Only the twins are mine. Mable and Cecilia belong to a very talented writer by the name of TAE; her stuff can be found at Serendipity Station. She has been kind enough to beta this story.
Authors note; Tad is a Welsh word meaning father
This will be the third story in the Twins at the door series.
SUNDAY
Jim woke as, once more, little feet crept up the stairs. Two sets of brilliant blue eyes waited for him to open his eyes. "You know what time it is?" Jim growled.
"5:07 a.m.," Beau said with an angelic grin.
"I sleep later than this, guys," Jim moaned. Sweet giggles erupted as the boys attacked. Several minutes of tussling had the covers on the floor and the boys trapped helplessly under the tickling fingers of the sentinel.
"Thtop, thtop," Beau squealed, "I gotta go bathroom." Jim immediately stopped and pulled the boy off the bed and set him on his feet.
"Go on," Jim chuckled. Dev slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom on his brother's heels. Might as well get dressed. I don't think there's any way of going back to bed now. The sentinel sighed to himself ruefully.
Jim straightened thoughtfully after tying his shoes. They're being awful quiet. What can two little boys be doing in the bathroom for 5 minutes? What can two little Tanners be doin . . . .Oh sh--, a the rather apprehensive sentinel hurried down the stairs in search of the missing children.
Jim silently took the bowl of warm water away from the boys before Blair's hand was set down in it. A stern frown from the sentinel brought innocent looks to the small faces.
"Wanted ta thee if it really workth like Unca Buck thayth," Beau complained.
"Not on my couch, you don't," Jim ordered. "Are you two hungry?" Jim asked softly.
"Yeah." Beau and Dev started for the kitchen.
"Cereal?" Jim asked.
"It's Thunday we usually have waffleth, fruit and bacon 'fore we go ta thhurthh," Beau answered.
"Church," Jim muttered. "Is there a particular kind of church you go to?" Jim asked.
"Mothtly we go ta Thouthern Baptitht. Thome timeth JD thaketh uth ta mathth wit' him. Unca Chrith and Mith Mary taketh uth ta Luthern. Been ta Epithcapalian, Unca Nate and Mith Rain hath take uth ta tha Firtht Chrithtian. Unca Jothhia took uth ta Budditht and a few otherth, tho we kin thee how other folkth worthhip God. Never been ta tha thynagogue, ya figger maybe Blair'll take uth?" Beau asked.
"You'll have to ask him," Jim suggested. "Waffles, fruit and bacon; we can do that," Jim started pulling things out of the refrigerator.
"Aw, Man! Jim it's Sunday," Blair moaned from his bed on the couch, pulling the pillow over his head.
"The boys want waffles before church," Jim called.
"Church!" Blair sat up, looking over at the youngsters.
"Don't ya go ta thurth?" Beau asked sadly.
"Not usually," Blair answered honestly.
"Unca Joel doeth. Can we athk if we can go wit' him?" Beau requested.
"Good idea." Blair nodded.
"We need to wait a little while, it's not even six, yet," Jim ordered.
Jim and Blair ended up having one of the best breakfasts of their lives with the two youngsters teasing and keeping them on their toes.
Jim dialed the phone at 8:15 am. "Hey Joel, . . . No nothing's wrong, just needed some information. Beau and Dev want to go to church . . . Yeah . . . I was . . . Bye Joel," Jim said and hung up.
"Sunday School starts at 9:30. Mable has invited us to lunch after church," Jim informed Blair. Jim and Blair exchanged shamed glances. So much for dumping the boys off on Joel. "Joel said to tell you that Cecilia is home for the day."
Jim smiled at the bounce in Sandberg's walk as he went to select clothing. Jim frowned, looking in his own closet trying to decide what to wear and finally pulling out a suit.
"Unca Jim," Beau shook his head. "We ain't going ta a weddin' or a funeral. Motht folkth
ith lethth formal than that".
"What do you suggest?" Jim asked.
"Drethth thlackth or good jeanth and a nithe thirt," Beau directed with Dev nodding in agreement.
The boys dressed in dark slacks and dress shirts with Sunday shoes. They had one of their backpacks sitting in front of the door.
"What's the pack for?" Blair pointed.
"After thhurthh clotheth," Beau explained.
"Let's go," Jim shooed everyone out and locked the door.
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When they reached the church, Blair parked in the back of the lot. "There's room up front," Jim indicated.
"A lot of older people attend church. I was leaving them room," Blair explained.
Dev climbed out of the car and waited for his brother. Tugging on Blair's pants leg, he pointed towards the approaching Taggerts.
Joel scooped the giggling Beau up into his arms, tossing him up and catching him. "Thank you for bringing Blair and Jim with you." Joel grinned.
"Mabel, Cecilia, this is Beau and his brother Devin," Joel introduced. "Beau, Dev, this is my wife Mable and my daughter Cecilia," Joel told the boys.
