Chapter One

It was a warm and sunny afternoon, in Holly Springs,

Arkansas. It was a Tuesday to be exact. The weather man said it

was going be to a bit of rain in the forecast. But, my Grandma

Nan always says to never put all your trust into science. Nothing

out of the ordinary happened or at least it didn’t appear that way

looking back on it now. I’d gone to school and had lunch with my

best friend Breanna Hopkins. It was over soggy cafeteria French

fries and orange soda that Breanna complained about our small

sleepy town of Holly Springs, population 2, 500. As her lips

moved in between French fries bites I began to tune out the

sound of her whiny voice and laundry lists of complaints. Every

week I listened to the melodramatic dilemmas of a teenage

drama queen living in old country town. Every once in a while I’d

chime in with a head nod, shrug of the shoulder, and a simple

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grunt to let her know I’m listening. Between the two of us

Breanna is the more vocal one between us. When you see one of

us, the other one isn’t far behind. Grandma Nan often calls us

“Banana Split” because Breanna shared all the perfect

ingredients of a good old fashioned sundae. Breanna and I are

like fraternal twins, different but with a few similarities. We both

have long brown hair, pale skin, and have affection for

strawberry flavored lip gloss. I have my mother’s hazel eyes and

slender athletic body frame. In the awkward gene pool I picked

up my dad’s height of 5’8 and some change. Grandma Nan

always says I shot up like tumbleweed whenever we go school

shopping. In elementary school I dreamed of becoming a

supermodel but after my parents died in a car accident my

dreams of superstardom died right along with them. I was only

seven at the time of the accident. I didn’t fully understand

everything that was going on around me at the time. I just

remember a bunch of police cars showing up at my house one

day and all of my relatives crying their eyes out. I ran through

our two bedroom house looking for my mom and dad screaming

their names as loud as I could. They never responded and I

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remember crying my eyes out in my Grandma’s arms. A few days

later my Grandma packed up my bedroom set, a few toys and

some clothes and moved me across town and into her place.

Whenever I’d have nightmares about my folks my Grandma

would rock me to sleep and tell me that my parents were with

the Lord and I had nothing to worry about. I didn’t understand

God our His reason for taking my parents away from me. But,

Grandma assured me that God always knew best even when we

didn’t understand his reasoning. I don’t think you ever fully

recover from losing both of your parents. But, by the time I made

it to middle school my tears were gone and my relationship had

grown from none at all to lukewarm. Grandma Nan had taught to

believe in things that my eyes didn’t always see.

The other kids thought I was some kind of Jesus freak since

my Grandma made me carry the bible everywhere I went. I was

too quiet to speak up for myself and too kind to ruffle any

feathers. So, I learned to just ride it out. Then one day we had a

transfer student from Massachusetts named Breanna Hopkins.

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She sat right next to me and smiled. That’s when I knew that God

truly existed because in my prayers at night I’d asked him to

bring a friend. We instantly became friends. We bonded over our

shared interest in the arts and movies.

Breanna and I are not the most popular girls at Middleton

High. Instead of going out with half of the football team or

worrying about what color lipstick to wear to senior prom.

Breanna and I sit and chat over the phone for hours on end about

life outside of Holly Springs someday. Breanna, the Broadway

scarlet with Tony awards galore and me the rich hippie artist

living in a studio apartment in the Brooklyn. I like to think that

God made us different from all the prom queens and self

obsessed androids we share air with at Middleton. It’s our senior

year and with graduation only a few months away as much as I

hate to admit it sometimes Breanna right. Our lives are about to

change forever and I’m not sure if I’m ready to leave Grandma

Nan just yet. After lunch I went back to class with a stomach full

of carbs and an earful of high school gossip.

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I usually chip in at Grandma’s Nan bakery on Saturday’s.

But, today one of the employees called in sick so I volunteered to

chip in and help out. Things were going well for the most part. I

helped Grandma Nan make a basket of banana nut muffins for

the local town hall meeting. Grandma Nan hummed her favorite

hymn while stirring the pot while I answered the phones and

made coffee for the few customers sitting inside the bakery.

Mr. Wilson sat in the corner and sipped his coffee while

reading the newspaper. Mr. Wilson always came in for a cup of

coffee almost every day. Grandma Nan says sometimes she has

to remove Mr. Wilson’s butt from his chair. Like clockwork he

comes into the bakery at the same time, orders the lemon sponge

cake, and sits in his favorite chair with a copy of the Daily

Arkansas Letter, and smiles at other customers come and go.

Whenever you want to know something Grandma Nan says Mr.

Wilson is better than the five o’clock news. I was wiping the

counter down when a new face walked into the bakery.

For as long as I lived in Holly Springs people from all

across the country have stopped by Grandma Nan’s bakery

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asking for directions or looking for a cup of coffee. I like to think

that it had something to do with Grandma Nan’s delicious red

velvet cake that was featured in Good Housekeeping magazine a

few years ago. I’d entered the contest for Grandma Nan after she

ramped and revved about having the best red velvet recipe on

this side of the hemisphere. I knew it would make her proud to

have the world to know just how special she truly is to all of us in

our small town. Three months after I entered the contest we

received a letter in the mail asking for Grandma Nan to appear in

the magazine as guest to show off her recipe. Grandma Nan

smiled from ear to ear. But something about this stranger didn’t

say he was just passing through town. I could tell from the way

he walked in with an extra pep in his step, his collared pink shirt,

and crisp jeans that he wasn’t from around here. If his pearly

white teeth, golden sun tan, and gelled hair didn’t give him away

as an outsider I didn’t know what would.

As soon as the door chimed I stopped what I was doing to

greet the stranger in a pink shirt. Grandma Nan peeked her head

from around the corner whisking cake batter in a bowl. Covered

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in flour from head to toe she smiled politely at the stranger and

continued stirring the batter inside the bowl.

“Callie, honey I’m over here if you need me.”

I nodded and smiled.

With his shades resting on top of his head the stranger

glanced around the bakery with a broad smile.

“Nice place you got here, really modern and chic for a small

town.”

With a nod I replied, “Yes, sir.” “We certainly like to think

so.”

“I think it’s wonderful.” He said with a smile.

For some reason, he just couldn’t stop smiling. It was like he was

in a trance. After a while I started to feel a little uncomfortable. I

cleared my throat and asked politely, “Is there something I can

get for you? We have lots of delicious cupcakes and pies made

fresh daily.”

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“Oh! Yes…I’m sorry. Where are my manners?” He laughed.

“I’m Ian Macalister.” He said extending his right hand.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Ian. I’m Callie Roten and this

here is my Grandma Adelaide Roten bakery. Are you just passing

through town?” I inquired.

Ian waved his hands and smiled from ear to ear and replied,

“Well, kind of sort a….I’m still a little new to the Holly Springs

community my fiancée and I just moved here from California and

we just love how small and charming the whole town is here.”

By now Mr. Wilson had finished his coffee and was listening

to our conversation. I laughed on the inside as Mr. Wilson

glasses rested on the bridge of his nose as his frail body leaned

over his empty coffee cup.

At a loss for words briefly, I managed a polite response.

“Oh, well welcome to Holly Springs and congrats on the

wedding. I’m sure you’ll love it here as much as we do. Where’s

your fiancée? Is she in the car?”

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Ian smiled bashfully and buried his head in his chest. His

face began to turn to red.

Feeling ashamed and embarrassed. I said, “I’m sorry did I

say something wrong?”

Ian waved politely and said, “No, I’m sorry. I’m still getting

used to the small town politeness and it just makes me laugh.

That’s all.”

“Okay.” I shrugged.

“My fiancés is a he and I’m afraid he’s buried deep inside

his paperwork. I told him to come out and see the town. He

refused. So, I’m all alone on my errand today and your little

bakery is my first stop.”

“Oh, um….I…just….wow!!”

“Take a deep breath…it was a shock to me too about ten

years ago.” Ian joked.

“Callie! Callie sweetheart come here for a second, please.”

Grandma Nan called from the back.

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I politely excused myself and ran to the back of the bakery. I

could tell from the cold look in Grandma Nan’s eyes that her

blood was boiling and she didn’t like what she’d over heard. With

her index finger she pointed to the stoop inside the corner and

told me to sit and be quiet. Grandma Nan undid her apron and

left the bowl of cake batter on the counter and stomped her size

six feet towards the counter.

“Well, now I think congratulations are in order! Congrats

Ian!! I’m sorry about that. I needed my granddaughter in the

bake for a minute. You know, busy, busy. I’m Adelaide Roten; it’s

nice to meet you.” Grandma Nan laughed.

“It’s nice to meet you as well. I understand. I used to work

for my folks back in day washing dishes.”

“Well, what brings you into my little bakery today?”

“I’m glad you asked. I’m here to put in an order for one of

your delicious cakes for my upcoming wedding in a few weeks.

It’s going to be a small ceremony; you know just family and a few

close friends. I have a few ideas for a cake and I was wondering

if you’d be interested in setting up a time to sit and chat.”

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I peeked my head around the corner to see what Grandma

Nan’s response would be. With both hands placed flat on the

counter and her head buried between her shoulders I knew

whatever was about to come out of her mouth would wipe that

smile off of Ian’s face.

With a deep sigh, Grandma Nan said, “I’m sorry Ian. But, I

want be able to make your cake for you.”

With a furrow brow Ian stood confused for a few seconds.

He scratched his head and replied, “I’m sorry. I do not

understand. Why not”

“Well, to be quite honest with you Ian. I don’t agree with

your lifestyle and as a religious woman I wouldn’t feel

comfortable going against my beliefs.”

