A Voice from Above

By Elton Camp

This is a true story from several decades ago before the dawning of the electronic
age. Children were far less savvy than today’s youngsters. In rural Alabama many
youngsters came from a background of religious fundamentalism. Modern day miracles
were taken for granted and divine intervention was a part of daily life.

My mother was employed at a newly-constructed elementary school. The

teachers agreed to take a daily break in the faculty lounge at mid-morning. The advanced
public address system allowed them to monitor individual rooms while they enjoyed their
coffee.

It was the first day of school. Mother had enjoined her class to remain quiet and
have rest period while she was out of the room. Since the term had just begun and her
first graders were new to school, she listened in to her room and was annoyed to hear
loud talking and childish laughter.

Pressing the Talk button, she demanded, “Are you children being good?”

Her voice boomed impressively into the room. It was followed by several
seconds of stunned silence from the surprised children. The part of the country where she
was working was impressed on her when an awestruck child responded to the invisible
speaker, “Yes, Jesus.”

“Y-yes, Jesus.”