I Hate New
Sunday School
Classes
A Judachew, the Singing Mouse, Adventure
Timothy W. Ayers
Copyright 2014 by Timothy W. Ayers
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13:978-1500614577
ISBN-10: 1500614572
Timothy W. Ayers
[email protected] https://www.timothywayers.wix.com/author
DEDICATION
To Jude and Lily Rennie
To Cameron and Zachary Cockroft
To all kids who face the difficulty of moving and attending a new class
To the kids at Sycamore Baptist Church. Thanks for lending your names to a group of fun mice
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Judachew Adventures is a real labor of love. It was started because I wanted to write a Christmas story as a reward for the Sunday School students, who did such a fantastic job with our Sunday School Christmas play one year (see 5 Little Christmas Dramas for Today's Kids published by CSS Publishing). The second in the series was written for a friend for her grandchildren. This, the third in the series, is an outgrowth of my desire to produce resources for small churches. This is a way to help new students adjust to a new Sunday School class.
Many thanks to my daughter, Rebecca, who always gets roped into to doing the early readings and preliminary editing. She did them while pregnant and then delivering Lily. Now, that is dedication and hard work.
Chapter 1
I, Judachew, threw the last of my worldly possessions into a small matchbox and tied it shut with a piece of string I found on the floor of the old church building. I had already said goodbye to my best friend forever, Alexa. Both of us cried and we both promised to keep in touch. Alexa said she would email me, but I knew that without a computer, or even an email address, it would be hard for us to stay in touch. I just thought that I would figure something out because BFFs stay in touch.
“Dad, tell me again why we are moving all the way to some small town in Iowa,” I said with a hint of frustration in my voice. My mouse friends and I had done wonderful things at the little church where we lived in Western New York. Now that the Pastor's wife was over her illness, or at least it was in something called remission, we should be able to have a great life right here.
Dad scurried on his hind legs, grabbing this and that and then more of this and that. He let out a loud, frustrated sigh before answering me. “Judachew, the pastor has decided to retire and move closer to his daughter in Iowa. He has been our friend for a long time. We are his 'church mouse family' and therefore, if he moves then we move. It won't be so bad. There will be a new church to attend, and you will make lots of new friends. Besides you have a new responsibility now,” he said.
I knew what he was talking about. I have a new little sister. I love the little girl but we all know how little sisters can cramp our style, or at least, whatever style a singing mouse has. Lily joined our family just a short time ago. I call her Lily but her full name is Lilliputian. I know, that is some crazy sounding name. You can see why I call her Lily.
When Mom was having Lily, Dad was building her new nest. As is my Dad's custom, he waited until the last minute to get to work on the nest. He was hurriedly tearing pages from a book called Gulliver's Travels. When my mother asked what they were going to name the baby, he did, as he did with me, looked at the page he was tearing and called out the first thing he read: Lilliputian. It stuck but fortunately for her, he did not sneeze right after saying it.
You see, I got my name when he was trying to say the name Jude from the Bible, but a loud, explosive sneeze came right after it. Therefore Jude plus Achoo became Judachew. I decided to save my little sister from the embarrassment of having to explain her name by calling her Lily.
Although Lilliputian fits her well. If you don't know what a Lilliputian is then maybe I should explain. About fifty years before the United States started, a pastor named Jonathan Swift, wrote a book about a ship's captain named Gulliver. Gulliver was shipwrecked and washed up in a country made of islands called Lilliput. The people who lived there were called Lilliputians. They were just like regular people except for one thing; they were only six inches tall. So, they were no bigger than us mice.
My little sister, Lily, is a tiny thing as well. So, I guess the name fits her well. She is Little Lily and is as a cute as a bug. To be honest though, I don't really understand that phrase to be “cute as a bug.” I don't find bugs all that cute. I mean, a Ladybug can be cute but what about a Stinkbug? They are not cute and well, they stink. As I was saying, Lily is my little sister and she is as cute as a bug.
Lily and I hang out together a lot. She idolizes me since I am a famous, singing mouse and have been on TV and all that. I don't mind because I love her and watching her is my responsibility.
My packing was interrupted when my mother walked in the room and spoke. “Remember, Judachew, this journey may take two days so don't forget to pack some games to play.”
“Mom, why do we have to move? I like all my friends here and I have the best Sunday School class in the world. I hate new Sunday School classes!” I told her as I stomped my little, back paw on the bare wooden floor behind the wall of the church.
“Judachew, that is enough of that childish behavior. We are the pastor's church mice family. If he moves, we move. It is settled. Now, finish your packing and don't forget your games.” Mom turned and walked away.
I could tell she was a little angry with me, but I could not get her to understand that I hate new Sunday School classes. What if the other mice were mean to me? What if they wouldn't let me be a part of their class? What if I didn't know the answers to the teacher's questions? What if the teacher hated me? What if the other mice wouldn't let me play in their reindeer games? I made a joke. Get it? It was from that song about Rudolph. Now that I think about it, I felt a lot like Rudolph. Here I am a singing mouse. That is as bad as having a big, red nose that glows. I might as well have a big, red nose because none of the other mice are going to like me. None. Period.
