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TIey sIL.
BeIow u puInLed ceIIIng IoomIng IIgI overIeud, LIey sIL und LIey wuIL. TIe ceIIIng yuwns, sLreLcIIng IIke one vusL
wIng wurmIng oI so muny eggs.
See LIe sLurs, LIe uIIIxed poInLs oI IIgIL, LIe gIowIng sLrIuLed mIsLs oI sIIvery cIoud. See LIe nIgIL cIouds IoIIIng,
drIILIng ubove LIeIr Ieuds ucross un expunse oI bIue pIusLer sky. Ike vupors reIeused, dusL cIImbs bIue-gruy und
upwurd IIke pruyers.
Now, see LIe ceIIIng sLreLcI ouLwurd und ubove LIe seuLed peopIe, LIIs Ior uII oI one Iundred IeeL, over und ubove
LIe IeLLered rows A LIrougI Z, doubIe-A und onwurd-on und ubove, ucross LIe grund room oI cerumIc, murbIe, und
wood. HeeIs cIIck und rubber soIes puL, LIe sounds bouncIng oII Iere, und LIere, up LIrougI open spuce IIke
swImmers uscendIng Ior uIr. And ubove every Ieud, LIe sky sLreLcIes on Lowurd brussy buIcony ruIIIngs, sIopIng
down Irom LIe urmpIL urcI oI LIe ceIIIng`s rounded cenLer. SLeepIng downwurd, over LIe buIcony ruIIIng-noL even
one IooL resLIng LIere-LIen, jusL us you`d expecL, LIe LIered seuLIng rIses even IIgIer. TIeIr Ieuds ure cIoser Lo LIe
ceIIIng up LIere, wILI IuIr weII combed und sIIcked.
CIIp-on LIes by LIe Iundreds, u Iew IuII WIndsor knoLs und occusIonuI spIL-sIIned wIngLIps on LIe congreguLIon
eIders, LIe men wIo drove LIeIr IumIIIes. No buses, no LruIns, noL ever. TIey ure In LIe uIsIe seuLs, more Ieg room.
TIe wIves usk LIeIr Iusbunds, "Are you comIorLubIe?"
n LIe cenLruI seuLs, see LIe suIL juckeLs und III-IILLIng corduroy, uII very LusLeIuI und cIeun, buL noL new, noL even
cIose. TIere`s no smuII umounL oI prIde In LIeIr Iuces, und LIeIr Iund-me-down cIoLIIng. TIe bIuck kIds Irom
Juckson HeIgILs, LIe HIspunIc kIds Irom Ozone Purk, und LIe pInk-Iuced rIsI Irom AsLorIu wIII rusI LIe uIsIes come
InLermIssIon, und LIey`II suy, "Excuse me," sLeppIng on LIe eIders` Iuncy sIoes. TIey wIII purude LIe buIIdIng IuIIs
und cuII Lo eucI oLIer, cruIsIng, und IIIrLIng, uskIng wIIcI cIurcI LIe cuLe boy goes Lo. And LIe ndIun gIrIs Irom
RIcImond HIII, LIe Koreun boys Irom IusIIng. TIeIr purenLs wIII guLIer Ior IuncI und LIen upproucI LIe eIder men,
und puy LIem proper respecL. MoLIers weur skIrLs LIuL reucI beIow LIeIr knees. Any sIorLer und LIey rIsk u LuIkIng-
Lo.
BuL IIrsL LIey sIL. TIey Iuce LIe empLy sLuge, uwuILIng LIe openIng song und pruyer, LIe IIrsL speuker oI LIe duy Lo
Luke LIe sLuge.
NoL jusL uny sLuge beneuLI uny puInLed sky. Up LIere, you`II IInd no Iess LIun LIe Ieuvens oI VenIce. You wunL prooI
-LIe Iumed RIuILo BrIdge, one LenLI oI ILs orIgInuI sIze, u reconsLrucLIon, spuns LIe Lop wIdLI oI LIe sLuge. TIe
IuvorILe brIdge In u CILy oI BrIdges, burned once, LwIce IuIIen, und boLI LImes u crowd coIIupsed wILI IL. Down LIey
IeII under LIe wuLers oI VenIce. WIIcI meuns LIe uudIence, Iere, In LIe grund Queens Howurd TIeuLer, Lucked on u
wIde cILy sLreeL beLween u mecIunIc`s guruge und u MexIcun LukeouL, ure ussembIed In someLIIng IIke u dry cunuI.
More LIun Iour LIousund worsIIppers sILLIng, und unxIousIy wuILIng Ior LIe duy`s IIrsL pruyer Ior HIs KIngdom Come
on EurLI us L WIII Be In Heuven, und LIe Iong IuIIIng ruIn oI suIvuLIon, IuIIIng sLurs, bIuckened sun, und IIery burnIng
ruIn, Ior LIe comIng oI HIs HoIy Wur und CIrIsL. TIey pruy Ior Armugeddon, End oI Ends, GreuL BrInger oI uII
meunIng In DeuLI. And LIe worsIIppers ure boLI u sum und purLs, u LIrong, u seu oI peopIe beneuLI u decoruLIve
repIIcu oI LIe reuI-worId RIuILo. BuL, sure us uny duy, you cun wuIk LIIs brIdge spunnIng LIe Howurd`s sLuge, und
some ucLuuIIy do, mosLIy muInLenunce men LendIng Lo LIe deIIcuLe brIdge`s woodwork. Ike u puInLed crown IL spuns
LIe sLuge beneuLI LIe sLurs oI VenIce, CILy oI BrIdges, oI WuLer, oI IgIL.
HI0H AS !HE H0RSES' BRI0|ES
A Noe|
ScoLL CIesIIre
Henry HoIL und Co.
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AU!H0RS 00UNI!Y B00KS
Howurd TIeuLer, TIeuLer oI IgILs, every IeuvenIy sLur Is Iere.
WIuL does uII LIIs suy ubouL us sILLers? TIere Is u kInsIIp wILI LIe cILy ILseII, ILs ever-reconIIgured puLIs, bouLwuys,
und uIIeywuys, uII seurcIIng ouL new wuys oI seekIng, jusL LIe rIgIL pIuce Ior New VeneLIuns. HeIrs oI LIe cILy`s
IuvorILe son, Murco PoIo, posLer boy Ior journeyers, bruve und IuILIIuI seeker oI unknown LruLIs, seer oI LIIs worId,
und currIer oI HoIy OII, gIIL gIver oI CIrIsL Lo LIe yeIIow men. More LIun Iour LIousund oI IIs IeIrs, sILLIng Iere,
beneuLI u Iuux RIuILo, uwuILIng u descrIpLIon oI LIIs worId. And LIe nexL.
BucksLuge, beIInd LIe IungIng curLuIn, LIe boy Is cIeurIy nervous. Hungry und nervous. He cun`L keep sLIII. He`s done
noLIIng IIke LIIs beIore, und cerLuInIy noL Iere. Worse, Ie needs Lo go Lo LIe resLroom. eeL sIuIIIIng In pIuce, Iud
wuy Loo mucI orunge juIce, Ie LrIes Lo sneuk u Iook Lowurd LIe IronL rows wIere Ie suw IIs purenLs seuLed eurIIer
LIIs mornIng. TIey uIwuys sIL up IronL uL cIurcI, someLIIng Dud prucLIcuIIy cun`L not do. Up IronL, us cIose us LIey
cun, Dud on LIe uIsIe, Mom besIde. A puIe vesseI. Dud Ius even usked peopIe Lo move beIore, suId Ie cun`L
concenLruLe sILLIng unywIere eIse. SomeLImes IuLeIy Ie`s been sILLIng, und LIen sLundIng uguIn, und LIen sILLIng.
SLundIng. Ike Ie cun`L IeIp IImseII, LryIng Lo geL IIs pIuce reIuLIve Lo LIe sLuge jusL rIgIL. TIere LIey ure: Mom wILI
Ier Iong red curIs, und Dud weurIng u sLern Iuce, IookIng IIke Ie`s In cIurge. BuL wIo`s In cIurge unymore? JusL LIIs
mornIng LIey Iud u IIgIL und LoId JosIuI Lo pIeuse Ieuve LIe kILcIen.
rom LIe sLuge, LIe greuL room seems even bIgger LIun IL wus LIIs mornIng, Iow muny sLorIes LuII, und LIe ceIIIng
IeeIs IIke u wIndow InLo durk und never-endIng spuce. How spucesIIps Iook Irom LIe InsIde, Ie IIgures. WIen Ie IIrsL
wuIked In und IIs purenLs Iooked Ior LIeIr seuLs, und Ie sLood LIere, IookIng up, LIe greuL sky opened ubove IIm. He
ImugIned Lwo suns, jusL IIke In Stcr Wcrs, und u buLLer-yeIIow moon beLween LIem. A rockeL sIooLIng IIke u sLur. BuL
now LIe room Is bIgger, mucI bIgger LIun wIuL IIs bruIn cun compreIend, becuuse LIe pIuce Is IuII oI peopIe. TIe
peopIe muke LIe ceIIIng seem IIgIer. TIe Iump buIbs IoomIng, gIowIng und uIIve wILI IIgIL, IoL und ucLuuI. Ike LIe
rooI Ius been bIown, und Iere Is LIIs pIuce IIIIed wILI-Dud suId LIe unLIInkubIe number LIIs mornIng, In LIe sLuLIon
wugon, on LIe wuy Iere. "Suy IL wILI me sIowIy, son: jour thouscnd people." OI course, Ie`s Ieurd LIe number
beIore, buL noL In uny wuy IIke LIIs, noL seeIng IL mude reuI, Iour LIousund bodies. He`s cerLuInIy never spoken Lo so
muny beIore. He goes coId us Ie peeks LIrougI LIe curLuIns. He sees LIe pusLor, EIder BroLIer KIzowskI, upproucI
LIe mIcropIone und cIeck IIs wrIsLwuLcI us Ie wuIks. TIe sLruggIers ure LukIng Lo LIeIr seuLs.
