The Visitors

The knock at the door made the family jump in surprise. It was late I the evening and the little ones were already in bed. Jane and Peter looked at their two oldest children. Joel was fourteen and looked frightened. 10 year old Ruth looked confused.

Peter stood up and turned to them. "Speak to them only if they ask you a question," he said quietly. "Be polite and be truthful."

A second more violent knock was joined by voices outside. Peter opened the door and six tan uniformed men and women silently walked in. A seventh man in civilian clothes followed.

He nodded in the direction out the front door and several searchlights beamed into the front windows. The man then nodded to the six uniformed personnel and they continued into the house.

"I’m agent Stallings," he announced. "We have a warrant."

"Please tell me what this is all about," Peter said to him.

The agent turned to face Peter. "This dwelling has been reported for suspicious activity," he said loud enough for all to hear. "There is no internet activity here and you do not own any television. You have been observed ignoring neighborhood participation in The Diversity Festival and Brotherhood Week.

"You are under suspicion of possession and that, sir, is a felony. Because of this we are authorized to search this premises for any contraband, and anything else that leads us to believe you may have been in contact with it."

"There are three younger children asleep in a back bedroom," came a report.

"Wake them up and bring them out here," the agent ordered. "They will be questioned too."

"Please," Jane spoke up. "They’re tired, the youngest isn’t even two!"

"The rooms all need to be searched and everyone in the house will be questioned," was the reply. "In fact, you young man."

Joel looked up. "Yes sir?" he said hoarsely.

"What is the legal limit for natural children in the world?" Stallings asked.

"Two. Two children, sir."

"That is correct. Therefore I am going to assume that there are three adopted children here. It that so?"

Joel looked at his father.

"You answer me young man."

"Yes, sir, my six-year-old sister, and my brothers, four and two are adopted."

The agent turned to Peter.

"You and your wife can go and get all the paperwork for the children. Do it now, both of you."

Jane rose shakily to her feet and took Peter’s hand. Together they went into their own room followed by a uniformed man. When Peter pulled the metal file box from the back of the closet, the guard quickly took it and left the room.

Peter stared at Jane’s terrified eyes.

"It’s going to be okay," he whispered.

Hand in hand they started back toward the living room where there was the sound of several voices.

Agent Stallings stepped up wordlessly and blocked their way as they heard a new voice.

"Hey kids," a cheerful female voice said. "I’m Tanya. Can you answer some questions for me?"

There were positive murmurs.

"Super. First, I have some stickers for you. Do you like rainbows? What’s your name honey?"

"Ruth."

"Wow, hey you know what? My wife’s name is Ruthie."

"You have a wife?"

"I sure do, what’s your name angel?"

"Debbie. I’m six."

"Well Debbie, I have a wife and two kids. I’m married to a woman and we love each other very much. And what’s your name?"

"Joel"

"Joel, are you the oldest?"

"Yes sir, I mean ma’am."

The lady’s voice laughed lightly.

"Well Joel, you’re pretty handsome. Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?"

"No ma’am."

Peter felt his hand hurting and realized Jane was squeezing his wedding ring finger.

"Now let’s see, Debbie," Tanya continued. "Do you go to school yet?"

"Nope. I’m waiting one more year."

"Oh so do your mom and dad teach you stuff?"

"Uh huh…yes ma’am."

"Fantastic. So you know your ABC’s? And numbers?"

"Uh huh!"

"Wow! Well what’s two plus two?"

"Four!"

"Right! And the colors I’m wearing?"

"Blue and white!"

"Yes! I know, who loves you more than Mommy and Daddy?"

"Jesus!"

Peter’s heart pounded.

"Here’s another sticker for you Debbie," Tanya’s voice said. "Joel, where do you father hide the ten bibles?"

"Ma’am, there are no bibles in this house."

There was a long silence. Finally Jane was startled at agent Stallings speaking to them.

"Intolerant teaching is illegal. Now I know you’ve got that hateful book hidden away."

The man glanced into the living room where there were only voices of adults to each other.

"You have some very smart kids. If I wanted, I could take them in for questioning. You son is very good looking, you know that? He might just answer questions more honestly after a few hours in a holding cell."

He paused, and then stepped closer.

"Where is your Bible, Jesus freak?"

Peter looked him in the eye.

"Search the house all you want," he answered. "You won’t find any Bibles."

Agent Stallings stared right back at Peter. Finally he sighed.

"You’re coming with us for questioning," he announced.

By now the troops were assembled in the living room Tanya was gone. Peter was pushed out the door before any family member said a thing.

Jane sank to a chair and cried. The children gathered around and sobbed as the lights of the cars disappeared.

After a while the sobbing changed to praying and then to soft singing. Finally they were silent for a while.

"Joel," Jane said. "Will you please go ahead with our Bible reading?"

Joel rose to his feet and everyone turned to him. He bowed his head and clasped his hands.

"Dear Heavenly Father, please bless the hearing of your word. May we be filled and renewed. Thank you, father, for your word."

Joel raised his head. Hands still clasped, he began reciting effortlessly:

"Chapter one: The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."