Ian took a step back from the counter. I could see the pain

inside his eyes as he watched his dreams slowly go down the

drain.

“I’m sorry.” Grandma Nan added and began to walk away.

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She was half way near the me when Ian replied, “That’s

discrimination Ms. Roten and I suggest you change your mind or

else?”

Grandma Nan folded her arms and turned around slowly.

She stood firmly in her stance as she cleared her throat and said,

“Mr. Ian, this here is not California, this is Arkansas. We do not

turn a blind eye to the commandments of the Lord. We abide by

then and if you have a problem with the way I run my business I

suggest you take your Hollywood money elsewhere. Good day

sir.”

Ian shifted his weight from one foot to the other. With his

arms folded he replied, “Well, this ain’t the sixties and you and

your Southern Baptist ways will be hearing from my lawyer.”

You could cut the tension in the small bakery with a knife.

Ian left in a haste and left his chipper personality on the floor. I

could see the irritation in Grandma Nan’s eyes. I dared not to

utter a word as she walked past me in haste. There was a small

tingle in my stomach and I knew things in Holly Springs were

about to change forever. It’s like Grandma Nan always says

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either you’re headed towards a storm, out of one, or you’re

already in one. And we were headed into tropical storm Ian.

Chapter Two

Bad news spreads fast in a small town. Before we could

settle in for the evening our phone rang off the hook. Everybody

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in town wanted to know what had happened in the bakery today.

It was the most exciting thing to happen in town since Miss

Henderson filed for bankruptcy on her bakery and moved in with

her lesbian daughter. During the car ride home Grandma Nan

barely said a word. I looked out of the window still confused by

the entire situation. See, the thing is once you’re a Christian

you’re a Christian for life. Grandma Nan has been a lifelong

resident of Holly Springs, all her life. She’s a proud pilar of our

community. Since she opened Adelaide's Confections (bakery)

over 20 years ago there hasn’t been a wedding or birthday party

that she hasn’t been invited too. Grandma Nan gave her life over

to Christ when she was just five years old. She likes to tell the

story that Jesus came into her bedroom one night and saved her

from the monsters underneath her bed. She says her momma

and grandma taught her how to pray early on in life. And ever

since she’s been a devout Christian, attends small local church

on Sundays and Wednesdays. The bakery is closed on Sundays

out of respect for the Sabbath. Grandma Nan has a heart for

helping people in need and is active in many local charities

around town. But today was different. I’ve never seen Grandma

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Nan get so riled up over something that seemed so small and

insignificant in my mind. I haven’t been a Christian that long.

But, I know well enough to know that there are no gray areas

when it comes to sin. Whether you’re stealing from a grocery

store or loving the same sex it’s all a sin in God’s eyes. I just

never really realized how difficult growing up a Christian would

be especially in today’s times. Breanna often jokes that I’m

about as screwed up in the head as a box of crayons and I

couldn’t agree more. I mean don’t get me wrong I love Jesus and

I all, but if God loves all of us does it really matter who we love. I

can’t ask Grandma Nan questions like that. She’d find it

disrespectful and slap me silly. So, I tend to keep my thoughts

and concerns about Jesus and his love to myself.

Grandma Nan unlocks the door to the house she’s lived in

for over 20 years in silence. I can tell a lot on her mind since she

unlocks the door and turns right back around and sits inside the

car. I wait for her the door for a few minutes and just wait for

her. I can’t see her face in the darkness of night. Her shadow

bounces off the street light and I can see the sadness and pain in

her eyes. Parts of me want to run to side and ask her what’s 15 | P a g e

wrong. You know like I do when Breanna or Alice have a

problem. I’m a good listener Alice always tells me and I tend to

agree. I wait a few more minutes and still nothing from Grandma

Nan. I go inside the house to give her a few more minutes to

think. I drop my book bag on the sofa and head towards the

kitchen for a slice of apple pie. The apple pie is only a few days

old, but that’s okay. I open the fridge and place the pan on the

counter. I grab a knife and run it through the faucet water. I bow

my head and quickly say my grace. Just as I’m about to cut the

pie the house phone rings. I lay the knife on the counter and run

towards the phone in the living. A little out of breath I answer on

the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Hey Callie, this is Sister Betty Jean from the church. How

are you doing sweetheart.”

“Hi Miss Betty Jean! I’m doing just fine. My Grandma Nan

can’t come to the phone right now. Can I take a message for

you?”

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Miss Betty Jean pauses for a few moments. I can barely

understand the words coming out of her mouth. She mumbles a

little louder and says, “Mr. Wilson, told us what happened at the

bakery this evening. Is Adelaide alright?”

“Yes ma’am. We’re just getting ready for dinner at the

moment. But, I’ll be sure to have her give you a call in a little

while. I promise.”