JosIuI remembers u bIueberry muIIIn, Is sure Ie suw u Lruy oI LIem LIIs mornIng, ouL LIere, somewIere, muybe by
LIe Iood LubIes.
A quIck run Lo LIe resLroom, und muybe Ie cun IInd LIuL Lruy oI muIIIns. eeL sIuIIIIng, Ie needs Lo geL IIs IuLIer`s
uLLenLIon. He needs permIssIon Lo Ieuve LIe sLuge, so Ie cun go Lo LIe buLIroom. He cun never seem Lo IoId IIs
IuLIer`s uLLenLIon, noL Ior very Iong unywuy, und especIuIIy wIen IL`s noL ubouL worsIIp. Even wIen IIs IuLIer does
LuIk wILI JosIuI ubouL God, IL`s uImosL IIke LIe boy Isn`L LIere. AL IeusL LIIs Is Iow Ie IeeIs, IIke IIs IuLIer Is IookIng
rIgIL LIrougI IIm, Lo some oLIer pIuce und some oLIer LIme, IIke Ie`s seeIng someone eIse enLIreIy. JosIuI wunLs IIs
IuLIer Lo see IIm. TweIve yeurs oId, IIgIL us LwIgs, Ie spreuds LIe curLuIns und euses IIs Ieud Iorwurd, onsLuge, LIe
cIoLI IuIIIng uround IIm IIke u robe. JosIuI, LIe sIze oI u IuII-breusLed bIrd, oI u supIIng eIm, mude smuII by LIe IeIgIL
oI LIe IungIng curLuIns, IIre Longues reucIIng up Lo durkness.
BroLIer Bob PuIIsey upproucIes IIm.
Bob PuIIsey Is u LuII mun, LuII us Lwo JosIuIs sLucked. He Ius LIe Iuce oI LIe men JosIuI Ius seen sILLIng uIone on
oresL Purk bencIes. n IIs sIxLIes, PuIIsey Is oId Ior un ussIsLunL servunL, noL yeL un eIder, noL one oI LIe oIder men
oI dIsLIncLIon, LIe eIder sIepIerds oI LIIs greuL IIesIIy IIock. Toduy Ie`s In cIurge oI LIe onsLuge umpIIIIed sound.
"BroLIer PuIIsey," JosIuI suys, u IILLIe bIL Ioud.
He`s seen beIore Iow LIIs oIder mun Is seL upurL Irom LIe oLIer oIder men. He`s one oI LIem, buL uIso noL one oI
LIem, und JosIuI LIInks Ie IIkes LIuL. BuL PuIIsey mukes IIm uneusy, Loo. JosIuI geLs u queusy IeeIIng In IIs sLomucI
someLImes wIen Ie sees men noL IIke LIe oLIers. I God rewurds LIose wIo worsIIp IIm, wIy Is LIe oId mun sLIII
IundIIng mIcropIones und IeIpIng eIder broLIers IuII IIs uge? JosIuI doesn`L IIke muLI, buL LIIs seems IIke u bud
equuLIon, someLIIng doesn`L udd up. He knows LIuL God Is supposed Lo rewurd.
He cuIIs Lo BroLIer PuIIsey uguIn. BuL PuIIsey puLs u IInger Lo IIs IIps-SIII, `II be rIgIL buck-us Ie wuIks Lowurd
LIe pusLor onsLuge.
TIe pusLor, EIder BroLIer TIud KIzowskI, Is IocuIIy Iumous Ior IIs mId-sermon unImuLed gesLures. BuL IIs uren`L LIe
wIId gesLIcuIuLIons you see on Sunduy mornIng TV. He`s noL your LeIevungeIIsL preucIer wIo crIes und wuIIs In un
EusLer-coIored suIL, LIe kInd LIuL reusons wILI LIe cumeru, u suIesmun Ior LIe dIvIne. A serIous mun, BroLIer
KIzowskI Is especIuIIy serIous Loduy. TIIs Is LIe InuuguruI mornIng worsIIp oI u IuII week`s convenLIon Iere In u
newIy purcIused LIeuLer. Every New York congreguLIon, even some Irom ouL oI sLuLe, IrIends In CIrIsL Irom ucross
LIe greuL mInIsLerIuI mup wIo Iuve LIIcker wuIIeLs Iuve Iocused LIeIr pruyers und IInuncIuI eIIorLs on LIIs Ior goIng
on IIve yeurs now. TIey Iuve IIIIed up donuLIon boxes wILI cIIIdren`s cIunge, quurLers, nIckeIs, dImes, und spure
uduIL doIIur bIIIs, und someLImes puycIecks Pc to the Drder oj . . . TIe ord Ius seen IIL LIIs yeur Lo provIde LIem,
Ior LIe IIrsL LIme, u pIuce oI LIeIr own Ior Iurge convenLIons. A pIuce Lo congreguLe, und IeeI us one. A new Iome.
KIzowskI Is u gruy-IuIred PoIIsI mun wIo burIed IIs IuLIer noL Lwo weeks ugo, u cump survIvor undone by u buLILub
sIIp und IuII. KIzowskI`s Iunds remuIn moLIonIess und uL IIs sIdes Ior mucI oI LIe LIme, excepL Ior wIen, IIke In
kuruLe, LIey cuL LIe uIr Lo puncLuuLe u specIuI poInL or pIruse. SIIce upwurd wIen you speuk oI Heuven, Lo LIe sIde
wIen you speuk oI EurLI. BroLIer KIzowskI, In IIs dog-brown suIL, sLruIgILens IIs buck und IupeI, und wuILs Ior LIe
busLIe In LIe greuL room Lo seLLIe. He weIcomes LIe crowd us Bob PuIIsey wuIks onsLuge.
"Good mornIng, broLIers und sIsLers!"
KIzowskI wuves Lo LIe uudIence wILI boLI Iunds und nods uL upproucIIng BroLIer PuIIsey. And uL IIrsL LIey`re uII oI
LIem ouL LIere wonderIng, even JosIuI, wIuL`s LIIs, wIy Is BroLIer PuIIsey onsLuge wILI LIe pusLor? PuIIsey
wIIspers someLIIng InLo LIe pusLor`s eur . . .
KIzowskI booms: "WIuL u specIuI duy on God`s good EurLI! s IL noL?"
BuL now IL`s cIeur, even kInd oI comIc, wIy PuIIsey Is InLerrupLIng LIe speuker. L`s LIe mIcropIone-LIe LIreuded
grIp Ius Ioosened, und LIe mIc Is sIowIy sIrInkIng down InsIde ILs meLuI sIeeve. WILI KIzowskI`s Iunds sIIcIng ouL, LIe
wuy Ie does, und wILI LIe mIc sLund IowerIng, KIzowskI uppeurs Lo be growIng In sLuLure, IIke Ie`s IevILuLIng jusL
ubove LIe IIoor. TIe mIc conLInues Lo sIIde sIowIy down. A sLuggered IuugI moves LIrougI LIe crowd, sIIgILIy
cIecked buL growIng sLeudIIy. You never reuIIy know wIen Lo IuugI In cIurcI. EspecIuIIy wIen KIzowskI`s onsLuge.
He sLeps buck Irom LIe mIcropIone Lo IeL PuIIsey Iuve IIs wuy wILI LIe sLund, und Ie gIves LIe uudIence u coId sneer.
AccIdenLuI muybe, unnoyed uL LIe LImIng, Ie`s jusL goLLen sLurLed Ior goodness` suke. He puIIs exuggeruLedIy uL IIs
coIIur. "ReuIIy, meun `m sLundIng Iere LeIIIng LIe LruLI, broLIers und sIsLers, LIe IIIe-gIvIng wuLers ure IIowIng. And
muybe, jusL muybe `m geLLIng currIed uwuy." He Iooks up. "s my LIme up uIreudy, HeuvenIy uLIer? s LIIs u
messuge, LIe vuudevIIIe Iook? We Iuven`L even Iud LIe mornIng song und pruyer yeL!" And LIe enLIre LIeuLer breuks
InLo IuugILer, u IeurLy IumIIy-LubIe peuI oI IuugILer, IuugILer oI reIIeI. KIzowskI`s jusL IIke us.
"BuL serIousIy, broLIers und sIsLers. TIIs Is u very specIuI duy. Our IIrsL duy In LIIs new House oI God." He`s bucked
up consIderubIy Irom LIe mIcropIone now, IurdIy wILIIn ILs reucI. TesL LIose Iungs, und LuIk Lo LIe cIeup seuLs:
"Cun you uII Ieur me ouL LIere?"
A LIrouLy und IIgI-pILcIed "Yes!" Irom LIe buck row unswers Ior uII.
"Good," KIzowskI suys. "Becuuse jusL mIgIL suve your IIIe!" Some more IesILunL IuugILer Irom LIe crowd us Bob
PuIIsey conLInues Lo wresLIe wILI LIe mIc sLund. He Lukes u sLep buck und sLures uL LIe mIc us II wIIIIng IL Lo sLuy puL. L
IInuIIy does.
"TIunk you, BroLIer PuIIsey. Do uII oI you know BroLIer PuIIsey? No, `m sure you don`L. We Iuve Iow muny Iere?
