Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre Read Free Book Online Page A

that car.”
    Mama squeezed me around the middle. “I think it’s great that you’re developing an interest in the spiritual. We could use some of that around here. Now, get going before Bertie comes completely unglued.”

    Mr. Zerto sat in the front, chewing on an unlit cigar, while Benzer’s mom drank coffee and played with the radio.
    â€œHey,” Benzer said. He looked half asleep and a little bit grumpy.
    â€œHey.” I slid into the backseat. “Morning, Mr. Zerto. My grandmother said she’ll pick us up and bring Benzer home so you don’t have to make a second trip.”
    â€œThat works,” Mr. Zerto said. “Where exactly is this church?”
    â€œTake Crocker Highway for four miles,” his wife answered. “It’s on the left.” She turned to smile at me. “You look pretty, Lou. Is that a new dress?”
    â€œNo, ma’am,” I answered, pulling self-consciously at the hem. I hadn’t worn this dress since my cousin Stephanie’s wedding two years ago. If there was any kneeling at this church, I’d probably moon half the congregation!
    We’d picked a good Sunday to start going—it was Homecoming, a picnic held once a year. Tables were set up under the trees, and a couple of women were placing rocks on the edges of the tablecloths to keep them from blowing off in the wind.
    Benzer and I weaved our way through the crowded parking lot. Tommy Winton, a fifth grader, took one look at me and dropped his Bible.
    â€œLou Mayhew, what are you doing here?” he screeched from across the parking lot.
    â€œGetting a pedicure—what does it look like?”
    He laughed. “Pedicure, that’s funny. Hey, you want to sit with me after church? You and Benzer, I mean.”
    I grabbed Benzer’s arm. “Sorry, we told his parents we’d sit with them.”
    Benzer led us up the stairs into the foyer. “Lou,” he whispered, “you just told a lie at church.”
    â€œSo? It’s the perfect place—I can ask to be forgiven while I’m here. Besides, Tommy Winton drives me crazy.”
    I spotted Patty’s red hair in the front row, next to Franklin. She was a good three inches taller than he was, and Franklin wasn’t short. I motioned for her to scoot over, and we slid into the pew.
    â€œWho drives you crazy?” Franklin asked.
    I pointed across the aisle at Tommy Winton. He was craning his neck to peer at me, and when he noticed us looking, blushed a bright red.
    â€œThat’s ’cause he loves you,” Patty sang in a quiet voice. “Tom and Lou, sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S
—oomph! Hey, that hurt!” She rubbed her ribs.
    â€œGood. That’s what I was going for.”
    Benzer grinned. “This church thing is really working out.”
    â€œI can’t believe you actually came,” Patty said. “That’s some powerful Bible you have.”
    â€œSo you still think it was the prayer?” I asked.
    â€œSure,” Patty said, smacking her gum loudly. “Nothing exciting ever happens, then you guys pray, and—bam—the house is in trouble and you appear in church and Isaac gets cheated out of the scholarship. What else could it be?”
    Franklin leaned in to whisper. “Obviously it could all be a coincidence. But the Bible is full of examples of answered prayer. You will find it difficult to prove either way.”
    â€œThank you, Pastor Franklin,” Patty said.
    I looked around. “Could y’all sit further up front next time?” I asked, whispering. “Why didn’t we just sit at the pulpit?”
    Patty smirked. “Pastor Brian asked us to sit here; we help pass out the offering basket. If you don’t like it, you can go sit in the back with Mama. But she would have shushed you three times by now.”
    I was thinking up a smart answer when the song leader asked us to stand. Everyone started