CHAMELION

JOSHUA 1

5 - 6

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life;

as I was with Moses, so I will be with you,

I will not leave you or forsake you.

Be strong and of good courage, for to this people

you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore of their fathers to give them.

Fred's chip shop was the last bastion in a row of shops for the most part killed off by the supermarket giants.   The old stone building hugged the bend on a steep hill leading to upper Bossley.   Standing opposite the local railway station it was still holding its own as commuters dropped in for their beloved fish and chip supper. 

The quaint little mill town boasted upper, middle and lower Bossley.  In the past local shops would have provided every need for the residents, and the mills provided employment.  The clap clap of clogs passing the tiny stone terraces would have been a familiar sound in the early morning air as the locals went up or down to their workplace, and the road that led to the station, mills and canal was probably a busy hub in years gone by. 

Trade had been slow throughout the hot summer, people turning to salads and ice cream but at last the rains had come and with it a drop in temperature.   Nevertheless Bossley's pensioners loyal regardless of the weather always turned up on a Friday evening and the dining area in the chip shop resounded with a mix of laughter and strong criticism as they attempted to make sense of a world in which they were a dying breed.

"Here he comes" said Vera

Fred carried the last plate filled high with beer battered fish and chips.   

"Everyone happy" he shouted.

"Aye" replied the veterans.

Rain macs hung on the back of chairs, a whippet sat by the open door on guard duty,  their supper was eagerly downed followed by steaming mugs of tea.

"Panel open to questions from the floor" said Ted.

"For heaven's sake"  said Vera "it isn't Question Time" and you're not Dimbleby.

Their days were numbered so it didn't really matter.   They gave their opinions whether folks wanted them or not, walking sticks at the ready to take any flack, although it was rumoured Ted's walking stick held a small narrow flask containing whisky.   He always ready to remonstrate with what he considered a godless, selfish, me first society.

"To hell with em" said Jack as he launched into his usual political rhetoric "a load of tossers and idiots they couldn't run a sandwich bar, we would have got rid of them sharpish"

"What were you all doing on the 4th August" enquired Elsie  "100 years ago our lads left to fight in World War 1.  Did you go to the war memorial Jack."
"I certainly did, but not while the local so called dignitaries were there, I sat on the bench and I prayed for those kids, they were just kids.  Raise your mugs please" said Jack "to the lads who gave their lives for this once proud country"

And what a (the air turned blue with expletives - all beginning with the letter B) damn waste of life they were just cannon fodder for politicians who still can't get it right.   And did they learn anything from that war, no.   World War 2 followed and we are heading for World War 3.    Just look at what we have become.   I am so glad I will be out of here before the next lot kicks off.   As Bert said "if its the "big baby" stand out in the street, no one will help you.   They will be screaming and running around without a clue, tweeting and clutching their tablets.   Fat lot of good that will do em.  God help anyone standing in a queue for food, they'll climb over you."

A sober mood descended and seemed to bring with it a few moments of quiet reflection.  

The silence was broken with a reprimand.   "Well" said Jenny "He hasn't finished with you yet Jack Bowes, you ain't seen nothing, a country that turns it's back on God is plain asking for it"

"Did you see those planks protesting at the bombing of Gaza" asked  Eric "I didn't see much of a protest about Ukraine."

Tim shuddered "just goes to show how many muslims there are in this country.   Who was it "Blue Mink" who sang "What we need is a great big melting pot"

Irene was clearly annoyed by his comment "now look here Tim that's a racist comment"   Tim flushed "Oy, I'm not a racist.   Our Sue is married to an afro carribean, he's a nice guy is our Chris and they have a little un.   She's a little cracker is our Alesha.   But he doesn't go around lopping heads off and eating hearts."

"Excuse me, do you mind" protested Eric "I have just eaten fish and chips, do you want me to throw up."

"Precisely the attitude I keep getting" said Tim "go on, stick your head in the sand, before you know it they will have Vera in a hijab and you will be marched off to the nearest mosque - or else"

"You'd look real good in a hijab Eric, actually it could be anyone or anything under that garb, carrying  God only knows what." said Jack.

"Well he won't have far to carry it" laughed Julie "there's a house mosque on every street in Blackburn, Lancashire.   

"So we don't move to Blackburn then" said Shirley.

"Anyone go to the Gaza protests last weekend" asked Dan.

"You must be joking" said Eric "if Hamas were firing rockets at Britain would we expect our government to just stand there and do nothing.   We (expletives poured forth) B ...well would not, we'd give it em"   A few walking sticks thrashed the air and were returned to their holding place.

"Well you know it would depend on who was in power and whether the native Brits got off their backsides and demanded their country back." said Jack.

"It's more likely to be terrorist bombs here.   Damn cowards." muttered Tim.   

"There are no winners in war" said Audrey "only losers.   You would think by now we would all have realised that and set about making the planet a better place for future generations." 

The whippet on door duty growled as a young Asian lad walked in the doorway towards the counter.   

"Hi Fred" he said "curry and chips please" and smiling he turned towards the elderly folk at the tables.

"Ow do Bert" he nodded the broad local accent seemed strangely out of place.

"He's okay" said Bert "I know his mam, she's a local girl, she chucked Ahmed out and and raised him herself she did"

"Okay Jethro" Bert replied "Ow's your mam"

"She's gradely" said Jethro "taking Sandra to meet her tomorrow" He winked at the group.   "You lot putting the world to rights then" he suggested.