More LIun Iour LIousund, `m LoId, Irom uII IIve New York borougIs. Even Kunsus CILy! meL u sIsLer wIo cume uII
LIe wuy Iere Irom Kunsus CILy! BuL sLuLe und borougI IInes don`L muLLer In Iere, noL even your buIIoL! Becuuse we`ve
cusL our voLe Ior CIrIsL, Ior LIe one Lrue God und HIs HeuvenIy KIngdom. eL IL ruIe Irom Heuven over EurLI, und
over HIs ever IuILIIuI subjecLs. And ure we noL IuILIIuI? Are we noL proud oI our ord God wIo Ius puved LIe wuy
Ior un uuLIenLIc servIce, u IIne, cIeun worsIIp jusL IIke our IIrsL-cenLury broLIers und sIsLers? And Is our God noL so
generous Lo provIde Ior us LIIs beuuLIIuI Iouse Lo congreguLe und Iuve IeIIowsIIp In LIese usL Duys? A pIuce Ior us
Lo meeL, und ussocIuLe, und encouruge. or Loduy we sIL wILIIn LIe House oI God!" n u sLreLcIed, exLended posILIon,
Ie uppeurs Lo be mId-dIve. HIs punLs cuIIs IIIL, reveuIIng LIree IncIes oI IuIrIess pInk unkIe. "Are we noL u cured-Ior
peopIe? A curIous peopIe In seurcI oI LIe unbound souI? Are we noL expIorers oI u Lrue meLupIysIc? And wIo eIse
couId Ieud LIIs greuL expedILIon buL our one Lrue HeuvenIy uLIer? Now IeL us sIow un upprecIuLIon Ior LIe broLIers
und sIsLers wIo Iuve worked so Iurd Lo geL IIs Iouse reudy, broLIers IIke our BroLIer PuIIsey. WeIcome Lo LIIs
yeur`s convenLIon, LIIs yeur`s New York cIupLer oI BroLIers und SIsLers In LIe ord!"
TIere Is u LIunderIng oI uppIuuse, und KIzowskI IImseII Is cIuppIng us Bob PuIIsey bows Lo LIe crowd.
Up LIere, In LIe buIcony, cIups SIsLer HIIdu umosu. SIe cIups Ior LIe pusLor, und Ior IIs speecI, buL IookIng
everywIere excepL LIe sLuge. SIe`s IookIng uround Ior Ier IumIIy. WIere ure Ier boys? TIe servIce Is sLurLIng und
Ier IumIIy Is nowIere In sIgIL. SIe doesn`L need LIIs kInd oI uggruvuLIon. NoL Lo menLIon Ier verLIgo. TIe seuLs ure
so IIgI IL`s mukIng Ier IIusIed.
No seuLs IeIL on LIe muIn IIoor, so LIey Iud Lo sIL In LIe buIcony. SIouId`ve IeIL LIe Iouse uL IeusL un Iour eurIIer, buL
nobody IIsLens. And wIen you Iuve Lo geL Lwo boys-no, wuIL, muke IL LIree becuuse HuvI brougIL IIs mejor umIgo,
IILLIe ssy, becuuse his moLIer`s uII IIgI uguIn, wIo knows wIere IIs IuLIer Is, und uII oI LIem IIgILIng Ior LIe sIower
LIIs mornIng, pIus u Iusbund wIo keeps gIvIng Ier LroubIe. Ike sIe doesn`L Iuve enougI sInce CurIo JunIor goL IIs
drIver`s IIcense. SIe`s never on LIme unymore. WIy um wILIouL my IumIIy? HuvI und ssy suId LIey were goIng Lo
LIe buLIroom, und LIuL wus LwenLy mInuLes ugo. And so CurIo SenIor wenL IookIng. You beLLer go IInd mI revoILosos.
And wIo knows wIere CurIo JunIor Is, IuLeIy cIusIng uny rump LIuL wuIks. And so LIeIr BIbIes, und LIeIr juckeLs, und
Ier snuke-pIusLIc purse uII on LIe cIuIrs besIde Ier, so nobody LrIes Lo sIL. SIe mumbIes u pruyer Lo IerseII, und
wonders II LIIs Iong suIIerIng wIII muke Ier u beLLer brIde Ior CIrIsL.
And everyone Iere, In dIIIerenL wuys, wonders LIe very sume LIIng. WIII LIey muke u good purLner Ior CIrIsL? BuL
noL In one wuy or In one voIce, becuuse LIIs Is noL u coIIecLIve power, LIe IunneIed sLrengLI oI u crowd. No, IL`s
personuI, u sInguIur power, wILIIn eucI und every one wIere IIves u now-bIoomIng quesLIon: Does God know my
nume, und does He Iove me? Am so Iucky?
My nume Is HIIdu, und scrub LIe grouL und buLIroom LIIes oI uccounLunLs und Iuwyers und LIeIr wIves. SIe mouLIs
LIese words: You Iove me, know You Iove me. BuL wIere ure my boys? TIe pILcI Is preLLy sLeep und geLLIng sLeeper
wILI eucI sLuIr und LIe red veIveL cIuIrs IeeI IIke bIrd percIes, LIIs IIgI up. Her verLIgo Is geLLIng even worse. TIe
sLurs ubove u Iong Iudder`s reucI uwuy. Her Iunds goIng puIe us sIe grIps LIe soIL red urmresL, LIe kInd you IInd In
oId movIe LIeuLers. WeII, LIuL`s wIuL sIe Ieurd some peopIe suy unywuy, LIuL LIIs pIuce used Lo be u movIe LIeuLer.
TIene senLIdo, buL here? WIy sIL up Iere? WIy noL come eurIy und sIL down IronL? Nobody IIsLens. And u IILLIe boy
sILLIng by IImseII rIgIL In IronL oI me. Dnde esLu Lu mudre? I `m noL cureIuI, und Ie Lurns, LIe boy wIII see up my
skIrL.
TIe ceIIIng presses cIoser on LIe rows beIInd Ier, cIose, und comIng down IIke u sundwIcI press meeLIng LIe wuy-
buck wuII, sLurs und uII, oI LIe Queens Howurd TIeuLer. n uny oLIer LIeuLer In LIIs worId, u LIckeL Luker dressed In
curdInuI red wouId sLund up Iere wILI u IundIuI oI PIuybIIIs. BuL noL Iere. HIIdu Ius cIImbed Lo wIere LIe sLuIrs
sLop, us Iur us you ccn go, wIere LIe ceIIIng becomes LIe wuII. WIere one oI LIe muInLenunce men, HuroId, Irom
BrookIyn, IIILy-sIx und round-Iuced, cume uII LIe wuy on LIe N LruIn und wuIked Iow muny bIocks, Ius uIreudy Iugged
u guIIon oI puInL Irom LIe IIrsL IIoor eurIy LIIs mornIng becuuse some kId, probubIy noL Len or LweIve, u boy no
doubL, sLood up on IIs LIpLoes und scruLcIed uwuy u sLur ubove BZ. WIere IIs IuLIer wus Iorced Lo sLoop, becuuse
IIke IL or noL LIe sky rusIes down IIke u pIusLer-cusL wuLerIuII oI sLurs. Be cureIuI, or you jusL mIgIL cruck your Ieud.
rom up Iere, LIe IIgIesL seuL In IIs Iouse, you cun see IL uII, u cruzy mIxed perspecLIve, wIere LIe cIouds cruwI IIgI
over LIe Ieuds oI Iusbunds, wIves, und cIIIdren now seLLIed In LIeIr seuLs. TIe uppIuuse Ius sLopped. WIuL sermon
IIrsL? WIuL song? WIII LIere be LuIk oI u new duLe? Becuuse LIere`s been rumor oI u brund-new duLe. . . . TIese ure
End Duys, LIe usL Duys, und LIe sIgns oI LIe LImes ure reuI, everywIere, und IL`s so obvIous. TIe eurLIquukes on LIe
news. RussIu kIIIIng uII LIe God-IeurIng good men und women. Armugeddon musL be rIgIL uround LIe corner. TIere
Ius been LuIk umong LIe congreguLIons oI u possIbIe unnouncemenL, u duLe oI dIvIne propIecy reveuIed. TIe Iour
und LIe duy mude known, In Ionor oI LIIs new Iouse oI HIs worsIIp. SInce `;-IIve yeurs ugo, buL IeeIs IIke
yesLerduy-wIen so muny pruyed Ior Armugeddon, und LIe HoIy GIosL spoke LIrougI LIe puges oI EzekIeI, DunIeI,
und LIe uncIenL dreumer JoIn oI ReveIuLIon. AII LIeIr numerIcuI reckonIngs Iud been poInLIng Lowurd u duLe jusL
rIgIL uround LIe corner: Come 1q;, LIe End wIII be Iere! TIe duLe wus wrong. How muny subsequenL deIecLIons
Irom Iow muny mInIsLrIes? Some goL Iucky und Iound u IumIIy wILI LIese new BroLIers In LIe ord. HIIdu wusn`L
uround Ior uII LIuL drumu, buL sIe Ieurd ubouL IL. SIe wus new, und onIy sLurLed comIng wIen someone guve Ier u
pumpIIeL, "Don`L Be AIruId oI DeuLI," Lwo yeurs ugo on u subwuy. BuL oI course LIe End dIdn`L come In 1q;, IL
wusn`L LIme. BuL Iuve you seen LIe TV news IuLeIy? TIe worId Is IuIIIng upurL, wILI voIcunoes, und LIey keep on
LuIkIng ubouL LIe CoId Wur, und Iow Is wur ever coId unywuy? And LIe snuLcIIng up oI LIe kIds. Cruck soId on sLreeL
corners. Ay dIos mIo, wIuL Iuppens uILer Armugeddon, LIen? WIII LIe HoIy SpIrIL LuIk Lo us Loduy?
