Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Pink Lady Apple Yeggs and my friend, and brother-in-law, Deviled Yeggs suggested that I record each project that I set up in the hopes of reforming the people who continue to work for Lily the Pink Enterprises.  If for no other reason, it would show how God is at work.

Madelaine Lothrop Morrissey has become a treasure.  She helped us in the nursery as a favor to her mother, but it gave her valuable experience.  We started the preschool in January, and she has 24 children.  Five of the children will advance to Kindergarten.  By then, we hope to have teachers on board, but if not, we will handle it like home schooling.  The plan for now is to hire possibly two teachers for the four grades plus preschool, K-3.  We don’t have enough children yet to justify a teacher for a particular grade, although half of the children were born in 2023, from Baffing Spoon “Baffy” Niblick to Catalina.

And the preschool grows next year.  While five will enter kindergarten, still part of Madelaine’s school, we graduate seven from the nursery to preschool.  That will contain Pink Sparkle, my youngest.  Since Sparkle and Ellie Rain Allott, Grannie Fannie’s unofficial youngest, were by themselves in the play area in my office, we have invited Josie’s little Daniel, Levi ver Waarloosd, Karl Kaiser, and Stormie Yeggs.  They knew each other from the nursery, and we have enough room in the nap room, but with the personalities, there is never much napping.

Strange how the excuse was to give Pink Sparkle some friends to play with now that her brother and sister are in preschool along with the older two Allott children.  But with two little girls playing in the play area, I was getting a strange sense of being an empty nester.  Now, there are three girls and three boys, all wanting the same toy at the same time.  I am already planning on shortening my open-door hours next year so that I can visit Pink Sparkle at preschool.  I think Grannie Fannie will become a teacher’s aid at that point.  A lot of preschool is learning how to share and play together, and that is what Grannie Fannie has already been teaching them.  And one requirement for preschool is that they are potty trained.  So, Grannie Fannie will have one less chore to deal with.

And with Stormie being the youngest in my office extension, I have my niece, Jemima, helping Grannie Fannie part-time.  Jemima has a light load in her last semester as an undergraduate, but her photography business is picking up some steam.  She still goes on storm chases.  But when she can, her presence is always welcome, whether she is helping with the children or keeping me company when there is no one wanting to talk.

But thinking about Pink Sparkle, she has a new teacher in Sunday school.  This morning, I came into the classroom to pick her up and take her to the sanctuary.  She stays with us until the children’s sermon.  This young college-aged man was talking to Sparkle, or as Kanok still says Spa-Cool.  He was squatting next to her asking her fairly personal questions.

I asked, “Can I help you?”

He looked up and noticed the matching pink hair.  “Is this your daughter?”

I said, “Yes, and you are asking some personal questions.  Do you need to know who her parents are and what they do for a living?”

He stood up and turned red, “No, but the primary teacher asked me to talk about information that they need to know in case they get lost.  They need to know where they live and who their parents are.  And she identified herself as Sparkle.  Her Daddy was a baker, but Thomas puts buns in the oven.  Her Daddy makes cakes.  Her Mommie is a counter, like one, two, three.  I still have no idea what that means.  But what baffled me is that she lives in the Big House next to the Crystal Mountain.  And something about Lilies.  Next Sunday is Easter, so I asked about that being what she meant about Lilies and she laughed and said Easter was her cousin and Stormie was her cousin.  She may need better information to tell the police.”

At that moment, my brother-in-law, Lt. Dev Yeggs walked up with Rev C.S.L.  Dev asked, “Is there a problem here?”

I repeated what the young man said he had gotten out of Sparkle.

Dev flipped out his shield. “Over half the police in Tracy would know exactly where my niece lives from that information.  I think more than half have eaten my brother’s donuts.  And Scrambled bakes cakes, for the most part, while rolls, buns, and biscuits are Thomas’s specialty.  I think what Sparkle meant is that her mother is an Accountant, not a counter, but she is much more than that.  You see, the Big House is not only her home, but the headquarters of Lily the Pink Enterprises.  That covers cider operations here and in Washington state, the bakery, and gasoline grade alcohol from carbon recovery.  And the Crystal Mountain is a seven to ten story tall greenhouse with a jungle inside, complete with waterfall and a huge swimming pool.  You must not talk to many locals, or you would have heard of the Crystal Mountain if nothing else.”

The young man said, “I just transferred here from State.  I want to get a degree in Theology here at the university.  I split my classroom time between the South campus and the main campus.  I had some classes that did not transfer.”

Naomi walked up and kissed her husband on the cheek, “Did I hear you say, ‘the South Campus?’”

The young man was suddenly at a loss for words. “Ummm.  You.  You’re the Dean.”

Naomi smiled, “Young man, do not worry.  If you take classes at the South Campus, I would be the last person to deal with you unless you enroll in my degree field.  And I know everyone in the field.  They think since I have a small enrollment, I have extra time to deal with all the faculty.  And Pink, my sister-in-law, is giving her husband fits.  He thinks you are going to be late and miss the grand procession.”

Rev C.S.L. laughed, “The service does not start until I get there, but we still have time.”

At that moment, Boaz walked up, “Mom?  Can I help?”  The young man turned pale. 

