Transparent Christian Magazine

It was after I was gone. Gone home from the vacation that was less a vacation than a moral imperative.

After I’d packed up my things, stole a hug until she hugged back, and returned the rental car. Enplaned in Detroit. Deplaned in Nashville.

It was after we spent time watching Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers, and then visited Marshall Music, pretending to be Shane and Mitchie. And Miley, of course.

It was after the rough night when her mother yelled at her father again, and the next day when we were all VIPs at school, and sat together civily while she and her classmates sang Yes, Jesus loves me.

And the next day her soccer team won, but everyone had to sit out at least one period so that all could play, and daughters of coaches sit out two periods. She didn’t mind it as much as I did. Besides, there were donuts afterwards. I took lots of pictures.

It was after a trip to Meijer for tools and treats and we carved pumpkins that we got from some farmer’s front yard. Big ones are $3, little ones are $2, indian corn 3 ears for $1. Leave the money in the box. We talked a lot about the honor system after that. And napped. I roasted up the seeds, and they were perfect. Not her favorite, but Dad carved a perfectly scary cat and the word “Boo” in her pumpkin, and she didn’t need seeds.

After everything, and finally I had to go home, and I wanted to tell her everything would be alright, but instead I just told her that I loved her, because it was the truth, and stole another hug.

And after everything that was not enough and could never be enough… I became a leaf on her tree.