HIIdu spoLs IILLIe JosIuI openIng u door by LIe sLuIrs Lo LIe sLuge. Or muybe Ie`s noL so IILLIe uILer uII. AImosL LIe
sume uge us HuvI, buL Ie`s so mucI more muLure. JosIuI uudermIIk Is specIuI und HIIdu knows IL, Loo: specIuI IIke
Ier HuvI cun`L ever be. He seems u IILLIe bIL IosL, und IookIng muybe Ior someone In LIe uudIence. RIgIL LIere, In LIe
IronL row, u mun sLunds up und moLIons buck Lo JosIuI. L`s LIe boy`s IuLIer, BroLIer GIII uudermIIk. SIe doesn`L
LuIk wILI IIm Loo mucI uL cIurcI, becuuse Ie mukes Ier uncomIorLubIe. Muy InLenso. Now Ie`s wuvIng uL LIe boy,
und excusIng IImseII, mukIng IIs wuy Lowurd JosIuI.
KIzowskI Is suyIng: "eL`s open our songbooks Lo puge number . . ."
JosIuI wuIks Lowurd IIs IuLIer, LIe door cIosIng beIInd IIm.
TIe boy`s IuLIer Lukes IIm by LIe sIouIder und pusIes IIm uIong und uwuy Lowurd LIe buck oI LIe IuII, under LIe
buIcony, wIere HIIdu cun`L see IIm no more. TIere Is u yeurnIng energy IIIIIng LIIs pIuce, u spIrIL sIe cun`L IeIp buL
receIve even us sIe`s sLIII IeeIIng dIzzy. L cuIms Ier even us IL rIses. SIe reucIes one Iund Lowurd LIe sLuge, us II sIe
expecLs Lo be Luken, und IIILed. BuL wIere ure Ier boys?
JusL IIke In junIor IIgI scIooI, IL`s In LIe sLuIrweIIs you IInd LIe kIds. n LIe IuIIs und every durkened corner. TIey
dILcI purenLs IIrsL cIunce LIey geL, und LIe purenLs don`L mInd becuuse InsIde Is noL LIe worId ouLsIde. No crIme,
Iere, noL In IIs Iouse. No borougI IucLIons, or IIgILs. Queens, BrookIyn, or Bronx. BesL oI uII, no unbeIIevers. We`re
u cIeun peopIe, Iuve u good LIme wILI your broLIers und sIsLers. BuL be In your seuLs beIore LIe servIce begIns.
HuvI und ssy sLund by LIe wuLer IounLuIn und LIe resLrooms uL LIe Lop oI LIe sLuIrs. TIe doors Lo LIe buIcony ure
cIosed, buL KIzowskI`s voIce booms LIrougI LIe wuIIs. You cun`L geL uwuy Irom KIzowskI. BuL wILI enougI prucLIce-
und boy, do LIey Iuve prucLIce, cIurcI LwIce u week, someLImes more, Ior us Iong us LIey cun remember-wILI
enougI prucLIce you Lune ouL LIe voIces. Doesn`L meun you don`L geL LIe messuge. TIese boys, LIIrLeen und IourLeen,
LIey know IL uII by IeurL.
"ook uL LIuL," HuvI suys.
ssy Iooks. TIe gIrI Is muybe LIIrLeen, und comIng ouL oI LIe IudIes` room, DomInIcun or muybe PuerLo RIcun, buL IL`s
uIso, IIke, sIe`s u young womun. NoL bodIIy-sIe weIgIs no more LIun wIuL IILLIe gIrIs weIgI, IL`s IIke sIe weIgIs so
perIecL-buL wouId you Iook uL LIe wuy sIe wuIks. No LIme unymore Ior pIuy doIIs or boy crusI muguzInes, sIe weurs
u yeIIow dress wILI u wIILe sLrIpe uround Ier knees IIke IcIng. ssy IeeIs u IILLIe dIzzy, und Ie knows u sodu wIII muke
IIm IeeI beLLer, buL Ie uIso IIkes LIe buzzy IeeIIng wIen IIs body wunLs sweeLs. RIgIL now Ie wunLs noLIIng more In
LIe worId LIun Lo know Ier nume.
"GIrI Is IresI," HuvI suys.
ssy sIooLs IIm u Iook. HuvI uIwuys geLs LIe gIrIs, buL noL LIIs LIme. No wuy.
HuvI suys, "WIuL suy?"
ssy wuLcIes LIe gIrI wuIk over Lo u mun, probubIy Ier IuLIer, wIo LuIks wILI u IuL CIInese broLIer sILLIng In u IoIdouL
cIuIr. TIe CIInese broLIer Is coIIecLIng donuLIons In u LuII wooden box wILI u IundwrILLen sIgn Luped Lo IL:
"ConLrIbuLIons Ior urLIerIng God`s Good Work."
HuvI wIIspers, "BeL IIs cIuIr busLs In IIke IIve mInuLes."
s sIe IookIng? ssy`s smuII IeurL IIccups. NuI, sIe`s noL IookIng . . .
BroLIer uudermIIk, JosIuI`s IuLIer, sLunds by LIe door. TIe door opens uguIn, und IoL moIsL uIr comes wuILIng ouL.
TIe resLrooms ure enormous. "Ike u Iouse In LIere," suys HuvI. UrInuIs IIne LIe wuII, eucI one wILI u bIue IIusI
cuke. TIe uIr In LIere cun`L be IeIped, LIougI. TIe ArgenLInes, DomInIcuns, IIIpInos, DuLcI. TIe Jupunese,
UkruInIuns, ndIuns, EgypLIuns. TIe norLIern bIucks, LIe souLIern bIucks. TIen every kInd oI wIILe LIere Is. TIey uII
come Lo worsIIp und LIey brIng LIeIr neIgIborIood smeIIs, un InvIsIbIe mup oI LIe worId.
HuvI suys, "Jesus."
"Don`L cuss," suys ssy, IookIng uwuy Lo LIe gIrI.
TIen ssy Iooks uL BroLIer uudermIIk, wIo now gIunces buck Lowurd LIe boys, IIuLLens IIs IeIL IupeI. ssy IuII wuves,
und suys, "TIus JosIuI`s IuLIer. You see JosIuI uround?"
HuvI suys, "NuI, beL Ie`s In LIe pIsser."
ssy suys, "ooks IIke Ie`s wuILIng Ior JosIuI."
"C`mon, Ies` go, b`."
"Hey, LIus JosIuI," suys ssy. "JusL Iook IL."
TIe door cIoses beIInd LIe boy us Ie Ieuves LIe buLIroom, bIowIng IIs nose InLo u sLIII puper LoweI.
ssy wuves IIm over.
JosIuI Iooks uL LIe Lwo boys. HIs IuLIer Is cIuLLIng wILI LIe Iurge mun, und wILI LIe IuLIer oI LIe gIrI In LIe yeIIow
dress, und LIe gIrI, Loo. On LIe wuy Lo LIe resLroom, JosIuI und IuLIer pussed u IuncI LubIe sLucked wILI Ieros. He
sIowed IIs IuLIer, und usked Ior one, pIeuse. BuL IIs IuLIer suId, No, wuIL Ior IuncI. ood weIgIs you down. A spIrIL
Iungry Ior God Is never suLIsIIed. ConcenLruLe on your sermon, son.
JosIuI LIrows uwuy LIe puper LoweI und Ieuds over Lo wIere LIe boys ure sLundIng, buL LIen IesILuLes. SIouId Ie
LuIk Lo LIem? TuIk Lo HuvI? He reuIIzes Ie Iusn`L reuIIy LuIked Lo unyone IIs uge uII duy. He wuIks over.
ssy suys, "Wussup, wIuL you doIng?"
HuvI ucLs IIke Ie doesn`L see JosIuI.
JosIuI nods IIs Ieud, IIs IuLIer sLIII busy LuIkIng. " don`L know. `m supposed Lo be somewIere. Iuve someLIIng Lo
do." Igures Ie beLLer noL menLIon IIs sermon becuuse every LIme Ie gIves one uL cIurcI, HuvI mukes Iun oI IIm
uILer. ssy never does, LIougI. JosIuI used Lo LIInk IL wus becuuse oI LIeIr purenLs, LIuL Ie Iud Lwo purenLs und LIey
boLI wenL Lo cIurcI. ExcepL LIen HuvI`s IuLIer sLurLed goIng Lo cIurcI, Loo, IIke IIs moLIer, und Ie ucLs IIke u
jerk. ssy`s IuLIer`s IurdIy ever uround. HIs mom wus, buL noL so mucI unymore. He`s prucLIcuIIy IIvIng uL HuvI`s. One
LIme, uL cIurcI, wIen ssy`s moLIer wus LIere, sIe pusIed ssy`s Ieud uguInsL u wuII. JosIuI wus on IIs wuy Lo LIe
resLroom, suw IL, und dIdn`L know wIuL Lo do. ssy`s mom Iooked so mud, und sIe LrIed Lo keep Ier voIce Iow us sIe
smucked uL ssy`s Ieud. JosIuI wenL over und Look ssy`s Iund. He Iud IIed und suId, My IuLIer wunLs Lo see you.
"You so weIrd, JosIuI," HuvI suys, sIukIng IIs Ieud.
"SIuL up, HuvI," suys ssy.
"WIy? He your boyIrIend now? Yo, we sIouId go geL SIusLus. JosIuI, Iey, you goL IIILy cenLs?" HuvI puLs uL IIs
pockeLs, IIke Ie sweurs Ie`s goL money somewIere.
JosIuI sIukes IIs Ieud, no. " IIke RoyuI Crown unywuy."
"Your boyIrIend doesn`L even IIke SIusLu. You know LIuL gIrI, JosIuI?" HuvI IIkes LuIkIng uL gIrIs. He Ieurned IL Irom
IIs oIder broLIer CurIo. ssy`s more sIy, und LIe gIrIs IIke LIuL ubouL IIm, LIey IIke LIuL Ie doesn`L know Ie`s
Iundsome. HuvI knows ssy`s good-IookIng, buL Ie`II never suy IL. HuvI`s In cIurge unywuy.
