JoJo; Part Three

As JoJo finished filling in the 30th hole, he said out loud, "I hope you are satisfied, Old Lady Cantankerous!" He surprised himself, because he usually would not utter such words to an adult....even if she was not present. It had taken him the better part of three hours to complete this "lesson," as his father called it. More like free labor was JoJo's version.

The shower felt good, not only to knock off that smell of dirt and sweat, but also to his tired muscles. "I'm getting old," JoJo thought to himself. Another thing that was new to JoJo was his appetite. It was difficult to fill up, and even when he did get enough he was eating 2 hours later.
Tonight, he filled himself up on every leftover he could find. JoJo's mother had been sick for about 6 months. The doctors still weren't sure the diagnosis, but Alice rarely cooked. Also, Dan was not a great cook. Fortunately for JoJo, he was usually so hungry that a leather sandwich with Ketsup was tasty to him.

After supper, JoJo used the new three-way calling that had just come out! He called Bob, then they called Tommy.
Tommy inquired, "What sermon did Disciple Dan preach you?'
JoJo never minded his friends calling his dad by that name until that moment. He quickly thought about the way Mr. Wildfire would make fun of Dan. He called him a Choir Boy. Tommy's dad also said he would not be caught dead in church with all those hypocrites. JoJo wasn't sure exactly what he meant by that.
"Whatever he said was better than what your dad would have preached me!"
Bob chimed in, "Was it that bad JoJo Boy?"
Just as quickly as he got mad, JoJo was fine. "Man, I'm sorry Tommy! I shouldn't have said that."
"No problem, Pal." "Now tell us what happened!"
"Well, it was weird."
Bob asked, "How so?"
JoJo tried to explain, "Dad didn't even get mad. He prayed and told me he understood."
Both friends talked over each other, "He didn't preach to you?" "He wasn't mad?!"
"He said that we would work on math together, but I did have to fill all the holes in the yard."
JoJo didn't say anything about Dan's mention of Marge or his own disrespect.
Tommy told him, "You're lucky, Pal! My daddy would have beat the poot out of me!"
Bob, as usual, chimed in, "Dan is a softy."
JoJo had heard enough. "Listen guys, I need to go."
"Oh yea, church tomorrow." "Get ready to go be Mr. Goody-goody."
"Yea, yea. Good night, guys."

Another new thing about JoJo was his sudden interest in God. It wasn't like he had not had an opportunity to learn. JoJo's grandfather, Carlton Smith was the pastor of Slippery Rock United Methodist Church. It was out in the country, about 10 miles from Smallville. His father never received the call to go in to the ministry. He was a Christian businessman. Dan owned a Hardware store. Due to loyal customers, the business did quite well. And when it came to the First United Methodist Church of Smallville, Dan was serious! Even though Mr. Wildfire called Dan a "choir boy," he couldn't carry a tune. No, Dan was involved with the Finance Committee, and he had taught Sunday school class for 15 years. Dan loved his church! Alice loved the church, too. But, her recent sicknesses that began about 3 years ago, had not allowed her to attend very often. JoJo had been attending church since birth, but he really didn't understand all that Jesus stuff. He knew to be a good boy and that had been enough....until now. He knew he wanted more of God. He needed more of God!

Dan knocked, and JoJo told him to come in. Dan always believed in treating his children with a degree of respect. JoJo picked up on that, and he tried to immitate Dan.
"JoJo, the yard looks great!"
"Thanks, Dad."
"Our next lesson needs to happen before you go to sleep."
"Oh, so he waited until I was too tired to not figure out a way to get out of his sermon," JoJo thought to himself.
"I know you're tired, but please listen to me."
"OK, Dad."
"Son, the things that are changing in your life mean you're becoming a man."
"Really?"
"Yes, Son." "God has an instruction for you to help you be a man." "I want you to read this 1 verse three times before you go to bed tonight."
"Sounds good, Dad. What is the verse?"
"It is Micah 6:8. We will talk more about the context later." "Good night, young man."
"Ha!" JoJo liked being called young man. "Good night, Not-as-Young-as-Me-Man."
JoJo read the verse thoroughly twice, but on the third time, he fell fast asleep.
MICAH 6:8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.