A shot, Not in the dark.

"BBBBrinnnnnnng!" The final bell rang. Kids were scattering to the winds. Desk tops popped up and slammed back down. Book bags were being flung over shoulders. The volume of many bits of chitter chatter was growing. "Children.?!?" "Children?!?" Mrs. Stintenhutt tried to get their attention. "Class. Class!!" No one heard. Most of the brains in the room were focused on stopping by the Police Station, on their way home, so they could get a look at the puppies that were being evaluated for the position of Police Chief K-9. So then....with out warning....a very large and thick hardwood chalkboard and map pointing stick slapped heavily on the teachers desk, (thwap!) and with the authoritative collective sounding voice of many mothers, she said. "FRE-E-E-E-EZE." And suddenly there was no movement in the room. Again in the same voice she spoke, "SIT!... in FIVE, FOUR......." Feet started to move quietly but quite swiftly back towards the desks. "In THREE, TWO...." A few chairs made a stuttering dragging noise while being pulled out, but it was very minimal. "In ONE annnnnd DOWN!" All butts were firmly attached to the horizontal portion of the chair. All hands were clasped together and in the center of the desk top. And all eyes and ears were focused to the front of the class room. "Thank you." Mrs. Stinkybutt said. "I just needed to remind you about the vaccination shots that you will be receiving tomorrow by the Nurse, Miss Wilson." Miss, NOT MRS., but Miss Wilson was the new Nurse. She replaced MADAME PAIN, aka (Mrs. Crane) if she wasn't telling you to buck up and take it like a man, she was inflicting it on you. ~ ~ ~ ~ Makes me shiver just thinking about all the stories the boys would tell about her. Anyway, back to Miss Wilson. Even the boys, who didn't much like girls quite like the high school boys like girls, liked Miss Wilson. There was something kind of motherly and yet something else about her that gave the boys a little BPM boast in the heart. The boys didn't know the name for it, and were completely discombobulated over trying to describe it, but they sure did like it. She was just... (deep breath - and a sigh) likable.

But back to the sharp and pointy matter at hand. "SHOTS!" "NO WAY, NO HOW! NOT IN THIS MANS LIFETIME!" Jarred insisted on the walk home. "Well......" Stephen started while putting his arm over Jarred's shoulder. "You could defect to Russia." "Or, you could take it like the man you dream you are." Then he PINCHED Jarred's arm about the same spot they were going to get the vaccination, and then ran like lightning just torched his backside. "OUCH! Why you rotten.............." Jarred stepped it up to high gear to catch him. Athletically the boys were very much the same. And they rarely competed with each other. But look out when they would compete as a team....unstoppable. Jarred tackled Stephen, sat on his stomach, and proceeded to pinch his arms and chest. "Owww OWWW, Hey Ouch, HEY. Cut it out booger licker." Stephen shouted and laughed at Jarred. "Booger licker am I?" (pinch pinch - punch) "Take it back. You toad kissing goober." Jarred said. "Take it back." (pinch pinch - punch pinch) Jarred was kneeling on Stephens hands so defense was a bit on the hard side. "Take it back. You..........you..........Stintenhutt sniffer." Oh that was it. That was the boys ultimate insult of the month. And besides the normal, escape and retaliate thoughts the only other thought in his head at that moment was a Bugs Bunny quote..."Of Course You Realize, This Means War." Stephen twisted and turned, and got loose a bit and the boys rolled around on the ground for about 10 feet and then just as they were good and dirty............"Jarred!" Sandy said standing there with half of "The BOB" at her side. "I can't wait to see you faint tomorrow. I'm going to be helping Miss Wilson with the vaccinations. I'll be right there to watch your little cranium bounce on the floor." "You know Sandy, " Stephen interjected. "If Henry looked anything like you, we'd shave his butt and teach him to walk backwards." Henry then chimed in. Bark bark. Take that you girl, you......................... HeeeeEEEYYYY! What's this about shaving the dogs butt. I backed away slowly. "See." Jarred said. "Henry already has the backwards thing down. Think he's trying to tell you something sis." "Stupid boys." a few of the BOB squawked aloud, and then with a turn just swift enough to lift their skirts an inch or so, the just walked off.