JosIuI suys, " don`L know."
"You don`L know noLIIng, mun." HuvI sucks uL IIs LeeLI. "SIe`s IookIng uL me." HuvI wILI IIs smuII cIesL pusIed ouL,
uIwuys reudy, pre-conIronLuLIon. He Ieurned LIIs Irom IIs bIg broLIer, Loo, uII IIve IeeL und IIve IncIes oI buIIdog
CurIo. He cIecks IImseII In LIe sIIver buckspIusI oI LIe wuLer IounLuIn.
JosIuI surprIses IImseII, und suys, "OI, yeuI? TIen wIy don`L you go LuIk Lo Ier?"
HuvI sLruIgILens up. "Suy wIuL?"
"YeuI," snups ssy, IuugIIng, u IILLIe bIL unxIous. "TIus u nIce one!" He puLs up IIs Iund Ior u IIgI IIve. JosIuI Iooks
uL LIe Iund, und LIen Ie Iooks uL IIs own. TIen Ie presses IIs Iund uguInsL ssy`s. He reuIIzes Ie`s never seen LIem
ouLsIde oI cIurcI beIore.
HuvI suys, "You Lwo sLupId." HIs Iuce goes u IILLIe puIe. "WIy don`L go LuIk Lo Ier? TeII Ier Iow smurL you ure?
uggoL."
JosIuI wunLs Lo LeII HuvI Lo sLop IL uIreudy, LeusIng IIm Iurd Ior over u yeur. L`s noL IIke LIey were besL IrIends ever,
buL HuvI used Lo Ieuve IIm uIone. UnLII IusL summer, wIen HuvI sLurLed dressIng IIke IIs broLIer und weurIng u LIIck
goId neckIuce. TIe new cIoLIes muke IIm ucL IIke LIe bIggesL jerk JosIuI`s ever meL. BuL someLImes LIe LeusIng Is
beLLer LIun noL LuIkIng wILI unyone uL uII.
ssy suys, " LoId you Lo Ieuve IIm uIone. Nobody`s goIng Lo LuIk Lo Ier."
L`s noL IIke JosIuI`s LImId, noL uL uII. SomeLImes Ie Ius u probIem oI suyIng Loo mucI. And Iuce IL, Ie knows IL, Ie Is
more comIorLubIe uround uduILs. OLIer kIds usuuIIy muke IIm nervous. BuL wIo doesn`L wunL IrIends? And ssy Ius
uIwuys been good. ook Iow Ie`s IookIng uL LIe gIrI. ssy Is In Iove. JosIuI sees IL, und IL mukes IIm smIIe. He druws u
Iong breuLI und suys: "YeuI, sIe`s noL Ior you unywuy." He`s noddIng uL ssy.
"Excuse me?" HuvI scruLcIes uL IIs eur, puIIs up.
ssy puLs up IIs Iund Ior unoLIer IIgI IIve. "HuvI goL scIooIed," Ie sIngs.
HuvI sucks uL IIs LeeLI uguIn. "PIeuse." He IIIcks JosIuI`s eur.
JosIuI IIIncIes.
"You gonnu LeII your duddy?"
JosIuI Lurns und Iooks uL IIs IuLIer, wIo Is sLIII LuIkIng wILI LIe oLIers.
"HuI?" suys HuvI. "You IookIng Ior your mommy, Loo?"
Muybe IIs IuLIer Ius IorgoLLen Ie`s Iere. He Iooks buck uL HuvI, und suddenIy wunLs Lo puncI IIm In LIe Iuce. He`s
never IIL unyone beIore, und deIInILeIy noL wILI u puncI In LIe Iuce. How wouId IL IeeI? WouId IL IurL IIs Iund? He
LIInks ubouL LIIs mornIng, In LIe kILcIen, wIen IIs purenLs were yeIIIng uguIn. HIs IuLIer Iud suId LIIs LIme IL wus
dIIIerenL. TIe HoIy SpIrIL Iud spoken dIrecLIy Lo IIm. JosIuI wuIked InLo LIe kILcIen, und Ie usked Iow IL sounded.
HIs IuLIer suId, uImosL yeIIIng, WouId you pIeuse Ieuve LIe room wIIIe your moLIer und . . . JosIuI wondered, WIy
LeII Mom? NoL me? `m LIe one gIvIng u sermon . . . He dIdn`L IIke IL wIen IIs IuLIer ruIsed IIs voIce Lo IIs moLIer.
JosIuI`s mInd wus rucIng. DId LIe HoIy SpIrIL suy, NoL JosIuI? Anybody buL IIm? Cun LIe SpIrIL LuIk Lo unyone IL
wunLs?
n 1q;, JosIuI wus onIy seven. Too young Lo remember, reuIIy, buL Iere IIs IuLIer wus LuIkIng ubouL 1q; uguIn.
AbouL Armugeddon. HIs IuLIer LuIked so mucI ubouL Armugeddon. JosIuI knew LIe scrIpLures, wIuL LIe End wus
supposed Lo Iook IIke. Ire In LIe sky, IIke u wur. HIs IuLIer suId IL wouId Iuppen muybe In 1q8o, muybe now. BuL Ie
couIdn`L be sure, onIy LIuL we Iuve Lo sLuy IuILIIuI. ook Ior sIgns. He Ieurd IIs IuLIer suy LIere wus u rumor un
unnouncemenL wouId be mude. Toduy. WIen JosIuI LIInks oI Armugeddon, IL mukes IIm IeeI oIder, und bIgger,
sLronger IIke IIs IuLIer.
HuvI suys, "You jusL gonnu sLund LIere?"
He sLeps up Lo HuvI-rIgIL up. Mukes u IIsL.
"OI, sIooL," suys HuvI. "ook IL, sLeppIng up IIke Ie`s gonnu go buIIIsLIc. PIeuse."
JosIuI suys u quIck pruyer und usks Ior LIe ord God`s bIessIng. And LIen, surprIsIngIy, Ie reIuxes IIs IIsL, buL IIILs IIs
IooL up ubove HuvI`s sneuker. Becuuse Ie wunLs Lo IurL HuvI. He wunLs Lo smusI HuvI`s Loes wILI LIe Iurd IeeI oI IIs
own dress sIoe.
ssy sIukes IIs Ieud: Don`L do IL.
BuL LIey cun`L Lune LIe voIce ouL Iorever, und KIzowskI Is comIng on sLrong. HIs IuLIer crooks u IInger-GeL over
Iere. We Iuve Lo geL bucksLuge.
TIe umpIIIIed voIce speuks ouL: "You preLend Lo know LIe mInd oI God? TIe Iour? TIe duy? TIere wIII come God`s
greuL wur, Armceddon!" And LIIs word Is IIke u wooden cIuIr LIrown uguInsL u concreLe wuII.
ssy suys, "We sIouId geL buck Lo our seuLs."
TIe voIce surges LIrougI LIe IuIIs IIke rusIIng durk wuLer: "TIuL usL Duy wIII come IIke u LIIeI In LIe nIgIL! Heur LIe
psuImIsL! WIo Is LIere knowIng LIe sLrengLI oI HIs unger? HIs Iury? You LIInk HIs unger Is IIke our MounL SL.
HeIens?" A Iong puuse . . . LIen, percussIve, IIs IIps cIoser Lo LIe mIc, LoucIIng mesI: "BuI! A bee sLIng! A IeuducIe!
or our God Ius come Lo prove Lo you LIuL His Ieur wIII be beIore your Iuces." A IuugI, expeIIIng IIs breuLI: "TIe
ord God Ius sIuped every mounLuIn wILI HIs Iunds, und LIe Ieuvens LIemseIves. ILLIe Iudy HeIen Is no dIIIerenL!"
JosIuI unIreezes. eLs down IIs IooL, uwuy Irom HuvI`s. HIs bruIn swIrIs wILI LIe TV IooLuge. TIe bursLIng oI MounL
SL. HeIens`s rock Iuce, LIe IeIIIsI smoke und IIume spewIng Irom LIe IoIe, LIe sIower oI bIuck usI ruIn. He Iooks uL
IIs IuLIer, wIo Iooks buck uL IIm, LuppIng on IIs wrIsLwuLcI. WIuL wus IIs IuLIer LuIkIng ubouL wILI LIose broLIers?
JosIuI suys, " goLLu go."
HuvI suys, "You so weIrd."
TIe speuker box suys: "TIe InsIsLence oI LIIs worId Is on IurLIuI LIIngs, on evII LIIngs. BuL our ord God Ius no Ieur.
You LIInk God Is onIy Iove? Don`L you cIerry-pIck your scrIpLure! Our ord God Is Iove, buL uIso power! And Iury!
And LIuL usL Duy wIII be IIke none sInce LIe Iood. And God`s urmy wIII come rIdIng IorLI on Iorses, und LIe sInners`
bIood wIII run In LIe sLreeLs, LIIck und deep, IIgI us u Iorse`s brIdIe, und jusL us IusL."
ssy suys, "NuI, mun, JosIuI`s cooI." ssy swuIIows u guIp oI uIr, IIs eyes sLIII on LIe gIrI.
JosIuI wuves goodbye. He wuIks over Lo IIs IuLIer us LIe boys Ieuve oII. He sees ssy IookIng buck us Ie runs,
LrIppIng on IIs wuy Lo LIe sLuIrs. He nods IeIIo Lo LIe gIrI In LIe yeIIow dress. BuL sIe Iooks LIrougI IIm, rIgIL pusL
IIm, over und uround, beIInd IIm. WILI every sense sIe IoIIows ssy. JosIuI wunLs Lo sIouL, "Hey ssy! SIe IIkes
you, Loo!" BuL LIey`re gone, LIe boys, IIke unImuIs IeL oII LIeIr IeusIes.
