The day a bomb threat was a good thing

In tidy lines, of marching feet we pace from the building 

Whispers of bombs, panic in their eyes translated in their tone, 

Fearful or oblivious

We sit 

She's the one who asks if anyone prays

And I answer

Rolling rocks between our fingers, sitting on the curb we prayed 

Feeling His presence in her words and in the sun lighting our face

While we wait for the police to give the all-clear

 

And it is, it's all clear.

So, in neat rows we pace back to the plastic seats and wooden desks

Forever connected

Because she asked "if anyone prays"

Connected through bad perms and make-believe

Connected in time spent being kids, and being afraid of the slasher movie at the sleep-over

Connected in our pursuits of shared and opposite things

Connected in awkwardness, first love, heartache and true love

Connected through mistakes, in forgiveness and grace

But

It wasn't our frizzy permed hair, or our chalk families that lived in our Kleenex boxes

It wasn't trips to the park, or finding somewhere to hide out during the movie

It wasn't the way she cheered when I scored a basket, or sat beside me saxophone in hand

It wasn't double dates or seeing each other through boyfriends, and heartache

It wasn't that she introduced me to my husband

It was prayer

The honest, simple prayers of third grade girls that joined our hearts

And though she's now a world away

My heart is still connected to hers

It always will be

Because there was a bomb threat 

And she asked "if anyone prays."

Linking up with Lisa Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday