Happy New Year Everyone! I hope your holiday season was great! Here is an excerpt from my latest novel, Leaving Henry. The year is 1932 and Little Ella celebrates her New Year’s at church. Enjoy!
New Year’s Morn
The next week, a beautiful overnight snowfall brought in the New anitasbooknook.com
Year. I stood on the porch in my Sunday best with Old Dick, waiting
to attend the annual church revival. I looked forward to the gospel
singing and visiting with Susie Pie. With ice and snow making the
road slick, I knew our journey to the church would be difficult, but I
still hoped to make it to church on time. I squinted from the glare of
the snow, waiting for Pappy to bring Midnight and the wagon around.
When he finally parked in front of the cabin, he twisted in his seat,
and his eyes flickered with annoyance.
“Red-Headed Gray-Eyed Cat! Whatcha waiting for? Get in!”
I climbed into the wagon, and Old Dick hopped in after me and
sat beside Pappy.
“Where are the others?” he asked.
“They’re still inside, getting ready.”
Pappy rolled his eyes, exhaling a harsh breath. “Women! They take
entirely too long.”
A minute or two later, Momma, bundled up in her brown coat,
hat, and scarf, ran down the steps with Lucian in her arms. Clarence,
Escelle, and Irene followed her, and they all climbed into the wagon.
“Are we ready?” Pappy twisted around, his eyes darting from one
person to the next.
“Yes, sir!”
“Good, then let’s go. We don’t want to be late.” Pappy whipped the
reins, and Midnight turned around and trotted down the road. He
struggled to navigate the icy road, and the wagon slid this way and
that. The bumpy ride made us collide with each other as we held onto
the edge of our seats.
After the difficult ride, Pappy parked in front of the Methodist
church. Many churchgoers were carefully navigating the icy walkway
to the entrance. We climbed out of the wagon and joined them, taking
our time despite the cold. Once we safely reached the steps, Pappy
and Old Dick left.
The New Year Celebration @ Church
“Joy to the World” could be heard in the hallway as we walked in. amazon.com/author/anitadixonthomas
We entered the sanctuary as the organist swayed on a round red padded
stool. Her floppy orange hat hid part of her face, and her shrill
singing was so loud I was afraid it would wake the dead in the church
cemetery. Men and women meandered down the aisle, taking seats
in the pews. As my family waited to sit, I saw Susie Pie, her mother,
and Wildcat Fruit looking decent in a dark brown suit. I reached
around Escelle and tugged Momma’s coat sleeve.
“Can I sit by Susie Pie, Momma? Please?” I pointed. “She’s up there.”
Momma took a deep breath but didn’t answer me. Instead, she
ushered my brothers to their seats and gestured for me and my sisters
to follow suit.
“Momma,” I whispered, “Can I sit by Susie Pie?”
“No, you’re sitting with us.”
“But I haven’t seen Susie Pie since school let out,” I whined.
Momma gritted her teeth. “Go! But if I see you clowning, I’m
coming to get you.”
“Yes, mam!” I grinned, taking off down the aisle. Susie Pie’s sienna
eyes lit up when she saw me. She bolted out of her seat and hugged
me, mashing the side of my face with hers.
“I’m so happy to see you, Little Ella! It’s been boring not having
you around.”
“I’m happy to see you, too.” I hugged her back and sat beside her.
I unbuttoned my coat and leaned forward to check out Wildcat. He
held Missus Pebbles’ hand and had a giant cowboy hat on his lap. “Hi,
Missus Pebbles. Hi, Mister Fruit,” I whispered.
Missus Pebbles tilted her head forward, smiling. “How are you,
Little Ella? Did you have a nice Christmas?”
“Yes, mam.” I grinned. “Santa brought me a baby doll.”
“Well, that’s nice,” she replied.
Little Ella’s Holy Ghost New Year Dance anitasbooknook.com
The organist belted out the gospel song “At the Cross,” and the
choir marched and bopped in the aisle on the way to the pulpit.
They swayed back and forth, clapping their hands and harmonizing
with the music. The congregation shot out of their seats, singing,
and I noticed a broad-shouldered woman in a white hat and black
dress gyrating her big hips to the music two rows from me. She gazed
at the ceiling with her hands clasped tight, screaming, “Thank you,
Jesus!”
Susie Pie and I held hands, swaying and singing to the music. The
congregation stomped their feet, and shouts came from all corners. I
dropped Susie Pie’s hand, shook off my coat, and started dancing. I
whirled into the aisle with my arms flailing above my head, joyfully
singing at the top of my lungs. The clapping grew louder and louder,
and I gyrated my hips like the woman I’d seen earlier. Like her, I
twirled in smooth movement, swung my arms gracefully, and
shouted, weeping joyfully. The white Jesus statue on the wall behind
the pulpit seemed to stare at me with disdain. I felt intense shame for
a moment, but it didn’t stop me. I danced and gyrated harder, with
one hand on my hip, stomping my feet and yelling, “Halleluiah!”
Then, someone grabbed me and swung me around with such
force I felt my arm might come out of its socket. Nose to nose, I stared
into Momma’s raging light brown eyes. Without a word, she picked
me up, hurried to her seat, and plopped my fanny hard at the end of
the pew. She sat beside me with that angry, stern look, glaring at me,
daring me to move. I silently stayed put.
The choir finished singing, and Reverend Otis appeared at the podium
in his black robe with gold trim. He prayed passionately, and
weeping, moaning, and occasional shouts were heard around the
church. One woman screamed, “Thank you, Jesus, thank you!” She
shot out of her seat, and her hat toppled onto the floor. Her whole
body jerked, and she ran up and down the aisle, hollering, “Thank
you, Jesus! Hallelujah! Thank you!”
Two lady ushers dressed in black, one carrying a hand fan, rushed
over to her. One hugged the woman’s waist while the other fanned
her face. Soon, the prayer concluded, and Reverend Otis gestured to
the choir and congregation to sit. The ushers finally convinced the
lady to return to her seat. She softly moaned and shook her head, with
tears streaming down her cheeks. Like me, I knew the Holy Spirit had
touched her.
As Reverend Otis preached, my eyes met Susie Pie’s. I grinned,
and she smiled and turned back around in her seat. Somehow, I knew
she admired my bold dancing, something I didn’t believe she had the
nerve to do.
Becoming A Child of God In The New Year
The sermon ended, and Reverend Otis invited the congregation
to the altar to receive Jesus or to be prayed for. The organist
softly played “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.”
I wanted to go, so I looked at Momma, and her angry expression
had disappeared. Encouraged, I reached up and tapped her on the
shoulder. She leaned closer, her light brown eyes staring at me.
“Can I go up?” I whispered. “I want to be saved.”
She reached over my brothers and tapped Escelle on her knee.
“Go with Little Ella. She wants to go to the altar.”
Escelle stared at me with huge eyes, then hurried off the pew. I
stepped around the boys and Momma and joined Escelle in the aisle.
We held hands at the altar, and I waited for Reverend Otis to pray
over me. Someone grabbed my other hand, and Susie Pie stood beside
me. Smiling, I squeezed her hand and happily welcomed God’s
grace and the New Year.
Thank you for reading! Order on amazon.com
“Life is better with a good book and a cup of brew!”___Unknown.
