front door.
"Come on inside you two."
Austin starts toward the door then turns around.
"Here let me take that. Almost forgot my manners."
Puzzled I stare at him.
"Your bag."
Nimwad. What did you think he meant? Silently I scold myself.
"Um its ok. I got it."
His face doesn't change he just turns and walks. Once at the door though he opens the door and lets me walk in.
I mumble a silent thank you under my breathe.
"Your room is down the hall. Ill show you. C'mon."
He walks down the hall and I see pictures of him with groups of kids. Camps I guess. And other events. Rodeos and horse riding things. We walk past a room with tan walls and a poster of the News Boys up. He also has a guitar. Of course he has a guitar hes country. A hunting picture is also hanging up him with a deer.
"That's my first buck. 6 point I was only 6 which I found ironic."
"You hunt?"
"Sure I do."
Wow country to the core.
We walk down the hall and we stop at a room. Its window open a breeze blowing through the room. Its walls are painted a lighter tan. Nothing is hanging on the walls. The bed has plain quilted sheets. And a Bible lays on the night stand.
He walks in and puts out his hands in an overly dramatic way.
"And I now present to you Scarlets room. Ain't it purty?"
I nod my head. I can keep my eyes off the Bible on the night stand. He must notice cause he walks over to it.
"Have you read it?"
"Nope." I state plainly.
"Oh. Well thats why we set it here."
"Im not believer."
"Oh. Well uh. Ok. Well we are a Christian family. Um you should read this. I recommend book John or James. New testament in case you dint know."
New testament? Book of John? What? I must look confused. He gets up and walks over to me.
"Open it and see. But you can unpack if you would like then come to the kitchen for dinner. Afterwards we can ride some horses."
With that he walks out.
I have no unpacking to do. So I just lay on my bed and look around. A new house. A new family. Great bet im out of here in two weeks. Maybe two and a half due to it being a small country town.
I should probably stop drugs. But I cant. Not thats its impossible. Just the fact of i don want to. It helps me forget that my father didn't want me and my mother didn't try to kill me and then turn around and kill herself. It helps me forget that I wasnt good enough. But how can you hold a 6 year old responsible? Thats ludicrous. I start to doze off.
Knock knock. Knock knock.
"Hey you in there?"
Jumping up i shout out a "yea."
"Ok well come on out were about to eat."
Austin's voice echoes through my room. I walk towards the door and he is standing right there. He is a good 3 inches taller than me. His arm holds him against the door frame.
"Oh there you are? Sleeping beauty has arose. Everything is joyous in the kingdom once again."
He jokes as we walk down the hall toward the front door then we take a left and reach a kitchen. Freshly made food sit on the table a bowl of soup looking stuff.
"Chicken and Dumplings."
Mrs.Dodgers breaks my thoughts.
"I have never ate it."
"Oh my gosh next thing you know she wont know what sweet tea is."
"Not funny i do know what sweet tea is. Isn't it like a funky no bubbling drink? Like flavored water?"
I tease him.
He mockingly grabs his chest and pretends he can't breathe. We both burst out laughing.
"Ok you two. C'mon. Lets bless the food."
Mrs.Dodger says.
"Would you like to Scarlet?"
I turn and see Mr.Dodger standing behind me.
Austin looks at me and tells his father. "Scarlet says she aint Christian."
"Oh. Ok well Austin you can bless the food."
They all close their eyes and bow their heads. No one wears a hat. Even Mr.Dodger takes his off.
"Dear father we would like to think you for a wonderful day. Thank you, father, for letting us receive Scarlet. Thank you for watching over family and friends. Please bless the food and the hands that prepared it. In your holy name, Lord, Amen."
They all mumble in an Amen.
"Lets eat."
Austin and his father say in unison.