Still laughing, Rev C.S.L. said, “Let me do a quick set of introductions.  “This is Lt. Deviled Yeggs, formerly of homicide, but now in charge of all detectives in Tracy.  His wife, who is expecting another child is Dr. Trinity Naomi Tesla Yeggs.  As you pointed out, she is the Faculty Dean of the South Campus, but you are still under the Dean of Philosophy, specifically the head of Theology, which recently, the department is now led by Dr. Justice, whose daughter is dating Blaise Yeggs, Dev and Naomi’s soon-to-be middle son.  Now, Dev’s sister, is Pink Lady Apple Yeggs.  The archway to the building where Dr. Yeggs has an odd sign, “Welcome to the PLAYhouse.  P.L.A.Y.  As in Pink Lady Apple Yeggs.  She refuses to have her name on any building on campus.  She may have an Accounting degree from the university, but she is CEO of Lily the Pink Enterprises.  And the young man who just walked up is Boaz Yeggs, mayor of Tracy.  Don’t worry, Justin, none of them bite, and I doubt if Dev has cuffs in his back pocket.  Everyone, this is Justin Time.  He is from the eastern side of the state, and we have just gotten his background check back.  This is his first Sunday with the one- to three-year-olds.  Now, I need to get into position so that the Triumphal Entry can occur.  Pink, since I am visiting this afternoon, have Justin come to the parade and after party this afternoon.  I think a lot of his questions might be answered by seeing Zuzka’s dream in person.  And he would qualify for assistance.  If Babs and Harold Dykstra will be there, Harold can direct Justin to a food bank or two, not just the one here.  His meal plan does not cover enough to keep a gnat alive.”

When we got to our pews, I suggested that Justin follow the tall lady, Zuzka, to the bus.

After a meal in the den, a special meal for Stinker’s Sunday school class, we gathered for the parade.  Justin had met Rosie and Johnny Jacks, and they introduced him to Tammie.  The four of them went to the Crystal Mountain together.

But besides having over twenty children less than five years old, Madelaine has her hands full.  One of the twenty-four children is Holiday Wednesday, who just turned five.  And Catalina is the youngest at two and a half.  The knowledge and skill level over that age range varies drastically.  Madelaine taught them two songs.

Madelaine asked around and Tommie Tat , being our outdoors person, volunteered her husband, Doug Kutz, known by some as Dog Cuts, since he is a dog groomer.  Doug would portray Jesus.  He liked growing out his beard in the winter months.  He would be shaving it soon as the weather was already getting inconsistently warm.  Inconsistent, in that it would be hot for a week and then we would have a little snow.

He knew a friend who had a very large dog that was as gentle as a lamb.  Doug would walk next to the dog, but they would put a saddle on the dog. And the children could walk the dog, literally, through the Crystal Mountain.  The route ended on stage where everyone would scramble for the seats, reserved seating up front for parents.  The children and nursery staff would sing Sing Hosanna and Hosanna Rock.  The first was well known and the audience helped.  The second was easy to learn and the children went crazy with the dance moves.  Emmett’s band for the Stinker Sunday school class provided the accompaniment.

Madelaine thanked everyone who was involved in helping make the parade possible.

We then went into the Conference Center for a big cake, ice cream, and some healthy choices for those that wanted to watch the waistline.

When the children were finished, they were all ready for a nap, except Kanok.  Kanok was ready for a second parade.  That girl never naps, and she fights Scrammie going to sleep at night.  She does not want to miss anything.

I was able to find Babs and Harold in the crowd, and I connected them with Justin.  Tammie, Rosie and Johnny Jacks came along.

Justin explained how he was not the only one.  He purchased a food plan that he thought he could afford, but the meals were getting more and more expensive.  His best study time was on the bus between campuses.  He had no time to find a job.  He wanted to give to the church, but he was totally out of cash early each month. So he volunteered to help with the younger children.

Harold said that he wondered why there wasn’t a food bank at the university already.  Sure, there were churches nearby and he could call ahead and have the paperwork ready for Justin to sign.  But Harold was thinking that the Six P group (Perfectly Polite Passionate and Particularly Pleasant People).  They liked the idea of helping food banks, but they wanted something that was uniquely theirs.  If they could borrow space with one of the faith-based clubs at the university, they could have someone at the university confirm the neediness of the applicants.  Maybe not due to confidentiality, but they could try.

The point was that after scholarships paid a little and grants paid a little.  There was just so much that could be borrowed, and often a young college student goes hungry.  Other factors may apply, but someone starving for an education should apply to their desire to learn, not due to the lack of funds.

But if Justin needs a good meal, he can take the bus to Lily the Pink.  He can eat at our table, and there are busses that go to the university and back every hour until about midnight.

All in all, the party was wonderful.  The children are learning and having fun.

And I think that Justin Time came just in time to show Tammie that there are some good guys left in the world, after all.  Besides, he comes with a dutifully completed background check.

Credits

For a Bible Study about the Triumphal Entry, read the previous post, Palm Sunday – Stinker’s Sunday School Class.

Here is Sing Hosanna (Give Me Oil in my Lamp) provided by Bible Songs for Kids

Here is Hosanna Rock sung by HopeKids, the children’s ministry of Hope Singapore.