Monday, December 11, 2017

JoJo 17.5; Summer 1976; Part Five; Run for Fun

Meanwhile, back at the hospital...

Samantha, her mother, Jane, and Alice were in the Chapel praising God!!! Samantha pictured it to be much like Paul and Silas' singing and praising the Lord in the jail that night! She could feel the very presence of God! There were angels rejoicing over her mother being saved! The three must have stayed in the chapel for another 45 minutes. They prayed, cried, and finally Samantha led them in a song. It was the only "church song" her mother knew.
He's got the whole world in his hands...

Samantha and her momma spent the night at the hospital. Jane went home. It was about 11:00 when she arrived, and not a creature was stirring, not even a......
Jane found Dan in almost a comma-state of sleep. That was his nature once he dozed off. So, she snuggled in with Dan. As soon as she closed her eyes, she was asleep.

The next morning, JoJo was rousted out of bed at 10:00 AM!
"Hey, what's the big idea?! Oh, sorry Dad."
"Son, get up," Dan succinctly communicated.
"Yessir." JoJo was used to sleeping until 12:00...but NOT today.
"Anything you want to tell me about last night?"
JoJo's head was hearing words, but it was too early to make sense. His dad helped him.
"Uhhh. Son, did anything happen at the Rec. Department."
Now JoJo was waking up. "Oh, sure Dad! I had 3 singles, a walk, stole 10 bases, and scored 4 runs!"
"Congratulations. Did you get along OK with everyone?"
"Uh, no sir."
"Go on, Son."
"The stinkin Dodgers were poor sports! They didn't appreciate the fact we beat them 22-0! We demolished them."
"Oh, so I suppose you were a good sport."
JoJo thought about it. "I don't know about 'good sport' but I kicked butt!"
"JoJo, that's a pathetic attitude!"
"What do you mean Dad?"
"My favorite coach was named Ralph Parsons. Coach Parsons taught us to be Humble Winners and Gracious Losers. You sound like a sore winner."
"Really Dad?"
"YES SON! But, let's move on.... I got three phone calls this morning. The last one was from Tom Jones, the Smallville Recreation Leader."
"Really? What did they want?"
"They wanted to know why my son--that would be YOU---acted like a jerk last night at the ball yard."
"Me?"
"You"
"What did I do?"
"Let me see....JOJO SMITH, YOU'RE OUTTA THE BALLPARK!"
"Oh that?" Looks like Squid squealed on me.
"Son, what were you thinking?"
"Dad, I was just having fun."
"Would you like to have some more fun, Son?"
"I don't think so."
"JoJo, get up, get dressed, and be in the backyard in 5 minutes."
"YESSIR!" Oh man....I never heard Dan talk that calm when he was mad! This is bad! bad!

Dan told JoJo about the 'Fun.' "Son, you will learn a Bible verse today."
"What verse Big Dan?"
"Proverbs 21:24."
"Sounds good."
"Here's the Bible, JoJo. Look it up."
"Uh..got it. 'Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.'"
"Now, last night, you were that Mocker! You acted with boundless arrogance. You were just plain-out mean and told people 'I was just funning.' Today, I am going to allow you to do some more funning."
How...How does Dan find out..it's the next morning. For crying out loud.
"How long do I have to learn the verse?"
"It's up to you..."
"Cool."
"Here's how the fun works....Each hour you will have an opportunity to recite the verse to me. For each word you get wrong, you will run a mile. When you have it just right, we'll quit. Sound like fun?"
"No Sir!"
"You hurt the Smith name last night. I am going to help you learn how 'I was just joking' can hurt."
"But, Dad. I said funning."
"You want to make that 2 miles?"
"No sir."
"Good. It is 10:17. At 11:17, we will have our first FUN. GOOOO!!"

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