Page 27 of In This Moment
Don’t be afraid, My daughter. I am with you.
The words whispered across the surface of her heart and worked their way deep into her soul. God was with her. She could feel Him here. She took a quick breath. “Good evening. My name is Cami Nelson, and I am one of the original members of the Raise the Bar club.” Her notes trembled in her hands. “Principal Quinn asked if I’d share my experience. But the truth is... I want to share.”
Cami looked at her principal, standing a few feet away. His expression was pure encouragement. She looked at the parents again. “Before attending Raise the Bar, I was angry. Not a little angry, but really mad. All the time.” She was settling in, finding her passion. “I felt trapped by darkness. Like the days didn’t matter... and neither did I.”
She explained how she attended the first Raise the Bar meeting almost in protest. “I was going to report them to the police because I thought it was illegal. Reading the Bible on school grounds.” Peace filled her heart. “But what happened next, I never could’ve imagined.” She saw movement near the back of the room. A man standing and moving closer. “God took hold of my heart and—”
Cami stopped cold. She could see the man’s face now. Coming closer, taking one of the seats up front. A parent with the meanest eyes ever.
Her father.
What? The room started to spin. This couldn’t be happening. Maybe she should leave. Run out of the building and never look back. Cami clenched her jaw. No. She couldn’t do that. Jesus had gone to the cross for her. She could go to bat for Him.
Even if her dad glared at her through every word.
Cami looked at her notes. Where was she? Her heart pounded so hard it was all she could hear.Thud. Thud. Thud.Cami blinked twice.Help me, God, please.Suddenly she remembered where she was in her speech. “God took hold of my heart and now life makes sense.” She felt her courage double. “I have dreams about my future. I want to help people. And I have faith that I’ll be in heaven one day.”
As she spoke, never once did she look at her dad.
Not until the very end.
“The Raise the Bar club is the best thing that ever happened to me.” This time she looked straight at her father. “I hope you think so, too. Thank you.”
At that exact moment, Cami’s father got up and stormed out of the building. He didn’t need to stand up and yell his disapproval. Not at her or the program or Principal Quinn. His actions told Cami all she needed to know.
Later, the Quinns dropped her off at home, and her principal tried to encourage her. “It’ll be okay, Cami. Just talk to him.” Cami wanted to believe that. She thanked him and said goodbye to Jordy.
But as she walked into her house her heart raced. She had a feeling something terrible was about to happen. Good thing her twin sisters were staying with friends tonight. Her father was by himself when he met her at the door.
Rage burned in his eyes. “Cami Ann Nelson.” He spat her name through clenched teeth. “Get yourself into the kitchen and sit down.”
“Yes, sir.” She dropped her backpack just inside the door and followed her father. He was bursting with hatred. More than Cami had ever seen.
In the kitchen, she saw at least six empty beers.Great,she thought.He’s drunkandfurious.She took the far seat, her back against the window. Her dad followed her to the table. Then he took slow steps in her direction. “Don’t... you... move.”
What was happening? Why was he talking to her this way? Cami’s heart raced so fast she could barely breathe. “Wh... what’s wrong, Daddy?”
His words came like so many bullets, in a fit of anger greater than anything Cami had ever known. “I was at the parent meeting tonight. I heard your little speech.” He slammed his hand down on the table and a cracking sound came from under it. “You’re reading theBible? Is that what you’re doing? At a public school? Behind myback?”
Cami had always known this day could come. Many times she’d thought about telling her dad she was in the Raise the Bar club. Better to break the news before he found out about it. But there never seemed to be a right time. She swallowed hard. Her legs and arms shook with fear.What’s he going to do to me?
“It’s an important club, Daddy. All the students... everyone is happier now.” Tears filled her eyes. Her father seriously looked like he might kill her. “Did... did you hear all the good things I said about it?”
“Oh, yes. I heard.” The words came out like a hiss. Her dad turned and walked to the fridge. He took out another beer and downed it. Then he crushed the can and sneered at Cami. “Imagine my shock when I hear my daughter talking about her changed life.” He slammed the can in the trash and turned to face her. “Star student in the club. Little Miss Give-your-life-to-Jesus.”
He crashed his hand on the kitchen counter. “Well, I can tell you this much, missy. It’s all over. You following some fairy-tale faith, and... and this club meeting on campus.” He came closer to her, his breath hot against her face. Again his words were seething with hate. “I could overlook a few kids reading the Bible together after school. But when my own daughter is beingbrainwashed...something has to be done.” His final words boomed. And then, suddenly, his voice fell to a whisper. “And as for that principal of yours, he can finish up his time behind bars. Then he can rot in hell.”
Cami wondered if she’d throw up right here on the kitchen table. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. Her heart was beating so wildly, she thought it might stop altogether.
Her dad said his final words with a loud burst, every one like an arrow aimed straight for her heart. “Get. To. Your. Room!”
There was nothing Cami wanted more. She ran to the front of the house, grabbed her backpack, and sprinted down the hallway. But instead of shutting her bedroom door behind her, she left it open just a crack. She wanted a warning, wanted to know what her dad was going to do next.
As it turned out, she didn’t have to wonder. Her dad was calling someone on the phone. He was too drunk to talk quietly or in any sort of professional manner. He must’ve dialed the local newspaper. Because from where she sat, on the edge of her bed, she could very clearly hear his side of the conversation.
“Yes, this is Andy Nelson from Haughville.” His words were slurred—as much from his anger as the alcohol. “I need to talk to the main editor.” He paused. “Hurry up. It’s an emergency.”
Cami felt the floor beneath her turn liquid. Suddenly she wasn’t listening from her bedroom down the hall. She was in a ship, tossed by the worst waves any storm could ever stir up.No, God... please, no.This was going to ruin everything. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited.