Right after dinner, the boys met up in the club house to re-evaluate their previous days baseball card swap. This was a once a month ritual. They shared their lives, their food, clothes, ME (Henry), and many other things, but baseball cards was were the line was drawn. Shortly after, while they were packing up their cards, Stephen just had to ask. "So what are you going to do about the shot tomorrow?" "Don't remind me." Jarred said rolling his eyes back into his head, and falling backwards. "Man, I hate shots. And if Miss Wilson is anything like Madame Pain.....!? I'm doomed." He sighed nervously. "I'll definitely faint. I just know it. I'm gonna hit the floor and all my brains are gonna come gushing out. It'll be like that possum we saw on the road, only brains instead of guts. And the police will arrest Miss Wilson for murder, and you'll get sent to prison for helping her instead of helping me. What kind of friend are you anyway? Why don't you take the shot for both of us?" "Yeah, right. Like Sandy would let that one get by." Stephen shot back. Which kind of meant that he would do it for his pal if he could. This was the kind of friendship they had, but of course as boys they never talked about it. Well almost never.

The next day....Stephen got his vaccine first. It stung a bit. He headed back to class and stopped by and whispered something in Jarred's ear. Jarred's eyes got enormous, and Stephen just conducted and exaggerated nod with his head while reaching up to massage his arm where a band-aid was now secured. "Okay Stephen, that'll be enough teasing. Get back to class and open that History book." His teacher said pacing between the nurses office and the hall. With each student passing by, Jarred new that he was one step closer to fainting. Now it was his turn. Sandy had told Miss Wilson of Jarred's fear of needles, and Miss Wilson was ready to handle just about everything. "Have a seat up here Jarred. " Miss Wilson said tapping the seat of the stool. "Sandy?!? I need you to go down to Mr. Graingers class and tell him he can bring his students down in about 15 minutes, and on the way back count the remaining students from this class." "Yes ma'am." Sandy replied. 'DARN.' she thought to herself hoping to have seen Jarred squirm, or faint, or tear up so she could take that Military type Intel to the BOB and exploit it at every opportunity.

Miss Wilson had Jarred roll up his sleeve, while she prepared the needle. Jarred's mind raced a bit. Stephen said to look at ....her 'craw? saw? traw? praw? slaw, draw, law....strap.....what was it that Stephen said to me?' Jarred thought frantically as he saw the needle coming. Miss Wilson said that it would only pinch a little, Jarred turned his head and closed his eyes tight, she gently squeezed his arm and then out of the blue it hit him. 'I got it' he thought. So while he turned back opening his eyes wide, he caught a glimps of IT, and he said the words in an out loud sort of whisper..."BRA STRAP!" just as Miss Wilson said "ALL DONE." "Wow." Jarred replied. "I didn't feel a thing. Thanks Miss Wilson." "Your welcome Jarred. But next time...?!?" She tilted her head down and raised and eye brow, while she re-adjusted her white blouse a bit more closed, and smiled.

'Awe MAN....NEXT TIME?' Jarred thought walking back to the class room.

His Name !

In my sin HOPE was fleeting
Had hunger for LIFE (and PEACE) in my shame.
It was the wrong BREAD I was eating
The TRUE VINE continued to call my name.

Bridge 1
The MORNING STAR, a LAMP unto my feet
His LOVE a LIGHT to GUIDE the WAY

Chorus 1
The CREATOR gives his SACRIFICE
His blood for ETERNAL LIFE
Confess & believe upon his name

Cause the name above all other names
He is The WORD proclaims
EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US
His name is JESUS.

The BREAD OF LIFE feeds my hunger
His FOUNTAINS WATERS quench my thirst
The WORD OF GOD shows us mercy
ETERNAL TRUTH found in each verse.

Bridge 2
Oh rejoice my friend, and let your spirit sing
Forever Praise to GOD our KING


Chorus 2
The Blessings of the LIVING STONE
PROTECTOR from this world’s unknown
Our HIDING PLACE safe in his arms

Yes the name above all other names
He is The WORD proclaims
EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US
His name is JESUS.

Bridge 3
Oh the KING OF KINGS, & the LORD OF LORDS
The GREAT I AM reigns ever more

Chorus 3
Every knee shall bow and tongue confess
The Glory of GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS
Sing Praise to his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

Cause the name above all other names
He is The WORD proclaims
EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US
His name is JESUS.

*
The names of Jesus – Written by God, arranged from Gods inspiration
by Ray Winkleman, © Jan. 2009.