The horn blared. Clark had called this morning to make sure she was awake. She had insisted she was but the call had acted as her alarm clock. He had told her they were coming by to pick her up. She didn't know why. She had her own car. She didn't know why he had even invited her in the first place. She liked to tease him and he was a good friend to her but she thought his goal was to be around her as little as possible. The horn blared again.
She yelled out the window, "keep your shirt on, Smallville! I'm coming!" as she put on her sandals.
When she got out there, she could've sworn she saw Clark's mouth hanging open in a you-look-pretty manner but maybe it was more a Lois-in-a-pink-dress-?
She opened the passenger door and realized the little girl was also in the truck and that she had to sit beside her.
They began the trip to church..
"Where's your mother and the baby?" she asked.
"The lady in charge of the nursery is sick and Mom didn't think he could stay quiet during an hour long sermon."
"One hour? I don't know if I can stay quiet."
"We're going to swing by the house to get the baby and picnic basket after church. Mom's going to let us use her car since it's bigger and she's going to use the truck. She's got to work this afternoon."
"I know. Chief of Staff. Remember? I tried to work too but your mom made me take the day off."
"I know. Son. Remember?"
Lois cracked a smile and looked out the window. She used the glass' reflection to sneak a glance at the girl. Lilly, or was it Millie, was silent this time and playing with her fingers. She had to make herself do this.
"Um…Lilly?"
She looked up. That was her name and it was a pretty name.
"I'm--I'm…what's the word I'm looking for?"
"Sorry?" Lilly spoke up.
"Yeah. That's it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so rude yesterday."
Lois was surprised to receive a hug from the girl. Her first instinct was to pull away but she willed herself to pat Lilly on the back.
They pulled up to a little, white, country church. It could've come out of a painting.
She chuckled as she realized the waves of sound that had been going up and down next to her ear was Lilly's constant chatter. She wondered if that's what she sounded like to people sometimes.
"and I laughed because the prince didn't even know that it was the princess. I asked if we could see it again but she said I had to get a dress for church. I have the movie at home anyway."
She must've been talking about some movie on TV.
They got out of the truck and Lilly bounded ahead and called out, "I'll save us a good pew!"
Lois went to follow but Clark pulled her aside.
"Clark, if this is about what I told you last night, I don't want to hear it. Believe it or not, I did something I should've done a long time ago. I put it behind me. Once I let my emotions out, I'm very good about putting the past behind me and moving on."
"I just wanted to say that I'm proud of you, Lois. You did a good thing with Lilly," he said and he kissed her lightly on the cheek.
She placed her hand on her cheek in a dazed manner and said, "thanks, I guess. Are you feeling okay, Smallville?"
"Never felt better. We should get to our seats."
"Right"
---
The sermon was on good parenting or something like that. She found it hard to listen to the preacher's monotone voice. The only break was when the choir or the congregation sang.
It annoyed her to realize that some people came to church in jeans and a t-shirt. She was going to burn her dress when she got back.
Her eyes wondered to the back of a bald guy's head. She admired the way the light above reflected on it. Then her eyes went to the stained glass windows. You couldn't see out. She wondered if that was on purpose to keep the church members' eyes and minds from being distracted. Clark was on her right actually paying attention. He didn't have kids. What was he learning from this? Lilly was on her left. She had put her heart into singing and greeting people but now she looked like she was bored and playing tic tac toe with herself. She was a smart girl. She must've come to church before and was prepared for the boredom. If she was a little girl, she would be playing with a pen and paper. Wait. Who said you needed to be little? She didn't care if people saw her playing tic tac toe.
She tapped Lilly on the shoulder and Lilly gave her the notebook and pen. Lilly seemed to know she wanted to play. As if they played tic tac toe every Sunday.
"Children should be disciplined and learn from their parents. 'The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.' However, don't let us forget that parents learn from their children as well. 'Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it."
Lois had heard something to that effect before. She wasn't sure about God's kingdom but if it existed that made sense. She had never understood that last part until she met Lilly but Christians had to be forgiving and trusting even if you didn't completely understand the circumstances like a child. Lilly was a shining example and if God existed then faith and trust in a heavenly Father was well founded. There was some wisdom in this church thing. She'd have to think about it but she might actually come again, if she were asked.
She felt like singing hallelujah when it was over.
The preacher slowed things down by shaking everybody's hand at the door.
"Hi, Preacher Bob!" Lilly exclaimed.
"And who do we have here?" he asked.
"Lilly, silly! You know me. We come whenever we visit Mamaw."
Clark apologized for Lilly's imagination and they went on to the truck.
"Isn't it amazing?" Clark asked.
"What?" Lois asked
"It seems like when you need God to give you some advice and help, you somehow get His words through a sermon, a friend, or something."
Lois thought about this briefly.
Clark was tickling Lilly, as he helped her into the truck. Then he turned to help her.
"I'm a big girl that can get in on her own. I don't want to be tickled, Smallville.
Of course, by saying 'I don't want to be tickled' and calling him Smallville, she had guaranteed that she would be tickled.
They all got in the truck laughing and actually having fun.
For an instant, Lois felt like she was a part of a happy family. She began to feel excited about the picnic and seeing the baby.
TBC