Have You Ever Faced An Execution?

Of course not! Thank goodness many of us don't have to.

When I was a wee lad of eight-years-old I was confronted with a world-shaking crises. It consumed me to the point that my poor little mind couldn't cope with much else. I talked to Mother and Dad about it and their explanations made no sense to me. I talked to God about it and He wouldn't answer me. Who do I turn to? Who will listen to me? This made the whole situation totally chaotic.

So, one morning on the way to school, I threw caution to the wind and collapsed under the pressure. Dang near froze to death. Fell into the deep snow and cried like a polar bear pup looking for its Mother. Tears froze, snot flowed, my lunch got wet, schoolbooks fell into snow and I lay there listening to a lonesome train whistle far off in the early morning light. I felt just like that train whistle; alone, lonesome, wailing into the air and it getting lost somewhere in the sky.

The winter sun made its way into the sky.I was too distraught to pick myself up and face my real task at hand, which was getting to school on time. My mind finally came back to reality. I jumped up out of the deep snow, scooped up my things and ran for the streetcar. As I came around the corner, there was no streetcar at the stop.

I panicked. What do I do now? School was too far to walk to in this weather. If I came home, Mother would wale the daylights out of me.

I looked up and a Michigan State Police car drove by. The Officer wore a cowboy hat. He eyed me. My bladder went mushy.

I turned around and headed for home, but wasn't entirely pleased with the destination. Nor was I pleased with the consequences I would have to face. I had to come up with an alternative plan. But what was it?

I was getting cold because everything on me was wet and started to freeze. I picked up my pace and, wham, all of a of sudden a picture of Hoover's chicken coop came into my little mind.

I knew how to get in through the woods without being seen. I congratulated myself for my ingenuity and started off for the chicken coop. My pace picked up. I cut into the woods, circled around back of the houses. I walked slowly and quietly to the chicken coop door, looked around to make sure no one saw me. I unhooked the latch, opened the door and went in.

I moved slowly and deliberately towards the stove. Oh, the heat felt so good and steam started to pour off my clothes. After a few minutes, I became adjusted to the light and the heat. I looked at the chickens sitting on their perch and thought to myself, I wonder if they have an answer for me?

So in a quite, soft tone I asked the chickens; "What would you guys do if you had a great big problem and nobody could, or would, give you an answer?" But they weren't big talkers those chickens, so I shut up and sat there. Boy, nobody can help me!

The consequences at home were horrible, but now, I had to face my executioner. Mother Superior!

The next morning as I marched through the school door, Mother Superior appeared from around a corner, her black habit tossing in the wind as she blocked my path. Her eyes pierced mine, the sheer force of her will stopping me as the other students continued on in a swirl around me.

"Good morning, Mother Superior," I squeaked.

Her hand grabbed the collar of my coat. She said with a growl, "It may be a good morning for some people, but it certainly is not for Paul Miller!" Her voice echoed off the stonewalls of the atrium.

She hauled me straight up to the top of the marble stairs. She turned me around and positioned me dead center under the arch, as if it were a stage. Boy, I thought, I think there's a man inside that Sister's outfit.

The atrium looming out below us reminded me of a field. An execution field! She ordered, "Take off your coat. Put your books and lunch on the floor."

What was going on? Was she going to make me spend the day at the top of the stairs? While following her instruction, the Sisters started coming from every direction with students behind them. Sisters arranged their charges in orderly rows. Once stilled, student faces turned up to look at me.

Panic seized me. Oh Lord, Mother Superior was going to execute me!

If you want to find out how Mother Superior executed me, you'll have to go to my website for the rest of the story.