This true story was pulled and edited from my late Grandpa Arve’s memoirs. He passed away in 2021 at the ripe old age of 101. He was a master storyteller with plenty of stories to tell. The one below happened when he was only eight or nine.
Grandpa Arve, This is one of the earliest pictures we have of him. It was taken about a hundred years ago.
During this time, I noticed that religion started to play a more predominant role for my mom. I didn't know what was going on, only that I had to wear uncomfortable clothes on weekends and that my mom would spit on her hands to try to smooth out my wild hair as we entered a church building. Once inside, I was forced to sit on uncomfortable benches for what seemed like hours while someone talked or shouted at us about things I didn't understand.
That's why this church day down at the river was much better than any church I had ever experienced. I dived into the bull-rushes while the singing was going on. No one even seemed to notice. I had managed to catch three frogs during the sermon. This was my kind of church!
My fourth catch was about to be a giant bullfrog. I silently cupped my hands and crouched as it croaked loudly nearby. But just then, I happened to look up. Surprisingly, I saw my mom being led by the hand into the river. This was strange. My mom wasn't a swimmer, yet this man led her out deeper and deeper into the water. The frog jumped; I didn't even notice. What in the world were they doing to my mother?
There she stood, chest-deep. The man that led her out looked to be talking sternly to her. I didn't like this one bit; something wasn't right. I crept closer to the water's edge to get a better look. Then, to my horror, he clasped his hand over my mom's mouth and plunged her entirely under the water. He was trying to drown my mom! I screamed and jumped into the water. I felt helpless since I didn't know how to swim, but I had to do something.
The crowd witnessing my mom's execution via drowning reached out to me; they tried to calm my nerves and explain that I had nothing to worry about. They kept shushing me, “Baptism, baptism," they said repeatedly. But I had no idea what that word meant. I was inconsolable until my mom was safely out of the water and away from the evil man who was trying to kill her.
My mom had a lot of explaining to do on the way home from “river church” that day.
My Grandpa, at age 100
I recently published an article about Mahatma Gandhi Click this Link to find out my thoughts about the Father of modern India.
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A truly great man!
This is such an adorable story! I loved grandpa Arve too!