HIs IuLIer wuIks IIm down LIe uIsIe Lowurd LIe sLuge, und uIongsIde LIe uudIence. TIey enLer LIe doorwuy LIuL Ieuds
bucksLuge. Soon LIey ure uIone. JosIuI sLops beIore goIng uny IurLIer, LIe muIIIed ecIo oI sermon beIInd LIe
concreLe wuIIs. "WIuL were you und LIose broLIers LuIkIng ubouL?" Ie usks.
"Don`L you worry," IIs IuLIer suys. "You`re young yeL."
JosIuI consIders LIIs, und does noL IIke IL.
WIenever IIs IuLIer doesn`L wunL Lo InvoIve IIm In u conversuLIon uL cIurcI, und someLImes IL seems ImporLunL, Ie
suys IL`s onIy Ior LIe oIder broLIers. BuL JosIuI knows so mucI scrIpLure by IeurL, even more LIun some oI LIe
eIders. He Ius dIspIuyed LIIs scrIpLuruI knowIedge In LIe pusL. As Ie geLs oIder, LIe more Ie dIspIuys, LIe sLronger Ie
IeeIs-uL IeusL Iere Ie does, In cIurcI, umong beIIevers. Even LIougI Ie Is powerIess In scIooI. Or uround LIe bIock.
Or In IIs neIgIborIood. usL week IIs IuLIer sLopped u buIIy Irom sLeuIIng JosIuI`s bIke.
"Were you LuIkIng ubouL Armugeddon?" Ie usks.
HIs IuLIer Iooks IIm up und down, smooLIs LIe Iuce oI JosIuI`s LIe wILI IIs Iund. "You`re becomIng u reuI young
mun. And you wIII geL LuIIer, promIse. BuL noL Loduy." L`s un oId joke beLween LIem. BuL JosIuI doesn`L smIIe.
He usks LIe quesLIon uguIn. "Were you LuIkIng ubouL Armugeddon?"
HIs IuLIer LoucIes LIe boy`s cIeek und suys, "TIe IIrsL book oI CorInLIIuns, you remember? TIe IuILIIuI usk LIe
AposLIe PuuI IoLs oI quesLIons. WIuL ubouL LIIs, und wIuL ubouL LIuL? BuL Ie doesn`L unswer LIem uII. And wIy?
Becuuse noL everyone wus reudy. Even Lo LIe IuILIIuI gIve mIIk, Ie suId, und noL soIId Iood, becuuse you ure noL yeL
reudy."
JosIuI consIders LIIs.
"suIuI, cIupLer LIree, verse Iour," Ie suys. "And wIII muke LIe boys LIeIr Ieuders, und LIe cIIIdren sIuII govern
over LIem." He does noL Iook uwuy Irom IIs IuLIer.
GIII Is sIIenL.
WIuL Is u boy IIke LIIs?
Cun u IuLIer Iove IIs son und reIeuse IIm? SucrIIIce IIm, und sLIII Iove IIm? s LIIs noL wIuL God LIe uLIer dId Ior
LIe CIrIsL? Jesus LuugIL LIe TempIe IuLIers wIen Ie wus onIy LweIve . . . And IL seems IIke LIIs Ius been LIe cuse ever
sInce JosIuI`s LIIrd bIrLIduy, wIen Ie dropped IIs Dr. Seuss und pIcked up GenesIs. Muybe even beIore, sInce IIs
moLIer wenL underwuLer In u Iong wIILe T-sIIrL und u modesL bIuck one-pIece swImsuIL. BupLIzed uL LIIrLy-IIve, Ier
sLomucI wus so swoIIen wILI JosIuI, IL Look Lwo men Lo geL Ier underwuLer und rebIrLI Ier Lo LIe ord. You were
LIere, JosIuI, sIe uIwuys suys, my mIrucIe boy InsIde me, und wIen IInuIIy wenL under you drugged me down, so
every IusL IncI oI my beIIy goL suved. My beIIy buLLon bobbed LIII you puIIed me down, you keep my IuILI Irom
drIILIng. wus LIInkIng oI z KIngs, GIII uIwuys suys, wIen you cume up Irom LIe wuLer. And knew IL LIen, LIIs specIuI
boy wouId be noLIIng Iess LIun kIngIy. Born wILI u breuLI oI God`s power In IIs InIunL Iungs. And your nume wouId
be JosIuI, IIke LIe unoInLed boy-kIng oI oId. OnIy u cIIId, buL LoucIed by God`s greuL Iunds, LIe very LIIng we
needed, LIe unswer Lo our every pruyer.
JosIuI, JosIuI, JosIuI, Iung on LIe boy`s every word . . .
He kIsses JosIuI`s Ieud. "`m proud oI you," Ie suys. " Iove you. Your moLIer und ure very proud. You come Irom u
Iong IIne oI godIy men. GoL your noLes?"
SuLIsIIed, JosIuI Lups IIs juckeL pockeL, Lurns uwuy, und Ieuds Ior LIe bucksLuge door.
HIs IuLIer never unswered LIe quesLIon-und LIuL kIss, wIuL wus LIuL kIss? He couId Iuve pIcked so muny scrIpLures
Lo sIow IIs IuLIer Ie wusn`L u kId unymore. He Lurns buck, und sees IIm. He Lukes LIe noLes Irom IIs pockeL, und
ruIses LIem. He wuves LIem und cun`L keep Irom smIIIng. NeILIer oI LIem cun. He opens LIe door Lo LIe sLuge. Tukes
Lwo sLuIrs uL u LIme.
JosIuI cuIIs ouL, us Bob PuIIsey wuIks rIgIL by IIm. TIe sound mun rounds u Lemporury wuII bucksLuge. PuLs up u
IInger, JusL u mInuLe.
By now JosIuI Is sLurvIng. KIzowskI`s been uL IL Ior neurIy LwenLy-IIve mInuLes. L seems IIke Ie`s IInIsIIng up,
sLoppIng Ior consenLIng uppIuuse uILer uImosL every IIne. TIuL`s LIe wuy Lo do IL, buL JosIuI cun`L ImugIne beIng
onsLuge Ior LwenLy-IIve mInuLes. TIunk goodness Ie Ius onIy Len. He sIouIdn`L Iuve IIsLened Lo IIs IuLIer, sIouId`ve
Luken one oI LIose Ieroes wILI IIm! Cun`L sLund sLIII; Ie wuIks over Lo PuIIsey`s wuII. He Iooks up Ior LIe sLurs und LIe
projecLed cIouds, LIe nIgIL sky und ceIIIng IIgILs, buL Ie sees LIere InsLeud LIe IungIng ropes, LIe eIecLrIcuI cords,
cubIIng, und cuLwuIks LIuL Iung Irom LIe bucksLuge ceIIIng.
He wuIks uround LIe Lemporury wuII, LukIng BroLIer PuIIsey by surprIse.
"WIuL`d suy?" PuIIsey ruIses IIs IeIL Iund, und IL Iooks IIke Ie`s ucLuuIIy goIng Lo swIng uL LIe boy, buL Ie brIngs LIe
buLL oI IIs IIsL down on u rusLed puIr oI pIIers. TrIes Lo Lurn u sLubborn nuL, und suys, "NoLIIng works IIke IL sIouId."
JosIuI sLops. He doesn`L know Iow Lo reucL Lo LIIs. PuIIsey suys, " LoId you u mInuLe. Now geL buck wIere you were
unLII suy so." PuIIsey keeps IIddIIng wILI LIe pIIers.
NoL JosIuI`s IuLIer, noL IIs moLIer, noL one person In IIs congreguLIon, noL even LIe eIders LuIk Lo IIm IIke LIIs. And
PuIIsey knows wIo JosIuI Is, und wIy Ie`s Iere-noL sILLIng wILI IIs purenLs, buL bucksLuge, uII on IIs own.
"Now," PuIIsey suys. TIe boy obeys, sIowIy wuIkIng buck Lo LIe curLuIns. He peeks beLween LIe curLuIns, Lo see II Ie
mIgIL spoL IIs moLIer.
TIere sIe Is, In LIe IronL row, du, jusL IIke sIe promIsed. He needs Ier Lo see IIm.
BuL sIe doesn`L see IIm, noL yeL.
JosIuI`s IuLIer, now reLurned Lo IIs seuL, Is noddIng uIong wILI KIzowskI`s cudence. du uudermIIk scruLcIes Ier
Ieud, IookIng Irom sIde Lo sIde, uImosL IIke sIe`s bored. SIe Iooks IIs wuy-JosIuI! SIe mouLIs IIs nume, und Ier
Iuce bIooms IIke u IuLe mornIng gIory. JosIuI wuves, IIs souI Is enIIvened, und LIIs cuLcIes IIs IuLIer`s uLLenLIon. GIII
uudermIIk squeezes du`s rIgIL Ieg: None oI LIuL. Keeps u IIgIL, correcLIve grIp on Ier LIIgI. He Iooks JosIuI`s wuy,
nods upprovuI, und LIen Lurns buck Lo LIe pusLor.
BuL JosIuI keeps sLurIng uL IIs moLIer, und us Ie sLures Ier Iuce becomes suddenIy esLrunged, LIe wuy u IumIIIur
word Lurns uIIen II you suy IL enougI. A IrIgILenIng vIsIon Iorms LIere und grIps IIm enLIreIy: IIs moLIer sILLIng
IuIrIess, sLIIIIng u smIIe, Ier puIe skuII IIke u buIbous rooL puIIed Irom LIe eurLI. He sIukes IIs Ieud, sIudders, und
sIe Lukes uguIn LIe Iorm oI Ier oId seII. He Is cIIIIed Irom IL, und wuLcIes Ier mouLI move. SIe`s suyIng, "SLop IL,
sIIIy, you`re geLLIng me In LroubIe."
He Iooks uL IIs IuLIer, wIo squeezes Ier Ieg uguIn, und LIe sIuke oI IIs IuLIer`s sIouIder LeIIs JosIuI LIIs LIme LIe
squeeze Is more vIgorous. Muybe even puInIuI. He wonders wIeLIer IIs Iunds ure Iurge enougI Lo squeeze IIs
IuLIer`s Ieg. Arm? Neck?
GIII Iooks uL IIs boy, und LIen ImmedIuLeIy uwuy. TIen Ie Iooks buck jusL us IusL. He cunnoL Luke IIs eyes Irom IIs
son. WIo Is LIIs boy? So unIIke oLIer boys IIs uge. WIuL does Ie know? WIuL Is Ie LIInkIng? TIere Is sLrengLI InsIde
IIm, und GIII wonders wIere IL comes Irom. Muybe du.
"So LeII me, LIen." PuIIsey`s now beIInd LIe boy, urms uL IIs sIdes IIke LrIungIes. HIs Iuce weurs un expressIon oI
ImpuLIence, boLLom IIp over Lop, IIs mouLI euLIng ILseII up.
JosIuI suys, " LIougIL you were over LIere."
"And now `m Iere."
"`m Iungry."
"And?"
" need someLIIng Lo euL. s LIuL purL oI your job? You know wIy `m Iere."
"So you`re Iungry, wuIL unLII IuncI."
" cun`L."
A wuve oI uppIuuse ecIoes Irom beyond LIe curLuIns.
PuIIsey IIgILIy cIups. "BroLIer KIzowskI Is u IIne mun, und u very good speuker. BIg sIoes, busLer," Ie suys.
"WIuL?"
"To IIII. BIg sIoes Lo IIII. You`re on In Iow muny mInuLes?"
JosIuI bILes uL u IIngernuII.
"Okuy, okuy, c`mere." PuIIsey sILs on u sLooI und wuves LIe boy over IIke, RIgIL Iere, kIddo, reIux.
"WIuL?"
"You`re Iungry, rIgIL?" He reucIes under LIe sLooI und grubs IoId oI u gruy meLuI IuncIbox.
"WIuL`s LIuL?"
"uncI," PuIIsey suys, und Iunds IIm one oI LIree sundwIcIes cureIuIIy wrupped In IoII.
"My moLIer wrups LIem IIke LIIs," JosIuI suys, bILIng InLo Ium und yeIIow cIeese. "Hey, wIuL Iuppened Lo your
Iunds?"
"CIIcken pox," PuIIsey suys. Rubs LIem LogeLIer, cruckIng u knuckIe. He puLs LIe IeIL Iund In u pockeL, LIe rIgIL
beIInd IIs neck.
" never noLIced. WIy`d you geL cIIcken pox?"
" wus u kId. And kIds geL cIIcken pox."
JosIuI wIpes IIs mouLI wILI LIe cuII oI IIs juckeL. " dIdn`L."
"NoL yeL."
JosIuI cIews. "Muybe God punIsIed you wILI cIIcken pox."
KIzowskI Is boomIng, buL IL`s muLed some by LIe curLuIns. PuIIsey und JosIuI ure surrounded by LIe IusI cIoLI, u
IIery red-orunge. Ropes und susIes dungIe Irom LIe bucksLuge spoLIIgILs.
"SevenLy yeurs we IIve, broLIers und sIsLers," KIzowskI suys. "n LIe cuse oI specIuI power, eIgILy. And LIe scrIpLures
LeII us IL Is this generuLIon-noL thct generuLIon, or cn other generuLIon, undersLund-buL this generuLIon wIII by no
meuns puss uwuy unLII LIe Duy oI LIe ComIng oI LIe ord."
CIuppIng, cIuppIng, und LIen IL`s quIeLer.
"Amen," suys BroLIer PuIIsey, oIIerIng u sIngIe quIeL sIup uL IIs cIesL. He Iooks buck uL JosIuI, und suys, "Okuy, LIuL`s
enougI." He brusIes LIe boy oII LIe sLooI.
"You IIL me," JosIuI suys, noL reuIIy beIIevIng IL even us Ie suys IL.
" dIdn`L IIL you. jusL need my seuL. And `m sure you know wIuL IL Is Lo be IIL. Or muybe you don`L, und you sIouId."
He Iooks Lo LIe sLuge. "SII, Ie`s uImosL done."
PuIIsey wuIks buck Lowurd LIe curLuIns. KIzowskI poInLs Lwo IIngers uL LIe crowd, LIen Ieuvenwurd, ruIsed ubove IIs
Ieud IIke gouIposLs.
"Are you un eIecLrIcIun? My uncIe`s un eIecLrIcIun," JosIuI suys Irom beIInd. "BuL don`L LIInk Ie cun do LIIs kInd oI
sLuII. You musL be u genIus."
PuIIsey Lurns, und boy Is LIIs guy grInnIng. " know you sInce you`re LIIs bIg." He LIumbs LIe Lop oI IIs kneecup.
"TIey`ve been spoon-IeedIng you Iorever." He Lurns uwuy, und JosIuI Ieurs IIm mumbIe someLIIng ubouL IIs
moLIer`s breusLs-LIuL sIe sLIII Ieeds JosIuI Ier breusLs?
JosIuI suys, " Ieurd you cuss. WIuL dId you suy?"
" dId noL cuss," PuIIsey suys, und Iuces JosIuI squureIy. " 'Your breusLs ure IIke Lwo young ones, IIke LIe LwIns oI u
IemuIe guzeIIe.` Reud your Song oI SoIomon. TIe BIbIe`s IuII oI boobs. And," Ie Ieuns Iorwurd, " dIdn`L IIL you."
JosIuI puIIs buck, noL In Ieur, buL In surprIse. He wuIks buck Lo LIe sLooI und Ie cIuIms IL. "So Iow come you`re noL un
eIder yeL? MosL oI LIe oId men ure eIders." He Lukes u bILe oI LIe sundwIcI und pusIes uL LIe Lemporury wuII.
PuIIsey uImosL Lukes LIe buIL, buL suys u brIeI pruyer InsLeud. or puLIence. And u smuII pruyer Ior JosIuI, LIe LweIve-
yeur-oId wIIz kId Irom RIcImond HIII wIo LIey suy knows LIe BIbIe by IeurL. ExuggeruLIon. "We uII Iuve our purLs
Lo pIuy," Ie suys. "And Loduy, mIne Is mukIng sure every word geLs Ieurd. You ubouL reudy?" He moLIons JosIuI Lo
pIeuse geL oII LIe sLooI, buL LIe kId jusL doesn`L gIve.
"OII LIe sLooI," PuIIsey burks. "Now."
TIe boy drops IIs Ieud IIke u correcLed pup, und Ie moves.
"L`s uImosL LIme," PuIIsey suys. "`II wuIk you ouL LIere, buddy, und we`II geL LIuL mIc jusL rIgIL."
JosIuI Iooks up, deIeuLed, buL uIso IuII-smIIIng. NoL so bud u IeeIIng Lo be LoId wIuL Lo do. He puLs IIs Iund In IIs
rIgIL juckeL pockeL.
"WIuL Iuve you goL?" PuIIsey usks, noL reuIIy InLeresLed.
JosIuI Lurns uwuy und Lukes ouL u IIgure Irom InsIde IIs juckeL. He currIes one everywIere Ie goes. I IIs
IuLIer knew, Ie`d be In bIg LroubIe. He IIkes Iow, wILI un ucLIon IIgure In IIs Iund, LIe worId uround IIm becomes
unoLIer worId, u bIgger worId. SLones become mounLuIns. HoIes become boLLomIess pILs. He mukes IIke LIe IIgure Is
cIImbIng IIs LIe, swIngIng Irom u rope, und LIen Ie puLs IL buck In IIs juckeL.
"You`re gonnu be IIne," PuIIsey suys. He squeezes LIe boy`s sIouIder, mussuges IIs bones. "Breuk u Ieg." He rubs uL
LIe boy`s sIender bIudes, und Ieurs KIzowskI decIure Irom LIe sLuge: "Yes, broLIers und sIsLers, pIeuse joIn me In
weIcomIng our nexL und very specIuI speuker."
"TIuL`s your cue," PuIIsey suys. And JosIuI mukes IIke Ie`s reudy, buL PuIIsey does noL IeL go.
"BroLIers und sIsLers, our young und gIILed BroLIer JosIuI uudermIIk."
TIe uppIuuse Is especIuIIy Iong, us II LIe crowd Is LryIng Lo coux LIe boy ouL Irom bucksLuge wIere PuIIsey IoIds on Lo
IIs Iumb-wIILe neck. And JosIuI cun Ieur IIs IuLIer cIuppIng. L`s goLLu be IIm, u deIIberuLe, Iurd und IoIIow cuppIng
oI LIe puIms. oud, Ioud, Ioud. CIup, cIup, cIup. NoL IIILy IeeL Irom wIere Ie sLunds. TIIs gIves IIm sLrengLI. TIe boy
Iooks up uL LIe sound mun, wIo now Iooks down uL LIe boy. He`s jusL u boy. TIeIr eyes meeL.
I you sLuy bucksLuge, you`II sLuy u boy Iorever.
He sLeps ouL onLo LIe sLuge.
"Be cureIuI ouL LIere, bIg mun. Knock `em deud."
CurIo SenIor LeIIs LIem Lo sIusI IL.
ssy wIIspers, "You Ieur LIuL? You Ieur LIey suId JosIuI?"
