Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre

in the front row, he didn’t let on. I was so busy thinking about the gold, I almost missed it when he mentioned Isaac’s name. I looked up, startled, as Pastor Brian held up a red flyer.
    â€œSome of you may have noticed these sprouting up around town,” he said. “What you probably don’t know is that I called Pastor Philip at Ebenezer Church and said we’d like to join them in their efforts.”
    Someone in the back grumbled. I turned around, but I couldn’t tell who it was.
    â€œIsaac Coleman doesn’t go to this church, but he’s part of our community. Now, I don’t want to get into the decision regarding the Pride of Zollicoffer scholarship, but I’ll say this. This church has a chance to show what we stand for, and the kind of attitudes we stand against.” He laid the flyer down on the podium. “Faith without action is dead. We’ll be taking up a special collection for the scholarship fund, and I’m praying y’all will join me.”
    I smiled at Benzer. I hadn’t been all that excited when he promised we’d start going to church. I still wasn’t sure if I believed all those stories about big fish and water-walking and other miracles, but if Pastor Brian was on Isaac’s side, maybe he was right about those other things too. I’d keep an open mind just in case. I was still smiling as we were dismissed to leave.
    Tracy Kimmel strode by with a terse “Franklin, let’s go! Drew’s coming over.” She looked gorgeous, dressed all in pink, with her shiny blond hair swinging in a long ponytail.
    â€œI’m going to Lou’s house,” Franklin said. “Grandmother said she’d pick me up later.”
    â€œWhatever.” She walked toward her Jeep, hips swaying.
    Benzer couldn’t take his eyes off her and stared with his mouth partially open. The urge to smack him was overwhelming, so I did.
    â€œWhat did I do?” Benzer asked, rubbing his arm.
    â€œYou look like a bulldog staring at a pork chop. She’s dating the enemy, remember?”
    Patty pointed to where Aunt Sophie was parked. “Y’all ready?” She climbed in beside her mother in the front seat, and I yelled, “Window!” That left Franklin and Benzer to fight over who had to sit in the middle. Franklin lost, of course, and Benzer and I spent the ride home pushing him back and forth between us while Patty giggled from the front seat.
    We stormed, all together, through the front door and raced into the kitchen.
    Mama turned from the stove. “What in the world? It sounded like a herd of elephants just came in the house.”
    Aunt Sophie’s voice rang from the doorway. “They’ve been acting plumb silly the whole ride home.”
    â€œDaddy,” I said, “where’s our metal detector? Can we borrow it now?”
    â€œSlow down, Lou,” Daddy said. “Have a seat. Your mama and Bertie spent all day cooking for us.”
    I noticed the kitchen table for the first time. A sugar-cured ham sat in the middle, surrounded by antique bowls of fried okra, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, and turnip greens. There was a platter of sliced tomatoes next to a basket of hot yeast rolls.
    â€œYes, the metal detector sure can wait,” Patty said, grabbing a chair. “What’s the occasion?”
    â€œNo occasion,” said Bertie. “Your aunt Lily is nesting.” She pulled out the chairs on each side of her. “Benzer, you and Franklin sit next to me. I’m in need of some male companionship.”
    I sat down next to Patty, who’d already begun piling food on her plate. “I swear you have a tapeworm, Patty. You eat more than me, Benzer, and Franklin put together.”
    Ignoring me, she stuck out a thin arm and scooped more potatoes. “I have a high metabolism.”
    Bertie passed the food around the table. “Don’t let her faze you, Patty. Being skinny and