In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
Silent Night
When Susan was a young teenager,
her mother's health was slipping away.
During this time,
the pastor from Susan's church had gone to Susan's home
regularly to visit with her mother.
Susan sang in her church choir at the time,
and Susan very much enjoyed going caroling
with her friends in December.
When Susan was a young teenager,
her mother's health was slipping away.
During this time,
the pastor from Susan's church had gone to Susan's home
regularly to visit with her mother.
Susan sang in her church choir at the time,
and Susan very much enjoyed going caroling
with her friends in December.
In her works,
Susan tells us a beautiful story about
a special evening during this time.
One night,
after the pastor had left Susan's house,
Susan's mother was in good spirits,
talking and laughing with her husband,
Susan's father.
Susan tells us;
Susan tells us a beautiful story about
a special evening during this time.
One night,
after the pastor had left Susan's house,
Susan's mother was in good spirits,
talking and laughing with her husband,
Susan's father.
Susan tells us;
"...It was the third week in December when the young people
in the choir met at the church to go caroling.
I was happy when I joined them,
ready to go to the houses of the old people
and entertain them with carols.
We piled into three cars
and set off in the cold, biting air.
There was no snow, but it was cold.
The kids said very little as we drove along
until we reached my school.
They saw me look at it,
and traces of smiles began to show on their faces,
but they were secretive.
We turned the corner onto my street and I knew where we were going.
Instantly my eyes filled with tears and I was unable to see.
The cars stopped in front of my house,
and the kids put their fingers to their lips and said,
'Be quiet now. We want to surprise her.'
in the choir met at the church to go caroling.
I was happy when I joined them,
ready to go to the houses of the old people
and entertain them with carols.
We piled into three cars
and set off in the cold, biting air.
There was no snow, but it was cold.
The kids said very little as we drove along
until we reached my school.
They saw me look at it,
and traces of smiles began to show on their faces,
but they were secretive.
We turned the corner onto my street and I knew where we were going.
Instantly my eyes filled with tears and I was unable to see.
The cars stopped in front of my house,
and the kids put their fingers to their lips and said,
'Be quiet now. We want to surprise her.'
They had come to sing for my dying mother.
I was crying openly as I rushed into the house and told mom
to look out the window onto the patio.
There they were, fourteen teenagers, boys and girls,
forming a semicircle outside the window.
We turned on the outside light,
and they began to sing 'Silent Night'.
Tears streamed down my mother's face.
Dad was crying, too.
I grabbed Steve's hand and squeezed it tight.
We all joined hands and laughed and cried and laughed
and applauded as they sang six of the prettiest Christmas carols
I had ever heard.
I was crying openly as I rushed into the house and told mom
to look out the window onto the patio.
There they were, fourteen teenagers, boys and girls,
forming a semicircle outside the window.
We turned on the outside light,
and they began to sing 'Silent Night'.
Tears streamed down my mother's face.
Dad was crying, too.
I grabbed Steve's hand and squeezed it tight.
We all joined hands and laughed and cried and laughed
and applauded as they sang six of the prettiest Christmas carols
I had ever heard.
The kids left without me,
and I stayed with mom for several minutes.
She was smiling and happy, but she was quiet.
She took my hand and drew me to her.
'Dear little Susan,' she said softly.
'Dear little Susan,
it's been so hard on you.'
She looked at me silently for a moment.
'I've asked God to let me stay with you until the New Year.'
I was suddenly stone cold.
and I stayed with mom for several minutes.
She was smiling and happy, but she was quiet.
She took my hand and drew me to her.
'Dear little Susan,' she said softly.
'Dear little Susan,
it's been so hard on you.'
She looked at me silently for a moment.
'I've asked God to let me stay with you until the New Year.'
I was suddenly stone cold.
'I'm sure he will,' she smiled.
'He's been so good to us tonight.
I'm sure he'll let us have the holidays together.'
My mother died on January 9, 1964."
(All quotes are from
Child of Satan Child of God
by Susan Atkins
with Bob Slosser)
home
'He's been so good to us tonight.
I'm sure he'll let us have the holidays together.'
My mother died on January 9, 1964."
(All quotes are from
Child of Satan Child of God
by Susan Atkins
with Bob Slosser)
home