“Ahhh!” I heard Lily scream from the other room.
Chapter 2
I raced from my room towards the sound of Lily's voice. I could hear Dad's padded little paws pounding against the floor behind me until they overtook me and reached Lily first. He stooped and picked her up. He examined her all over to see where she had gotten hurt before asking, “What is wrong, Lily?”
“I can't find my dolly. Dolly has to move with us. I won't go if Dolly doesn't go. Daddy, do you think she ran away because she doesn't want to move?” Lily asked with her big mouse eyes filling with tears.
“I already packed her for the trip,” Mom said from her position behind me. “Your dolly is safe and she wants to be with you. She will move wherever you move. Dollies are good friends in that way. Now, you be a good daughter and come ask me your questions instead of screaming. Remember, we are supposed to be as quiet as church mice.” Mom scurried back to her packing and Dad did the same.
“Mom is right, Lily. Dolly will move with you. In a short time, this move will just be a memory. Little mice like you have it easy. You don't have to pack and when you get to the new place, all the other mice families will think you are just adorable. They will accept you right away but me, that is a different story. I have to make new friends, meet new humans and go to a new Sunday School class and I hate new Sunday School classes,” I told my little sister.
“Mama told me not to use that word,” Lily stated.
“What word is that?” I asked even though I knew which word my mother did not like.
“Hay, hay, hay....don't like,” Lily stammered with the alternate phr
ase that Mom found more preferable.
“I know, but I really don't like going to a new Sunday School class. What if the other mice don't like me” I told her. She padded across the floor and threw her arms around me.
“Oh, Judachew, who could not like you? You are the most wonderful and amazing big brother in the world,” she told me as her big eyes looked up at me.
“Alright, that's enough of trying to get on my good side. What do you need, little sis?” I attempted to make a joke because I was ready to cry. I was nervous about moving and my little sister was the support that would get me through it. I sure loved that little girl.
The ride to our new home did take two days. By the time we got there I was tired of playing games. I needed a good piece of fresh cheese and a field to run around in. Lily slept most of the way. She was a bundle of refreshed energy when the moving truck finally pulled into the driveway of the pastor's new house.
As I crawled down off the truck, I looked up to see the house. It was nice, but the best part was that it sat right next to an old stone-walled church building. The church had a very high steeple and stained glass windows all around the sides. It was beautiful. The church would be our new home. I couldn't wait to find my own room. Maybe moving wouldn't be so bad. It didn't matter now. I was here and I had better make the best out of it.
The moving men pulled the boxes from the truck. As they set them on the lawn, Dad, Mom and I would pick up our belongings and move them to the small mouse door in the side of the church building.
We had stacked up all the boxes under a large bush and sat down for a quick picnic before carrying everything inside. After eating, all four of us walked inside to tour our new home. It was glorious. The sun filtered through the stained glass windows and created a rainbow of colors across the floor and pews. As the sun shifted positions it painted a new palette of colors everywhere. Lily thought they were a game and that the colors were her new friends. She danced with them like only a tiny, innocent mouse can. Lily jumped from red to blue to green then yellow. It was a wonderful thing to watch.
“Oh, honey, this is going to be a great home. I hope we can fill the place with lots of dancing, little children,” Mom said to my Dad. Dad stood proudly as if he had built the old church himself. They were happy and Lily was ecstatic. Me? Not so much. I still had to deal with the new Sunday School class and as you know, I hate new Sunday School classes.
Mom and Dad located a wonderful place behind the wall to make our new home sweet home. I picked out my room and Lily picked out hers. We were a little surprised when none of the neighboring mice came out to greet or welcome us. It was lunchtime, though, and maybe they were all having their family meals. Mom and Lily got busy sweeping out the area. Well, Mom swept and Lily pretended to sweep with a tiny little paint brush Dad found in one of the class rooms. He and I scurried down to the outside mouse door to start carrying in our boxes.
I was on my tenth load up the stairs to our new home when it finally hit me: I was tired. “Dad, I need a break. I am going to take a tour around the outside of the building before I carry up the last load,” I said.
“Meet you upstairs in a few minutes. Be careful, though. Stay close to the building so you don't get lost,” he responded.
“I am too tired to go too far,” I told him. I started to stroll along the pathway under the shade of the bushes. The breeze was cool and the air was sweet smelling. I got to the back of the building and looked over the church yard to the field behind me. It was filled with corn. Wow, there was so much corn to eat that I would become one big, fat mouse if I didn't watch my diet. I walked over to the field and saw an ear of corn that had already fallen from the stalk. I plucked off a kernel and strolled back towards the building to eat it.
The first bite put me in taste bud heaven. It was the sweetest, juiciest corn I ever had. Maybe the move to Iowa wasn't so bad after all. I sat munching on the kernel while I relaxed. It was a beautiful day. Mom was happy. Dad was proud and Lily was having a ball. This could be a serene, peaceful and relaxed lifestyle for us all. Then I smelled it. It was a foul and nasty odor.
“Meeoww,” came the sound from behind me. Gulp! This was not going to be a good day, I emphatically decided.