Miss Betty Jean coughs and clears her throat. Briefly satisfied

with my answer she concludes our conversation with a goodnight

and God bless you. Less than five minutes go by before I’m able

to walk away from the phone and eat my apple pie. Everybody

wants to be nosey and check on Adelaide. I can’t help but shake

my head. By the time Grandma Nan comes in the house she cuts

herself a slice of pie and heads upstairs.

She’s halfway out of the kitchen when I call her name. She turns

around slowly and looks at me in my eyes. Nervously I walk

towards her with my arms outstretched. I wrap my straggly arms

around her fragile bones. She buries her head on my shoulder. I

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can feel her exhale as I whisper “Everything is going to be

alright.”

Grandma Nan nods and whispers, “I hope so my dear.”

Chapter Three

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“So, is it true? Is it? Did your grandma tell a gay guy that

she won’t bake his wedding cake because he’s gay?” Breanna

asks while applying her lip-gloss on in the girl’s bathroom.

I’m standing less than five away from her in the adjacent

mirror waiting patiently to get back to first period English. As

soon as I got on the bus this morning all the kids on the bus

stared and whispered about me and the latest town gossip like I

had the plague. I sat with Alice, our other best friend and

Breanna on the school bus. Breanna kept going on and on about

what she’d heard and how stupid and insensitive my Grandma is

to the times. Alice just kind of listened and gave me a

sympathetic expression with every glance. I didn’t understand all

the hoopla about the bakery or the incident. It wasn’t that big of

a deal. My Grandma is a woman of principle and religion and the

people of this town act like they don’t know that.

I reapplied my lip-gloss and made sure my ponytail looked

pretty as usual. I didn’t care what the other kids thought I’d

made up my mind to stick by my Grandma despite what other

people thought

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“It’s nothing really. My Grandma refused to turn the other

cheek for a quick buck. Anybody else in this town would’ve done

the same. End of story.” I replied walking away from the mirror.

Breanna popped her lip gloss and flipped her hair a few

times. With her eyes focused on herself she said, “Don’t get your

panties in a bunch Callie. We’re all just trying to figure out

what’s Grandma’s deal. Just chill.”

“Look, let’s just drop it okay. I’m tired of all the questions or

whatnot.”

“Isn’t your grandma lie super religious or whatever?” Alice

questions coming out of the bathroom stall.

“I mean, yeah she believes in God of course.” I shrug.

“I kind of get you know. I mean, my parents don’t believe in

God. But, they don’t really get the whole gay thing either.”

“That’s not the same thing moron.” Breanna chimes cutting

her eyes in Alice’s direction.

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“It’s not. Totally. I mean, gay people love God to I guess…

right Callie”

I shrug and head towards the bathroom door. The school

bells and it’s time for us to head to class. “Let’s just drop it you

guys. You know how people get all weird about religion and

stuff.”

Alice and Breanna soon follow suit as they strut their

powdered faces and shiny lips towards the door.

“If you say so, Jesus freak.”

Alice laughs. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Today is going to

be one of those days.

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Chapter Four

By the time classes end for the day I’m all the way in my

feelings. Everywhere I turn people in school make me want to

puke with their judgmental stares. Instead of going to the bakery

to visit Grandma Nan I opt to go home and do my homework

instead. In my spare time I like to log on to spend my free time

online, studying art and sharing photos of her landscape

paintings on the popular online art community sketchdump.com..

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While doing a science project in the fifth grade I came across the

site and fell in love with it especially art. There’s just something

so ethereal about art that makes me feel all warm and gooey on

the inside and I love it. I log on and off for a few minutes while I

try to finish my Chemistry assignment. It doesn’t take long for

my stomach to start grumbling. I head downstairs to grab a bite

of leftover from night before last pot roast dinner. I almost

forget that my cell phone is in my back. My cell chirps when I get

a Face book message from one of my friends.

I open the message and it reads,

“Hey Callie! Gay rights for all!! Gays are people too!!”

I shake my head and close the app. On instinct I want to

close my Face book account since people feel the need to

comment on my personal life. I hold off since I have over 500

Face book friends that I’ve met over the years. I place my phone

on the counter and pile some pot roast on plate and place it

inside the microwave. The microwave dings and the sweet aroma

of pot roast feels the air. I lick my lips and prepare to devour my

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dinner. I grab a fork and spoon from the drawer when suddenly

my cell phone begins to vibrate.

I pick it up and it’s a message from Alice and Breanna group

messaging me telling me to not get on Face book. Of course I

ignore their warning and log on anyway. As soon as the page

loads I’m appalled by what I see all over my page. Written all

over my personal Face book page is every ungodly word known

to man. Some of my classmates have left comments like, “I hope

her Grandma dies of a heart attack.” “Adelaide Roten is

evil!” “She’s such a hypocrite. Only God has the right to

judge people, not Adelaide Roten!!

It’s over 100 comments on my page. Out of spite I begin to

reply each and every one of them. Typing angrily I defend my

Grandma.

“You people are all stupid and insensitive morons. My

Grandmother has done more for this community than some

of you have done in your entire lifetimes. You should be

ashamed of yourselves. Some of you I thought were my

friends.”

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One by the one the comments continue and more and more

people attack my Grandmother and me. I can’t type fast enough.

Before long tears are beginning to run down my eyes and unto

my hands. I back away from my phone leave it on the counter

right next to the plate of pot roast. Suddenly I have lost my

appetite. I race to the house phone to call Grandma Nan. I can

only imagine the pain and suffering she must be going through.

By the time I dial the last digit of her cell phone number I hear

her keys turning in the door. I drop the phone back into the

cradle and run towards her. Before she could even get into the

door all the way I wrap my around tightly around her shoulders.

“What’s the matter Callie? Are you alright?” Grandma Nan asks

nervously.

“I was just worried about you, that’s all.”

Grandma Nan places her hands across the middle of my back.

She squeezes me tightly and says, “It’s going to be alright. God is

going to make everything alright in the morning.”

I close my eyes and try to believe the words coming out of

Grandma Nan’s mouth.

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Chapter Five

By the time the sun began to rise again Grandma Nan came

into my bedroom in her white linen floral nightgown. With her

grey hair resting on her shoulders she slowly opened the door

and crept inside of my bedroom. I lied in bed with my eyes fully

open in the same position for over an hour. I just couldn’t find

comfort in knowing that everything and everyone we thought we

knew and loved had turned against Grandma Nan and me. I

tossed and turned all night on an empty stomach. More than

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normally I was happy to see Grandma Nan. I needed her to help

me understand everything that was happening so quickly around

us. I sat up slightly in bed and moved over for Grandma Nan to

sit next to me. Sitting on the edge of the bed Grandma Nan

reached for my hand and placed it in between hers. She smiled a

crooked smiled and looked down at our hands together. I smiled

lovingly into her blue eyes. With a deep sigh Grandma Nan

parted her lips and said, “Are you doing okay kid?”

I shook my head.

“Me neither.” Grandma Nan admitted.

I readjusted my floppy pillows to support my back and sat

up in bed.

“Everybody’s being so nasty Grandma Nan. I don’t

understand why.”

Grandma Nan released my hand and looked down at the

floor. She shook her head and looked up at the ceiling.

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“Well, Callie a lot of people feel like what I did was wrong

and they have a right to feel how they feel about certain things.

Nothing we can do about it”

“So, are you saying that there right or that you were

wrong?”

“No. What I’m saying is people believe and feel certain ways

about different things and respond differently to certain

situations. Believe it or not I’m not always right. Sometime I get

things wrong.

I shake my head adamantly. “Grandma Nan you always told

me that the bible teaches us that we were created to reproduce

and that two men loving each other are not of God.”

“I did say that.” Grandma Nan nods. “I do believe it as well.

But, that’s not why I came in here to see you this morning before

school. I know you were pretty upset last night by everything. I

just wanted to check on you before you leave the house today.”

“I’m fine. I just can’t wait for this whole thing to be over.”

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Grandma Nan shakes her head and pats my knee. “I don’t

think it’s that simple sweetheart. That seemed pretty hurt by

what I did so hurt that he’s suing me.”

“Grandma Nan no!” I shake my head. “What are we going to

do?”

Grandma Nan barely moves as muscle as she pats my leg

and tells me to calm my nerves.

“Relax child, you gone give yourself wrinkles before it’s

time.” Grandma Nan jokes.

I smile.

“My mother used to always tell me when I was a girl about

your age that nothing comes from worrying but wrinkles on your

face. When you’ve got a problem you’ve got to take it to the only

fixer we know best, God.”

“But, Grandma Nan, if God loves us so much why does He

allow people to be so mean and evil towards each other. You

should’ve seen the things they were saying about you and me

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online. It doesn’t make a bit of sense. I think we should just

move.”

With a stern finger pointed in my direction Grandma Nan

says, “Don’t you ever question the love and mercy of the Lord,

ever for as long as you live? You understand?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Now, running from your problems don’t make them go

away. It makes you weak in your faith and makes you look

foolish. That’s not what we’re going to do.”

“What are we going to do Grandma Nan?”

Grandma Nan rises from the bed and stands on her feet.

Extending her right hand to me insisting that I accompany her on

the floor. I toss back the cover and stand to my feet in a hurry.

“Now, Callie I want you to always remember this for the

rest of your life. Whenever you have a problem, you get on your

knees and pray. God may not answer you back when you need

him too. But, don’t worry he knows the contents of your heart

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and the words of his faithful children will never fall on deaf ears.

Understand?”

“Yes ma’am.” I nod.

Grandma Nan and I get on our knees, hold hands, close our

eyes, and begin to pray silently.

Chapter Six

By the time I walk out of the door I feel lighter like God saw

inside my soul cleansed it for me. I get on the school bus at my

stop. I roam my eyes over the seats for an empty one when it

becomes hard to find one. I see Alice and Breanna sitting

together so I insist that they scoot over. They look at me like I’m

speaking French and don’t move a muscle. I take a deep breath

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and find a small seat left almost vacant by the fattest kid on the

bus Toni Russo. Nobody ever sits with Toni. The bus driver keeps

driving as anonymous spit balls coming flying at my head. Every

time I turn around someone pulls on my ponytail. I squeal and

the bus driver shouts out an anonymous threat and continues

driving. I text Alice and Breanna to find out why they are giving

me the cold shoulder. Breanna replies:

Sorry Callie. The whole school is in frenzy about this whole

gay dude and wedding cake thing. So my folks told me to keep

away from you. Until you know ….things cools down. I hope you

understand.

I respond: I thought you were my best friend. I guess not

after all.

Alice turns around towards me and mouths “I’m sorry.”

My Grandma Nan’s words float through my mind for the

remainder of the bus ride to school. I hold back my tears and

pretend that everything will go back to normal as soon as

possible. I just have to wait on God first.

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I’m getting off of the bus when Ian McDuncan nearly trips

me up going down the steps of the school bus. I brace my fall

throwing my hands up and landing on my knees. Ian doesn’t even

apologize. Instead he keeps walking like nothing ever happened.

All of my happiness and joy soon walks right out of the window

as I tackle Ian making him eat concrete. I begin punching him all

over relentlessly. Before long I’m spurring liquid fire out of my

mouth. I don’t sound like the sweet Christian girl my Grandma

Nan is raising me to be. Soon I feel a pair of extra hands tugging

on me and I soon realize it’s the principle and I’m in big trouble

now.

“My office now Miss Roten!” Principle Brown demands

straighten his tie.

I pick up my book bag from the ground and head towards

the principal’s office. I’m sitting in one of the two cushioned

chairs adjacent the principles desk when Mr. Brown and Miss

Singleton the guidance counselor enters the room. Mr. Brown

clears his throat and takes a seat in his chair behind the desk.

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“Miss Roten, what has gotten into you? I’ve never seen this

side of you.”

I shrug my shoulders and wipe a tear away in my eye.

“Is there something going on at home? Something that you

want to talk about with me or you’re Grandmother.

I shake my head no adamantly. “She has enough to worry

about.” I admit.

Miss Singleton walks closer to me and leans her body

against the principles desk.

“Talk to me, Callie.” She insists folding her arms.

“Everybody hates me!” I blurt out as tears begin to run

down my cheek like a waterfall.

Miss Singleton reaches for a Kleenex and passes them to

me.

“Why do you think everybody hates you Callie?”

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“Because my Grandma Nan refuses to bake a cake for this

gay couple that just moved to town and now everybody thinks my

Grandma Nan is evil.”

I wipe my eyes and Miss Singleton passes me another

tissue.

“Callie, have you ever thought that maybe if you and your

Grandmother apologized that maybe all of this would go away.”

Suddenly I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. I

almost wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.

“Excuse?”

“Listen Callie, I get that your Grandma has her rules and

religious beliefs. But, that doesn’t give her the right to treat

people how she did. I mean, gay people in this country have

suffered enough don’t you think.”

Clearing his throat Mr. Brown adds his two cents as he rises

from his seat. “Miss Singleton has a point Callie. We’ve come a

long way in this country to avoid any sort of discrimination. Just

because someone’s personal choices don’t reflect our own

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doesn’t mean we should treat them any differently than anyone

else.”

I shake my head. “I don’t believe what I’m hearing. Are you

saying that my Grandma Nan should go against her religion just

to make the town happy?”

They both shake their heads no. Somewhere along the

conversation I tune them out.

“I’m sorry. But, I have to go.” I get up and exit the principle

office and head toward Grandma Nan’s bakery.

Chapter Seven

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I arrive at the bakery and I find all sorts of flyers and

posters all over the ground in front of the bakery. Red, blue, and

white flyers cover the once freshly manicured lawn that

surrounds the bakery. Photos of Grandma Nan with devil horns

on almost each photo with the words evil written across the top.

I pick up each paper and toss them in the nearest trash. I rush

inside to check on Grandma Nan to make sure she’s alright. Mr.

Wilson is faithfully sitting in his favorite chair sipping on his

coffee. There are no customers in line. Yet soft music continues

to play in the background. The counter is filled with delicious

cupcakes and muffins. I can see that Grandma Nan has been

baking to her heart’s content even if there are no customers in

sight. As soon as I open the door to the bakery it seems like it

business as normal as Grandma Nan is not out front as usual. I

go to the back of the bakery and find her whisking batter covered

in flour. She looks up and smiles at me. I walk towards her

cautiously.

