Midnight Without a Moon(65)
“‘If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed. God’s gonna trouble the water. Just follow me down to the Jordan’s stream. God’s gonna trouble the water.’”
With the water covering the deacons’ waists, it nearly swallowed little Obadiah’s shoulders, so much so that he could have bent his knees and he would have been baptized as soon as he stepped into the lake.
The little brown face peeking out from all the white of the turban and the baptismal robe didn’t look so fear-free once Reverend Jenkins and Deacon Edwards faced him toward the crowd. I was sure Obadiah was about to cry. But when Reverend Jenkins asked him if he believed that Jesus was the son of God, that he died on the cross for our sins, and that he rose again on the third day to conquer death, hell, and the grave, little Obadiah boldly proclaimed, “Yes, sir. I do!”
“Amens” reverberated around the banks of the lake, after which Reverend Jenkins bent his face toward the sky and belted out, “In obedie-e-e-ence to the great head of the church and upon the profession of your faith, Obadiah Malone, I baptize you in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost.”
I could feel everyone, including myself, hold their breath as Obadiah was completely immersed in the water and swiftly brought back up.
“‘If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed. God’s gonna trouble the water. Just follow me down to the Jordan’s stream. God’s gonna trouble the water.’”
By the time the line got down to just Fred Lee, me, and Queen, I wasn’t as nervous anymore. Maybe that was why they let the younger children go first—?to show the older ones that there was nothing to fear. No one had choked or even hiccupped coming out of the water. All eleven of the first candidates had truly been saved.
I held my breath again as Fred Lee was led into the water. He was taller than Reverend Jenkins and Deacon Edwards. What if they dipped him under and couldn’t lift him back up, and for that brief moment, he choked? Ma Pearl would have a fit if one of us embarrassed her. Lord, don’t let him choke. Don’t let him choke, I prayed over and over. When Fred Lee was lifted out of the water, I released my breath. Then the nervous feeling that had left me earlier returned. But it didn’t come alone. It brought company—?a gurgling in my stomach. I suddenly felt like I needed to run to the toilet. Lord, not now. Not while I’m wearing white.
When the deacon took my hand, it was shaking. “Don’t be afraid, Sister Rose,” he said. “If all these little ones can go down to the water, I know you ain’t scared.”
I got to the edge of the water and froze. My socked feet would not move. Both deacons tugged at my arms, lifting me into the water. I was glad the moment was meant to be an emotional one, as tears were streaming down my face.
The muddy water was still, just as its name implied. Yet I felt as if I were floating, as if I could just float up and float away. When Reverend Jenkins and Deacon Edwards faced me toward the congregants of Greater Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, my eyes met Fred Lee’s. With a towel draped over his shoulders, his arms crossed over his chest, he smiled reassuringly at me.
Reverend Jenkins spoke. “Rosa Lee Carter, do you believe that Jesus was the son of God . . .” And before I knew it, a toweled hand was cupped over my nose and mouth and I was bent backwards under the water. Ma Pearl had said to make sure we closed our eyes, but I didn’t. I knew it was no more than a couple of seconds that I was under there, but it seemed as if I were staring up at that few inches of water covering my face for an eternity. Above the water loomed a clear blue sky, which I took as a sign that one day my life would be as clear and beautiful as it was.
Two days before the baptism, I had asked Ma Pearl to show me my birth certificate. I had never seen it, because she kept it locked away in her chifforobe. I never had a reason to ask for it before, but I wanted to see for myself what name Miss Addie had scribbled there. And just like Papa had said, the name, written in Miss Addie’s crooked lettering, was Rosa Lee. So when Reverend Jenkins asked which name I wanted on my baptism record, I told him “Rosa” because that was my name. The name that was recorded upon my birth. Rosa Lee Carter. The name I would carry with me to Saint Louis when I started my new life.
I came up out of the baptismal waters of Stillwater Lake gasping for air. But I hadn’t choked. I was happy to feel the warmth of tears rolling down my cheeks, because it was commonly believed that the truly saved would cry after baptism. When I came out of the water, Ma Pearl draped me in towels.
By the time I wiped my face and looked out at the lake, Queen was already in the water and facing the crowd. She looked peaceful rather than afraid. Maybe being the last one was good for her. I just prayed she didn’t choke.
And she didn’t. She came up out of that water like the queen she was meant to be. Regal and proud, despite the trouble she had gotten herself into.
Chapter Thirty-Three
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
AFTER THE BAPTISM AND THE CHURCH SERVICE THAT FOLLOWED, a large gathering of people came over to enjoy Ma Pearl’s chicken and dressing. With her having three grandchildren baptized in one day, she was the envy of all the mothers of the church.
Baptism, it seemed, had even changed Queen. Or maybe it was that little issue of the trouble she found herself in that changed her. Either way, she surprised us all by joining Hallelujah, me, and Fred Lee as we sat in the shade of the ancient oak tree in the front yard. Fred Lee, as usual, didn’t have much to say. But Hallelujah, in the presence of the Queen, couldn’t seem to shut his mouth. And I wanted to punch him in it.