Chapter 3
“Hello, little mousey,” purred the large, furry, gray cat. His lips were curved in a smile as he licked his tongue across them. “Welcome to my home. Mice around here call me Catsby, the Great Catsby. I don't want to eat you but if you walk your little feet over this way, I wouldn't mind just having a little lick,” the cat said. He grinned bigger. It was a false grin designed to make me believe him but remember, I had been on TV, so I knew a fake smile when I saw one.
“Sorry, can't do that today. I need to help my family move in,” I slowly rose to my four paws. This was going to take my fastest and surest moves to escape this new, unattractive enemy.
“Oh, I saw your family. Your little sister will make a wonderful appetizer. Now, if I could just have a lick of you then I will know if you need salt and pepper or maybe you will taste delectable just the way you are,” the cat said as it drew back on its haunches. The beast was ready to spring at any second. I wasn't about to wait. I turned and ran for the mouse door in the side of the building. Catsby was on my tail. I mean, really on my tail. His paw slammed down and caught me by the very tip of my long tail.
“Maybe a lick won't be enough. I worked up a real lunchtime appetite slamming my paw down. You might be just what I need to tide me over until my food bowl is filled up again,” Catsby purred as he moved his head closer to mine. I could smell the fishy, cat food on his breath. I was about to be his lunch when a large humming bee landed on Catsby nose. Without thinking, he raised his paw to swat it away. In an instant, I was up and running towards the door in the side of the building. Catsby slid to a stop in the dirt by the hole casting pebbles and soil everywhere. I could hear him talking to himself.
“Drat, I finally catch my first mouse and it gets away. I am certainly not much of a real cat. I might just be a dog. 'Woof, woof' is what I should be saying. Now, no mouse will ever call me the Great Catsby.” I waited a few minutes before poking my head out of the hole. Catsby was gone but my last two boxes were still there. I raced out, grabbed them and ran up the stairs.
“We were wondering what happened to you. Your father was ready to mount a search party,” Mom said with a laugh. She was happy in her new home. They were all happy in our new home. How could I tell them about the big, gray, scary cat? It would only frighten Lily. I decided to keep it to myself until the right moment.
We all put our belongings away. Mom pulled out the last of the cheese from the trip and we had dinner. It was a modest meal but tomorrow was Sunday, and just like every church there would be donuts, cookies and wonderful, big, extravagant trays filled with yummy cheese and nourishing crackers.
Bedtime came but I was too upset to sleep. I would doze off but dream of nearly getting caught by Catsby. Finally, sleep came but so did the nightmares.
“Welcome, little mice, to your new Sunday School class. I am your new teacher, Mr. Catsby. After our lesson we will have a little snack, or rather, I will have a little snack. Today's Sunday School lesson is about feeding the poor. More exactly, it is about feeding the poor cats. Always remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive,” Catsby purred. “Here is my first question.” I looked around at the other mice. There were more than a dozen of us.
“The first question is for you, Judachew,” Mr. Catsby said.
“Me? Why me? I am new here and I don't even know what you studied last week. This isn't fair,” I protested but Mr. Catsby wasn't listening. He was busy pulling out a plate, a salt shaker and a pepper shaker.
“Name every instance where a cat is mentioned in the Bible,” Catsby commanded.
“Cats in the Bible? Who cares about cats in the Bible?” I stated indignantly.
“There is no mention of a cat, at least a house cat, anywhere in the Bi
ble,” came a small voice from behind me. It was Lily. She was probably right. At least, I hoped she was right or I would be the Sunday School snack.
“Drat!” Catsby muttered. “You are right but don't you agree that there should be cats in the Bible? I propose that we re-write the Bible to have cats everywhere. What do you say, Judachew?”
“That is ridiculous. We can't rewrite the Bible and put cats in it. The Bible is a finished book. We can't add to it and we can't subtract from it,” I said defiantly.
“Drat! Well, then I think the lesson is over. Let's eat!” Catsby said as he leaped for Lily. Without thinking I jumped in front of her, because that's what big brothers do. Catsby scooped me up in his one paw and grabbed my tail with the other. He hung me upside down as I swung back and forth from my tail like a hypnotist's watch. The cat raised me over his upturned head and opened wide his mouth. Catsby lowered me toward his gaping, fang-lined hole. I struggled. I pulled on my tail to free it. I moved closer and closer to his mouth. My first day at a new Sunday School would soon be my last.
Mr. Catsby let go of me and I fell through the air like a miniature skydiver. The dark black opening of his mouth grew closer and closer. This was it for me. My next stop was Catsby's stomach.
Chapter 4
I could hear yelling in the background. It was my mother's voice. I didn't want her to see her only son leave the world in this way. I covered my ears to muffle her screams.
“Judachew, it is time to get up. How many times do I have to call you. Sunday School is in an hour and you need to look your best. No child of mine is going to Sunday School with a 'bed head' tuft of fur. Now, get up!” Mom scolded.
“Wow, sure Mom. This a great day and that was only a dream. I will be ready but if the teacher is a cat then I am running for it. Agreed?” I told her as I sat up quickly in my bed.