“Hey sweetheart! Is everything alright?” Grandma Nan says

with a smile.

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I can barely look in her direction. I don’t understand how

she can be taking everything so well when it seems like my life is

in shambles. While staring at the floor, I confess to Grandma

Nan.

“This morning on the school bus people were talking there

mess and throwing spit balls at me.”

Grandma Nan drops her batter and bowl inside of her hand

and walks towards me. She runs her hands across my face and

gives my body a glance over for bruises. “Oh my dear sweet Lord

is you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I say unconvincingly.

Grandma Nan takes a step back and looks down at the floor.

She takes a deep breath and lets out a loud cry. I run to her side

and rub her back.

“Grandma Nan, what’s the matter?”

“It’s everything Callie. I never meant for any of this to

happen. Especially with what you’re going through at school and

38 | P a g e

with your friends. I’m so sorry Callie, honey.” Grandma Nan

apologizes staring into my eyes and holding my hand.

I wipe away the tears forming in her eyes. “Grandma Nan

you taught me to be a fighter and stand up for what’s right. You

don’t have to apologize to me, ever.”

Grandma Nan drops my hand and goes over to the sink. She

runs some water across her face. “I really do Callie. When I think

about everything that has happened over the past couple of days

I think I’m being just a little bit selfish. I thought I was protecting

you when in reality I just have made things worse.” She says

defeated.

I take a step closer to Grandma Nan. I place a loving hand on the

small of her back. “Grandma Nan you can’t give up now. We have

to fight this together.”

She shakes her head. “It’s time we make things right. Callie,

honey I think it’s time for you to go and see some of your youth

counselors. I don’t want you walking around town with such a

heavy burden on your shoulders anymore. You’re a good kid and

39 | P a g e

you deserve to enjoy your youth while you still can.” Grandma

Nan jokes.

I back away cautiously glancing over my shoulder with each step

as Grandma Nan shoo’s me away with her hand. I still don’t fully

understand her reasoning but I do as her request. I’m half way

near the doorway when I realize that maybe there is something I

can do. Grandma Nan reaches for the telephone on the wall in

and begins to dial on the keypad.

Before I walk out of the bakery I wait and see who Grandma Nan

dials. I can barely believe my ears when she says, “This is Miss

Adelaide Roten and I’d like to speak with Ian Macalister.”

Although she can barely hear me I whisper that I love her and

walk out of the bakery.

Chapter Eight

40 | P a g e

The bakery is not far away from the church. It’s only a matter of

minutes before I arrive at the church. I enter in through the side

door where most of the Youth Counselor’s meet at on every

Wednesday of the week. As soon as I walk in everybody just

pretty much stares at me. I wave hello and walk slowly over to

one of the group counselor preparing the room for set up.

“Need some help?” I ask cautiously.

One of the guys nod there heads. I drop my book bag in the

corner and pick up a few chairs from the corner. We set the

chairs up diagonally one by one across from each other. I don’t

come to the Youth counselor meetings that often. I don’t know

why in particularly I guess I just always assumed that the

meetings were for people in a crisis or an emergency. I guess

today is a first for everything including in asking for help. As

soon as we’re done with the chairs we head over to the

refreshment table to grab a soda. I grab an orange soda and have

a seat in one of the chairs. The young man that I was helping sits

down right next to me. I find it a little challenging to really open

41 | P a g e

up to a stranger. Grandma Nan always says you never know

what God is trying to tell you unless you open up. I know that I’m

relatively safe inside of God’s house. But, I still find it

challenging to really open up and express my thoughts.

“You want to talk about?” The young man says as he sips his

soda.

I look at him perplexed by his question. “I beg your pardon. What

did you just say?”

He takes another sip of his drink and looks at me and says,

“What’s on your mind? Do you want to talk about it?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I guess I do. I mean, after all I did come

here to find something.”

He nods. “I know what you mean. I came here a few years ago

after my folks split up out of the blue on my fifteenth birthday.

For a long time I thought it was my fault that my dad left my

mom and me to start a new family. It left I hurt on the inside. But

I didn’t really know how to handle it.”

“So, what did you do?”

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“I’m glad you ask.” He says in between sips. “I was a complete

mess for the first couple of months. I used to hang out with the

wrong crowd, disrespect my mom, and I even stopped doing my

homework. I just didn’t care anymore. You know?”

“I know exactly what you mean. It’s like the world and everyone

around you are against you. It feels like this battle that you can’t

win. I’m lost and I don’t know how to find my peace anymore.”

“I get that.” He says with a head nod. “You know before I

started coming here I used to not pray or at least I only prayed

for stuff that I wanted like a new game. I know crazy, right?”

I nod.

“But, you know what I’ve learned in only the short period of time

that I’ve been coming here?”

“What’s that?”

“Forgiveness is an important part of our lives.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you mean?” I confess.

