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What's a God?

What’s a God?

When school was out for the holidays, Caleb walked alone. Other kids talked about their gods or places they went to worship.

 

Izzy said she and her daddy were gathering under the big white tent in the country.


“Will it be fun? Do you play games?”


“No, silly! We worship God!” Izzy ran ahead and caught up with her friends.


“Hey, Corni!” Caleb called to a girl walking near him.


She zigzagged over. “What’s up?”


“What are you doing on holiday?” Caleb looked down at his scruffy shoes, getting dustier on the path.


“My mama makes me go to that temple; you know the big one in town? She says we gotta go and praise God.”


Caleb watched his feet and didn’t say anything. Corni’s house was just ahead, so she waved goodbye.


Caleb walked home, alone with his thoughts.


His mother was outside, hanging laundry on the line. The sun was hot, and the wind was kicking dust around. Caleb sat in the dirt, next to her basket of clean, wet towels.


“What are you doing?”


Caleb looked up, squinting in the sun. “What’s a god, Mama?”


His mama bent to pick up another towel, groaning, one hand on her back. She met his eyes. “Honestly, Caleb. I don’t know. Go ask your grandpa.”