"Pleathed ta meettha," Beau smiled and brushed a kiss over the back of each woman's hand. "Unca Joel, yer a mighty lucky man. Ya got two angelth watthin' over ya," Beau complimented.
Watching Blair greet Cecilia, Beau sighed, "Wath hoping ta introduthe her ta tad. We could thure, uthe a lady round home".
Blair glared. Jim and the Taggerts exchanged amused looks.
"How old are you boys?" Mable asked in a friendly tone.
"We'th four," Beau answered.
"Joel's been telling me all about you two," Mable chuckled.
"He xzagerateth ya know," Beau responded in a serious tone. The two little faces had perfectly innocent looks on them.
"Hmmm, you don't say," Mable hid a grin.
Dev edged a little closer to Mable's wheelchair. A happy smile crossed his face when Mable signed hello. Dev signed a moment with a concerned look on his face.
"No, it doesn't hurt," Mable answered calmly, "I don't feel anything in my legs." Jim looked embarrassed. "Jim, children are curious; it's perfectly all right," Mable soothed.
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"Let's get everyone to class," Joel ordered. Jim and Blair surprised themselves by enjoying the Sunday School Class. Instead of the structured class that they had expected, Joel was the teacher and started out with a prayer, then asked, "Anybody have something weighing on them this week?"
"My son's friend committed suicide, Friday night. What can I do to help my son and the boy's family?" one of the men asked.
"Toss the lesson books into a pile. We're not going to get to them," Joel directed. The next hour was spent in discussion on support, listening, uplifting, witnessing, and loving. A closing prayer and they were dismissed.
"I wish some of the councilors at Rainier would take some lessons from you guys," Blair sighed.
"Not what you expected?" Joel asked.
"Not at all." Jim shook his head.
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Joel, Jim, and Blair exchanged amused looks at the door of the preschool class. The pastor was sitting in a tiny chair discussing Noah's Ark with the children.
"Yes, God did say two of everything, a boy and a girl. Beau is right, too. God said to take seven of the clean animals, six girls and a boy," The pastor acknowledged.
"Did they give them a bath?" A bright-eyed little girl asked.
"No, a clean animal was one that was considered safe to eat," Brother Tom explained. "I have to go upstairs and get ready for the service, now. I enjoyed spending time with all of you this morning," Brother Tom excused himself and exited as Angie led the children in a closing prayer.
"I need to hurry or I'm going to be late," Brother Tom laughed as he passed Joel, Blair, and Jim. "This one may be called to serve," the pastor smiled widely as he hurried down the hall.
"Figureth God might have a job fer me," Beau explained as the preschoolers exited the room. Jim smiled at the slight touch to his hand.
"Did you have a good time Dev?" he asked.
The boy nodded and raised his arms to be picked up. Jim waited patiently as the boy scanned him. The small head turned as he studied Blair and Joel.
"Ready to go up?" Jim asked.
Beau took Blair's hand and headed towards the stairs.
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Jim looked somewhat uncomfortable at the easy laughter and teasing as the congregation gathered.
"Unca Jim, God thaid ta make a joyful noithe. Iffen yer thaved ya got no reathon ta be draggin' yer thin. Unca Jothhia thinkth God liketh ta hear laughter," the boy stated.
This sure isn't what I grew up with, Jim thought.
Joel, Cecilia, and Mable took their places in the choir. The church rang with praises and beautiful music.
"Good Morning! Isn't it a beautiful day. The Son is shining this morning," Brother Tom said.
The service moved through prayer and song. The announcements were read and prayer lists updated. Joel and Mable sang a duet 'Buelah Land'.
"Praise God," Brother Tom stepped forward.
"All right, I'm going to talk to the young folks, now," Brother Tom announced. "You old people can listen if you want," he smiled as soft laughter filled the sanctuary. Children gathered around sitting, on the floor as the pastor sat on the steps to the pulpit. "What is this?" he held the item up.
"It's a candle," the children answered.
"You're right. We're going to say that this candle is a little like God's love," The pastor suggested. The candle was lit and set on a low table. The sanctuary lights dimmed. "Now, what happens if I put this screen around it?" Brother Tom asked.
"We can't see the light," the children chorused.
"What about now?" he removed the screen.
"You can see the light," little voices spoke up.
"Can everyone see it?" the pastor asked.
"It's down too low, people can't see through us," several of the children exclaimed.
"What if we set it up here?" Brother Tom asked as he moved the candle to a tall stand.
"Everyone can see it now," the children all agreed.
"There'th a lot a thadowth, Dev thayth," Beau remarked.
"You're right; how can we get the light into the shadows?" Brother Tom asked.
"Mirrorth," Beau suggested softly.
"Jamal, can you take this mirror and reflect the light? That way, we can reflect the light into the darkest corner." Soon children circled the sanctuary with small mirrors. "As children of God, we should reflect God's love into the darkness. Lighting the way for others to see God's love," Brother Tom explained. "Let us pray. Our Father, let thy word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. May I become a light unto others. Amen," the pastor dismissed the little ones to children's church.