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“Well, Pastor John puts it this way. He says whenever we do

something wrong we have to be willing to see the error in our

ways and then and only then can we be fully forgiven for our

mistakes.”

“I think I understand.”

“Good. You know how sometimes we expect other people to

forgive us so easily when we’ve done something wrong and we

become confused when they don’t. Well, God forgives us

instantly because he knows the error of our ways. He loves us

unconditionally and sometimes we need his forgiveness to move

forward.”

I nod my head. Without hesitation I confess the real reason why I

came into church today.

“You know I’ve said and done some pretty crazy things over the

past couple of days. I’ve lost a few of my friends and I’ve shared

more tears than ever before. When I try to wrap my head around

the reason why all of this is happening to me, to my Grandma

Nan I feel like God is punishing us.”

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He laughs. “Believe me God is not want to punish you. There is a

message that he’s trying to get to you and it may be hard for you

to receive because you’ve closed off your heart to what he’s

trying to say to you.”

“You know only a few days ago I thought my life in Holly Springs

was almost perfect. I had my two best friends and my Grandma

Nan was happy. But ever since a stranger walked into our lives

it’s been nothing but turmoil and sadness.”

“Well, people come from all different types of background and

sometimes it’s up to us to decide whether or not we’re going to

accept them for whom they are or who we want them to be. This

stranger that walked into your life could be a test of your faith

with God.”

“I never thought about it that way.”

“Just think about it this way. Every person you meet is either

here to help you or teach you a lesson from God.”

“You know, you’re right about that. I’ve been going about this

situation completely all wrong. I never really took into

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consideration how the other person felt. I just wanted to protect

my Grandma Nan. She raised me to be who I am today.”

“And there’s nothing wrong with that. But you have to realize

that none of us are perfect and we’re going to make quite a few

mistakes.”

I nod. “I feel so much better now. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome and if you ever need a friend please stop by and

see me.”

I nod and get up and walk away. Before I exit the building I turn

around and ask,

“What’s your name?”

“David. Yours?”

“Callie Roten.”

“It was nice talking to you Callie Roten.”

“You too.” David says with a smile.

Now I understand why Grandma Nan felt the need to make

things right. And I needed to make things right too.

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Chapter Ten

I catch a taxi cab home from church since Grandma Nan doesn’t

like for me to use the train or buses after dark. After the taxi

driver drops me off in front of the house. I notice an unknown

car sitting in the driveway. I don’t recognize the make or model

of the car as one of Grandma Nan’s friends from church.

Grandma Nan’s car is sitting in it spot. I rush to the door and

insert my key. As soon as I walk in I can barely believe my eyes.

Sitting on our couch are Mr. Ian Macalister and Grandma Nan

sharing a piece of pie? Grandma Nan appears to be in better

sprits than when we parted ways earlier in the night. I lock the

front door behind me and cautiously enter the living room.

Within a matter of seconds Grandma Nan comes to an end as she

smiles in my direction. I wave hello and politely smile. Grandma

Nan waves me over and smiles hello.

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Mr. Macalister greets me with a broad smile and light wave.

“Grandma Nan, is everything alright?” I ask glancing back and

forth between the two of them.

Grandma Nan nods. “I’m just sitting here chatting with my new

friend Mr. Macalister.

“Hello Mr. Macalister, it’s so nice to see you again.”

“The pleasure is all mines.” He says with a smile.

Grandma interrupts our small talk. “Listen Callie, I want you to

know that Mr. Macalister and I have agreed to squash our little

squabble from a few days ago.”

“Well, that’s great news Grandma Nan.”

“It sure is sweetheart.”

“What changed your mind Grandma Nan?”

Grandma Nan reaches for Mr. Macalister hand. She smiles

affectionately in his direction and says, “I made a prejudge

mental call and I hid behind my faith to justify my actions. I was

48 | P a g e

rude and nasty to Mr. Macalister because I didn’t agree with his

lifestyle.” Grandma Nan admits.

“So, does this mean you’ll be doing the wedding cake?”

“It means that Mr. Macalister has accepted my apology. But, he

respects m religions enough to not make me do something I’m

not one hundred percent comfortable with and I appreciate it.”

“That is great news! As a matter of fact, I owe Mr. Macalister an

apology myself.”

“Do you?” Mr. Macalister asks sitting up from the sofa.

“Yes sir, I do. I have to apologize because my first instinct was to

dismiss your request. I have to say that you made a little

uncomfortable. So, would you please accept my apology?”

“Apology accepted.”

Grandma Nan excuses herself and asks me to follow her into the

kitchen. As soon as we enter the kitchen Grandma Nan wraps me

into her arms. I’m buried in her long gray hair as she kisses my

cheek.

49 | P a g e

“I’m sorry Callie for everything.”

“Me too. You know Grandma Nan, getting to know Jesus is pretty

awesome after all. ”

Grandma Nan confirms. “You have no idea.”

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