Chapter 5
28 more days to go....
"Let's talk about religion guys" Mr Henderson spoke
The whole class fell silent. We patiently waited for what he was about to say. He never read or taught from a book. He spoke from his head with ease.
He was dressed in a white collared shirt tucked in with black pants and black shoes. Sigh. Corporate looks good on you Mr Henderson. Scratch that, everything looks good on you
"Close your notebooks" he ordered
The sounds of books slammed shut filled the room.
"To be a creative writer, you have to think outside the box. That's what we will be doing today. Alright guys? Thoughts on religion. Anyone?"
A few hands rose up. I shook my head. I definitely have no thoughts on religion or anything that has to do with the so-called God. He let them kill my brother. He let bad things happen to innocent people.
"Yes Annabelle"
"I feel religion is an illusion" she replied
Everyone turned towards her, silently telling her to explain. I couldn't be bothered but she was my friend so I felt compelled to listen.
"Intriguing" Mr Henderson nodded "Will you like to elaborate?"
"I feel nobody can know the true form of God. Our various views about God are similar to that in the story of the Elephant and the Blind men. One man touches the nose and says the elephant is a snake, another touches the leg and says the elephant is like a tree, another touches the tusk and thinks the elephant is a spear. They never got the full picture because they were blind. That applies to us too. We can never get the full image of God"
Silence.
The class bursts into a resounding round of applause.
"That's wise of you Ann" Mr Henderson said "I totally agree with you"
"Thank you sir"
"Bullshit" I murmured
"Would you like to say something miss Adams" he asked me
"Yes" I said
Time to get a few things off my chest
"Go ahead" he urged me
"God doesn't exist. End of story"
Everybody gasped in horror
"How can you say such a thing" Mary said
Mr Henderson didn't seem surprised or offended. He looked curious and interested. I half expected him to send me out of his class or give me detention or something but he didn't. He just stood there and looked at me.
"Can you prove that he does?" I challenged her
"Easy. The Bible"
I face palmed myself
"It's just a book. It's a bunch of made up stories by people.... Creative people, I must admit"
"With your thinking, you will end up in hell"
Oh my days
"There is no hell or heaven. When you die, you die. You're gone. That's it"
"You're crazy"
"She is not" Mr Henderson said "this is an interactive class. She is simply voicing out her opinion"
Whispering could be heard throughout class. They were probably wondering how this soon-to-be priest could be defending me. I was wondering the same thing.
"A stupid opinion!" Mary argued
"There is no such thing as a stupid opinion" he continued "We all have the right to speak our mind. Feel free to argue. That is what this class is for"
He turned to me
"Anything else you would like to say?"
Anger swelled in me. Anger because I lost a loved one. Anger because my parents left me when I needed them the most. Anger because My life is fucked up. I'm angry because after everything that's going on in the world, these kids are delusional enough to believe that God exists.
"Can I ask a question?" I said
"Please"
"If God is real then why does he let innocent people die? Why does he let bad things happen to good people? or does he give preferential treatment?"
If God is real, He must really hate me and my brother.
Annabelle reached out from under her table and held my hand in a comforting manner.
"It’s okay" she whispered from behind me
"Answer me!" I demanded
He sighed
"Everything happens for a reason"
I laughed
"That's your excuse?"
"It’s not an excuse. It's a fact"
"Really?"
"How come you're alive today?"
I shrugged
"Cause I am"
"No. You're alive because God is merciful enough"
"If he's so merciful. How about all the innocent people or babies that are dead?"
"God has a reason for everything" a boy at the back said
I stood up and slammed my hand on the table. Everyone flinched in their seats. I was shaking in rage.
"There is no God"
"Sit down Ruby" Mr Henderson said softly
" I...."
"Sit down"
I huffed as I sat down. My body was shaking in fury. The whispering had started again
She's mental
Lunatic
Spoiled brat
Devil's child
She's on drugs
"Quiet" Mr Henderson's voice boomed throughout the classroom.
When he had gotten everyone's attention, he addressed me.
"I don't know who hurt you Ruby but all I know is that there is a God" he faced the class "Just because life isn't going well for you doesn't mean God doesn't exist. Life is a mystery. There are things in this world that are too complicated for us to apprehend. Even if you don't believe in a supreme being that rules entire universe, I do. I do believe. I have seen the works of God manifested in so many ways and that's why I want to dedicate my life to serving him. My advice to you is, it is better to live your life as if there is a God and to find out there isn't than for you to live your life as if there isn't a God and to die to find out there is"
The bell rang signalling the end of class
"That’s it for today guys" he clasped his hands "Read Romeo and Juliet. We will review it in the next class"