A Watch in Time – Chapter 9, Part 1

A WATCH IN TIME

A Full Length Short Story by Golden Keyes Parsons

Chapter Nine – Part 1

Click here to start with Chapter One

Singing—all around her—singing. She was in the middle of a crowd of young people walking through downtown Waco, and Lily Kate found herself singing along with them: He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! She recognized the lyrics as a hymn they sang occasionally in her church.

The mass of wide-eyed college coeds interspersed with clean-cut young men in suits and ties moved as one behind a banner that touted “Waco Youth For Christ.” Lily Kate stumbled and looked at her feet encased in white sandals, but not the cute flip-flops she was accustomed to. They were chunky with an ankle strap, and she was wearing thin socks, rolled down. Oh my gosh! Anklets! She glanced about to discover that she was in the majority as far as her footwear was concerned. She covered her mouth and giggled.

A pretty redhead at her elbow smiled. “Hey, Roomie, what’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing. I … I just was thinking about something.”

Lily Kate’s “roommate” nodded and returned to her singing as the group started into Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face. She knew this one as well and joined in with the harmony. As they walked in the early evening, Lily Kate shrugged her sweater on around her shoulders.

Lily Kate was more confused than ever. Why am I in a completely different location from when I went through the time warp? What is the purpose of all of this? I met Ivy, my mysterious ancestor, and was able to offer her forgiveness. Can I not just go home now? And what of Clay? Whatever happened to my handsome pilot I fell in love with during my last thrust back in time during World War I? Did he come back from the war? And if he did, who did he find waiting for him? She felt around her neck, but the watch wasn’t there. The more she tried to figure it out, the more perplexed she became. She shook her head, and attempted to focus on where she found herself at the moment.

The volume of the singing increased as they approached a large revival tent at the corner of 5th and Clay. A poster on a telephone pole read “Waco Youth Revival – Straight From The Shoulder, Right To The Heart.” Black and white photos of several young men with sermon titles lined the poster. And the date April 28-May 3. It’s the historical Baylor Revival that took place in 1946 I learned about when I was a student there.

She looked at her roommate. “Who’s preaching tonight?”

“Well, it says Howard Butt for Saturday night.”

Visions of the huge H.E.B. supermarkets flooded Lily Kate’s mind. I’d venture to guess Howard Butt has no idea how successful his family’s grocery business is eventually going to become.

The throng of young people filed into the tent that was already half full. A choir of her peers filled the platform. Her roommate grabbed Lily Kate’s arm and pulled her toward the front. “C’mon, Lily! Lois is saving us seats.”

They threaded their way through the crowd toward a tall, slender brunette waving at them. “Over here, Claire, Lily. Hurry.”

So my roommate’s name is “Claire.” I’m obviously in college and living in the dorm at Baylor University. Why not at home?

Lois grabbed up her purse and Bible, so Lily and Claire could scoot into the folding chairs. Lily was not only experiencing the discomfort of the hard chairs, but she was uneasy being in a revival tent. She had never been comfortable with extremes in religion, and a revival meeting bespoke of wild-eyed fanaticism to her. She didn’t like it. She stood, and looked for a way of escape.

Claire tugged on her skirt. “Lily, sit down. They are about to start.

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Join us next Friday for part 2 of chapter 9.

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