Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a boy called Danny. He does not believe in God, or in other words he is an atheist. Danny’s mother is very religious. She goes to church all the time. She was not always religious. But for the last two years, church is all she is interested in. Today is a Wednesday and in the evening her church has a Bible Study Group, followed by a Prayer Meeting. Danny hates Wednesdays and always makes excuses to avoid school and church—especially as his Maths, English and Science homework is due to be handed in every Wednesday. Sometimes he has toothache; sometimes he has stomach ache; sometimes it is too hot or too cold, or both. Danny is a genius at making up excuses.
Mum: Time to get up for school!
Narrator: There is no reply; so, Danny’s mother goes into Danny’s room. She grabs the edge of the bed and tips him out of it.
Danny: Mum, what the hell?
Mum: Time for school, and after school we’re going to church!
Danny: Dad, do I have to?
Dad: Listen! Get in the shower, or I will throw YOU in!
Danny: Ok, then.
Narrator: Grudgingly, Danny gets into the shower.
Narrator: 15 minutes later …
Mum & Dad: Hurry up you’ll be late for school!
Danny: Owwwwwwwww! I cut my big toe on the shower door! I need
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ATHIEST
a plaster!
Narrator: One plaster later and Danny has missed the bus for school. His dad agrees to drive him in, before heading off to work at the engineering plant.
Danny: Dad, do I have to go to church tonight; I hate it?
Dad: Of course you do. You need to go with your mum.
Danny: But you don’t go.
Dad: Ah, but I always work late on a Wednesday.
Danny: But sometimes you don’t even go on a Sunday when you are not working.
Dad: Yes, but sometimes I do.
Danny: It’s not fair … why can’t I choose … I don’t even believe in God.
Dad: You’re young … how can you know what you believe in? Teenagers change their minds every ten seconds about things. Perhaps today, or tomorrow, you will believe in God.
Danny: Then tomorrow, or the day after, I won’t. So, I don’t see why I should go.
Dad: Danny … you need to respect your mum. She loves church and all her friends are there. Do you want to break your mother’s heart?
Danny: No, but why do I have to hang around with her friends? Why can’t I hang around with you?
Dad: Because my friends hang around the pub, and you can’t go in there.
Narrator: With no way to win, Danny gives up.
Narrator: First lesson at Whitefriars School.
Mr. Brennan: Danny, where is your maths homework?
Danny: I got blood on it after my toe almost got chopped off this morning.
Class: Ha ha ha!
Mr. Brennan: Well, it will be detention for you my boy—30 minutes tomorrow night, with Mr. Douglas, the Deputy.
Class: Wooooow, Douglas the Deputy. Ha ha ha.
Danny: Can’t I do it tonight? I’ve got football tomorrow.
YOU ARE READING
Hillside Anthology
ParanormalA compilation of wrtitings gleaned from two Published Anthologies at Hillside Residential School. The stories published here are dualistic, light and dark and represents the students' writing at its best.
