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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Allowed - Aloud (01/05/23)
Alex discretely scanned the room to see if the others were able to detect him huddled behind a computer with another guy, discussing their mutual disgust. Everyone was standing shoulder to shoulder, due to the overflow of attendants at the meeting and emotions were running high, as shoulders did brush…

“My wife and I don’t usually come down here for parent-involved meetings and things, but this is so utterly unacceptable. We’ve certainly lost some serious sleep over this one,” he explained.

“Yeah, same thing with us,” the guy replied.

Alex spoke secretly to this father until the pushing removed him from sight, but then another father moved in closer, as though he had been just waiting for the chance, and whispered, “Can you believe this bull crap?”

“No man, this is insane!” he shouted, but quietly and with distinct facial contortion.

“We’re thinking of just taking our kids outta this whole school system,” the guy scoffed, without taking his eyes off the crowd.

Alex just nodded, as he continued searching the sea of faces for the other parents’ varying anger levels. Then he whispered, “Same conversation at our dinner table.”

“I mean, did you see this coming? Transgender books that are majorly explicit creeping into our school library!?” The man remarked through gritted teeth.

Alex just shook his head in disgust and agreement and turned to look into the guy’s eyes that were full of tears.

“I’m Alex,” he said, extending his arm.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Arnie,” he replied, shaking his hand, with a worrisome smile and a deep sigh.

“Well, whadaya think Arnie? Should we join together in protest over this nonsense?”

“Yes, but I say if they won’t listen, we just take our kids outta this lousy school and teach them at home. At home we can teach them our values and go back to the abcs and the 123s!”

“You got yourself a deal……after we talk to our wives that is.”
Arnie smiled and patted Alex on the arm.

Both fathers went back to paying attention to the minutes of the meeting so they would not miss any developments with the case; both of them aware that this was only the beginning of just this kind of upsetting and awkward event.

“Ginny, you just would not believe what they are allowing at that school!”

Alex complained to his wife that evening, over a lingering glass of white wine.

“But you have the comfort of knowing you’re doing the right thing to fight this and if the board refuses to listen, I say we take our kids outta school and teaching them here at home,” she remarked with newly found confidence. “I’ll quit my job for homeschooling,” she declared.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that! We’d manage somehow. Anyway, God would help us. He doesn’t want any of His kids to be exposed to such complete and utter filth,” Alex replied.

At the next meeting regarding a few other of these same type books, Alex was prepared to fight harder than he ever fought in his life.
“I’m ready Ginny,” he declared that morning over the breakfast table.

“This book and others like it are not appropriate for our kids, not in our school or any other school! The atmosphere should be one of innocence and age-appropriateness! Our schools should not be places of indoctrination, but safety! We have the right to demand their safety!” He screamed as loud as he could as he entered the room.

“Oh, get off your soapbox!” he heard a gray-haired woman shout.

“You should be ashamed of yourself grandma!” Alex couldn’t help but shout back. “Why don’t you go home? You haven’t any kids in this school!” Alex retorted loudly.

The woman ran out of the room screaming and a few others shouted at Alex for upsetting her and going against the narrative, while the others rallied for him; chanting: “Bring back our safe school system! SAFE, SAFE, SAFE, SAFE, SAFE” they chanted softly for the remainder of the meeting, with Alex’s voice leading them all.

The board ruled in favor of the “free speech” of using this book and any others they may bring in in the future.

“Well Ginny, we may have lost the case, but we did the right thing by taking our kids outta school, but only after staying in the fight over what should NOT be allowed and certainly not tolerated in schools or anywhere else for that matter,” Alex declared that victorious evening.
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This article has been read 361 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Lawrence 
01/12/23
This is certainly on topic. I just missed hearing a whisper of grace from any of the Jesus followers. I don't mean tolerance. But is there a place in the story where the aroma of Jesus' presence might be sensed?
Philippa Geaney
01/14/23
The glitch (artifact) in all the entries makes it a bit difficult to go with the flow of dialogue, but you've come up with a great way of handling the topic.
As with the previous comment I too felt the Main Character could have been just as firm in conviction without losing the chance to reveal Christ’s captivating gentliness. I believe the word used was ‘fragrance’ - how arresting.
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
01/16/23
Passion and righteous anger came through in your story.
Structure wise it was a bit abrupt between 'scened' This is easily fixed with better transitional sentences. Thanks for sharing. Blessings
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
01/19/23
This is very appropriate for the time. The United Methodist Church is splitting over arguments like this. My son is a minister in a UMC and really struggling in many ways. I was a bit unclear which father thought they should be banned and which thought they should be accepted or did both Arnie and Alex agree? I really thought Alex was going to admit he used to be Alexis. And maybe that is in there and I'm missing it or maybe it's wishful thinking. It's been a tough week and my brain is foggy. There was a long-time FW member, top of the rankings for years who changed genders and was/is nervous about letting everyone know. It hurts my heart. This person is the same as the many others I've met around that time--changed. Meaning, no one is the same and we've all grown in many ways; for me it's between God and each person to figure out. I just feel God calling me to open my heart and my mind. So that's what I'm trying to do. Book banning no matter the topic, has been going on for centuries. I'm okay with some groups not sticking up in a more Z Christian way (but it does sadden me). Peer pressure is real among adults too. Although I'm not super clear how Alex stands on the position, I'm okay with that too. I do wish I knew what was he/she thought was despicable, banning or letting them in, but part of the good thing about this article is it must make a person stop and really examine what God is saying to each person. And I'm not sure there's a clear answer. No matter how this ranks, you've started some conversation with each other, and hopefully for most with God and those are awesome things to accomplish, even if people like me may not have totally gotten your intended message. I've no doubt the Holy Spirit and I had a great conversation tonight. For that I say Kudos!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
01/19/23
After rereading, I do see you are clear where Alex stands and likely where Arnie stands. At first I thought Grandma line was happening athome. All this to say my brain was tired not your writing. But I do stand by it being a one-on-one talk with each reader and God and maybe God will push you to write it in a more open-ended way. Good job and I truly enjoyed it, even with tired brain.