"Don't be stupid Jethro" said Eric "it will take someone bigger than these bozos to do that"

"Yes" replied Polly "God, so watch out" and she reached with her hand toward his head intent on giving him a gentle slap.

"Hoy" said Eric "watch the hairdo"

"What hairdo" said Polly "you're bald man"
"No, No, replied Eric "see here at the back - have to get it cut - I've had a pony tail in the past"

Everyone chuckled at the thought of Eric with a pony tail but it was a sad fact that the hair white and whispy had to be kept in check.

"It's growing everywhere" complained Eric "except where I want it.   I've had to start chopping my eye brows I was getting more like Rowan Williams every day - and they curled up - I don't want anyone mistaking me for the devil.

"If people would just take the time to study the whole picture, its all coming to pass as the prophets said it would.   Time to get right with God guys"

"Well he'd better show up soon" said Jack "because the way the U.S. of A is prodding Putin it won't be long before Iran and China take sides and lets face it the planes will be flying over us to get to Obama land."

"Oh for heaven's sake why don't you read your bible Jack is says Russia will be drawn into a conflict it doesn't want.   Ignorance is not bliss in this instance."

"Did you know there are 200 nuclear bombs just 30 miles from Glasgow" said Jack "makes you think doesn't it"

"Time for the scots to go independent and shove em all down south" replied Eric with a loud gaffaw.

"Ah" said Jethro squatting on a spare chair as his chips hit the hot fat  "the north south divide is alive and well"

"North Wales is just as bad" said Jack "they don't like the English either"

"Where's Pete tonight" asked Elsie changing the subject.

"He's taken his grandkids up to Scotland, they go every year" Vera announced.

"Now there's an idea" said Eric "lets all push off to Scotland".

 "There won't be much room left in the highlands if we all move out of England" said Jack laughing.

"It won't happen" said Maggie very quietly.   "It's too late, the clock is ticking, we have blown it.

"The media reports were dreadfully biased" said Eric "did anyone mention that 160 kids were killed building the blasted tunnels in the first place."   

Someone asked a Hamas commander why their rockets weren't hitting their targets in Israel.   Considering the amount launched in that direction I did wonder why they were coming down in the sea or in Gaza itself.    Apparently he replied "we are aiming them but their God is knocking them off course."   

"What kind of man places his own wife and kids next to a rocket launcher?  Eric questioned "and why did they ignore the leaflet drops and text messages to get out?   There is something badly wrong with a woman who laughs while Israeli doctors tried to save the life of her child.   She wasn't bothered if he died.   She said "Jerusalem is ours"   For heaven's sake she can't be human and what kind of a mother would allow bombs to be strapped to her baby.    This is surely pure evil."

"Where was that reported" asked Vera "I didn't see that on the news"

"No you wouldn't chuck, it was on the internet" said Jack the only one of the group considered computer literate and in the know.  "Even when the iron dome failed twice and everyone had been warned of the impending disaster as the rocket headed for densely populated areas the dome recorded a sudden high wind and the rocket missed its target and was blown into the sea.

"How great is our God" said Maggie.

Zechariah 12 - 8-9

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David,

and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them.

It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Maggie's voice drained away.

"Our Maggie certainly knows her bible doesn't she" said Fred as he wrapped the curry and chips.

Jethro waved his goodbyes and strode into the night.  Like the chamelion he had learned to blend into the culture and this was his home.   He was just another brit, a skinny little kid who played with the pale faces in the street.   Little children accept one another, hatred something firmly planted by their parents regardless of culture, religion or background.

"That reminds me" said Jack "have we still got that air raid sheltered in our back garden"

"Too late" replied a sombre Maggie "next time its the big one, we have had our chance, we have done nothing but butcher and kill in religious wars.   Now God is going to deal with us all.   Perhaps take our free will - then perhaps we will do His will.

"Right" said Eric "on that cheerful note who's for a pint"

The elderly group rose stiffly from their seats and moved slowly towards the doorway.   The lights twinkled in the valley below and the cobbled road glistened in the first real rain of the summer.

Polly and Shirley headed for home.   "Polly do you remember Sabu who used to live at No.10?" asked Shirley.  "Everyone had a nickname then and he certainly wasn't offended.   He was a really nice guy.   And then there was Ghandi" 

"I remember Sabu" said Polly "he was such a lovely neighbour and a real gentleman, but Ghandi's dead isn't he"  

"Not THE Ghandi" said Shirley laughing "we called him Ghandi because he was a Hindu he was a lovely man as well.   Then Mr. Patel at No.4.   He was a supervisor at the mill.  We have always welcome immigrants into our country and they usually adapted to our way of life.    We certainly never considered them a threat.   It's very different now.

"It's a tiny island Shirley" said Polly "that is always going to be a problem but the way its heading we will be in the minority and then what?   Fanatics of any persuasion are very dangerous people."

Maggie linked Eric's arm as they crossed the road to the Dog and Whistle.   

"Hey lass" he whispered "one day at a time.   D'nay fas yerself, I see the Golden City" he guestered toward the skyline.

"That's the gasometer in Jackson Street" she replied laughing.

"According to our Audrey" Eric continued "Jesus said "Fear Not" 30 times, so we will do just that.

Psalm 33 - 12

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord

The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

SHALOM.