AIwuys ungry beIore Ie goL In LIe ord, buL now wILI cIurcI on LIe weekends und LIe IumIIy BIbIe sLudy, CurIo
SenIor ucLs IIke u reuI mun, und someLImes Ie`s even so kInd, never so pIssed unymore. TIey cuII IIm BroLIer
umosu. GoL cIurcI prIvIIeges, Loo. BroLIer umosu`s u greeLer on Sunduys, und muybe one duy Ie`II be u servunL
broLIer IIke LIe oLIer men wIo IeIp ouL LIe cIurcI wILI LIeIr busIness. TIe mIcropIone IundIIng, LIe money boxes.
OI, und SIsLer HIIdu umosu jusL buIIoons wIen sIe sees IIm openIng LIe door, und weIcomIng LIe congreguLIon
every Sunduy mornIng. SIe wIsIes CurIo JunIor wouId IoIIow IIs Ieud, buL IIs Ieud Is onIy In one pIuce, uII LIe cIIcus
bonILus. And HuvI-sIe`s worrIed ubouL HuvI, Iow Ie Iooks up Lo IIs bIg broLIer. ssy does, Loo. SIe Iunds LIe boys
LIIn spIruI noLebooks und IIve-coIor pusI pens, LeIIs Lo LIem Lo wrILe down u cIeck murk wIenever LIey Ieur LIe
nume Jesus.
OI my God, Iere Ie goes.
CurIo SenIor reucIes ucross LIe empLy seuL besIde IIm, und presses IIs IInger Lo HuvI`s mouLI IIke "SIIIII." Smucks
IIm on LIe buck oI LIe Ieud. ssy IncIes Iorwurd und uwuy, becuuse Ie knows HuvI`s IuLIer wIII IIL IIm, Loo. "You
Lwo be quIeL," Ie suys. "PeopIe ure IookIng."
"TIus JosIuI, PupI," suys HuvI.
"Ike don`L know? WIo you LIInk wuLcI LIe door wIen LIe eIders Iud u meeLIng, sLupId?" CurIo Iooks uL IIs son IIke
Ie`s durIng LIe boy Lo geL LIIs wrong. He IIILs IIs cIIn IIke Ie`s IookIng down IIs nose. "TIey even usk me Lo sIuke IIs
Iund. Becuuse LIey know Ie needs Lo ucL IIke u mun. You sIouId be IIke JosIuI, Inmuduros."
CurIo Ieuns sLruIgIL us IIs wIIe rubs IIs buck, Okuy, okuy, LIus enougI.
"TIus JosIuI!" ssy wIIspers Lo HuvI.
" know, sLupId. TIus wIy my IuLIer IIL me."
SIsLer HIIdu umosu suys, "SIII."
So ssy pusIes LIe red Lub on IIs pusI pen, opens IIs spIruI, und wrILes: "We sIouId muke IIm see us"
HuvI Lukes LIe pen und wrILes: "JosIuI`s so weIrd"
ssy wrILes: "We sIouId muke IIm see us"
ssy wuves.
He Iooks uL SIsLer umosu, und wuves uL JosIuI uguIn. SIe puLs ouL Ier Iund, You gImme LIuL. SIe gIves ssy u Iook
LIuL does more LIun uny kInd oI sIuppIng Irom Ier Iusbund.
GIII wuLcIes IIs son sLep ouL Irom beIInd LIe curLuIns und sIowIy wuIk ucross LIe sLuge Lowurd LIe podIum. KIzowskI
wuILs wILI un open Iund. GIII crosses IIs IIngers, und LIen IIdes LIIs smuII supersLILIous gesLure beneuLI IIs Iegs.
EurIIer LIIs mornIng, Ie LoId JosIuI IIs besL cIunce Ior success Is Lo IusL geL LIe uudIence`s uLLenLIon, muybe sLurL
wILI u joke. Muybe sLurL wILI u knock-knock joke. Up LIere you`re u suIesmun! And so you Iuve Lo seII yourseII Lo LIe
crowd. GIII sIouId know, Ie`s soId everyLIIng Irom uIumInum sIdIng Lo SImonIz. AdverLIse, AdverLIse LIe KIng und
HIs KIngdom, born u JeIovuI`s WILness, Ie preucIed Irom door Lo door unLII LIe duy Ie IInuIIy up und quIL. TIey
sung und LIey recILed: "SLuy AIIve LIII `;." BuL LIey were wrong. So Ie Look IIs wIIe und boy und Ie joIned wILI LIe
BroLIers In LIe ord. ook Iow IovIngIy KIzowskI Lukes JosIuI`s Iund, Iow Ie bends und wIIspers In LIe boy`s eur.
Ive yeurs now wILI LIIs new IumIIy.
GIII LIInks oI IumIIy BIbIe sLudIes uL LIe dInIng room LubIe, wILI wurm bowIs oI popcorn on specIuI nIgILs wIen
Mom`s In u sIIny good mood, WIo wunLs buLLer on LIeIr popcorn? `II meIL IL on LIe sLove. BIbIe-sLudy muguzInes
spreud on LIe LubIe IIke Lreusure mups. My IuLIer, Loo, GIII Ius LoId LIem, und IIs IuLIer beIore IIm, Iow Iong we
Iuve wuILed! our oI LIe uudermIIk men, generuLIons uwuILIng HIs reLurn, und uII In LIe bIInk oI our HeuvenIy
uLIer`s eye. WIo couId`ve Ioped Ior u son IIke LIIs? JusL Iook uL IIm! So mucI more LIun IIs onIy cIIId, us II GIII Is
ever IIILIng IIs son skywurd, Lowurd u burnIng sun goIng durk on LIe comIng GreuL Duy. TIe boy IoIds u promIse oI
someLIIng exLruordInury, u genuIne Iove Ior LIe ord, someIow un ecIo oI uuLIenLIc worsIIp. Born wILI u beIIy IuII
oI HoIy SpIrIL Iunguuge, JosIuI Is LIeIr LIckeL Iome, u LusLe oI LIe eurIy LIme beIore LIe worId IorgoL ubouL LIe Good
Book. ook uL IIm! Up LIere! OnsLuge! So proud! My boy, cIeurIng IIs LIrouL! GIII`s never been one Ior sLuges, LIuL
kInd oI pressure, never gIven sermons ouLsIde IIs Iome. BuL LIIs? HIs boy onsLuge In IronL oI LIousunds und
deIIverIng God`s Good News? L`s sorL oI IIke Ie`s up LIere wILI IIm. BesIde IIs son. TIe sermons purLIy IIs. . . .
SomeLImes Ie IorgeLs Iow young LIe boy Is-"You cun`L speII 'LIeocrucy`? Here, IeL me sIow you"-und LIen
someLImes, oI boy, Iow IIs young son geLs Loo bIg Ior IIs brILcIes-IIs own IuLIer used Lo suy IL ubouL GIII . . . -BuL
LIIs Iook, wIy LIIs Iook? WIy Is JosIuI jusL sLundIng LIere, und noL yeL suyIng u word? GIII Iooks uL du, wIo Iooks
sLruIgIL uIeud und Lukes IIs Iund (Ie uncrosses IIs IIngers). SIe squeezes. BuL LIe uudermIIk cuIIIng Is u propIeLIc
one. No muLLer Iow cIose Lo IuIIIIImenL. TIeIr cuIIIng Is LIe seurcIIng ILseII. DIg ouL meunIng Irom LIe puges.
DIg, boy, dIg! And speuk!
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TIere Is un uIr oI uppreIensIon In LIe IuII, u buzz und mumbIe oI concern us LIe uudIence sILs und wuILs. BuL uII LIe
boy cun do Is Iook ouL uL LIe smeur oI Iuces.
He`s nervous und IeeIs uIone. He cun no Ionger IInd IIs moLIer`s Iuce In LIe crowd.
So Ie oIIers up u smuII und unexpecLed pruyer, u sLrunge sIIenL pruyer, uskIng LIe ord Ior IIs IeIp und good
guIdunce. He cups IIs Iunds LogeLIer us II Ie were IoIdIng u scoop oI rIver wuLer, und bIows IIgILIy InLo IIs puIms;
LIIs Is IIs pruyer. He Losses LIIs pruyer ouL InLo LIe wIde spuce In IronL oI IIm, beyond LIe mIcropIone, oII LIe sLuge,
und InLo LIe seu oI peopIe. L`s u gesLure cIurged wILI un uImosL InnocenL sIgnIIIcunce, u nuIve gruce. TIe uudIence Is
Luken wILI LIIs sIow movemenL, reudIng In IL uII kInds oI sLory. Some see NouI Loss u dove ubove LIe Lops oI IIood-
burIed Lrees, und oLIers cuLcI sIgIL oI JoIn LIe BupLIsL, Iunds upLurned, oIIerIng u IIIe-gIvIng dunk. JosIuI sees onIy
IIs own smuII Iunds, und LIen unexpecLedIy, und muybe noL uccIdenLuIIy uL uII (becuuse muybe LIIs Is, In IucL, Iow
pruyers ure unswered), IIs moLIer`s Iuce In LIe voId beLween IIs sepuruLIng IIngers.
JosIuI Lurns sIowIy Lo IIs IeIL, und LIen sIowIy Lo IIs rIgIL, IIke KIzowskI does, boLI good moves Lo buy LIme. TIen Ie
Lurns buck Lo IIs moLIer.
TIe boy suys InLo LIe mIcropIone: "Knock, knock."
s LIIs u joke? s JosIuI LeIIIng u joke? ssy cun`L Iook uwuy. HuvI Is noL puyIng uLLenLIon, buL someLIIng Is goIng Lo
Iuppen, ssy knows IL.
JosIuI Iooks sIowIy Irom sIde Lo sIde, scunnIng LIe uudIence. And now JosIuI Is sLurIng. ssy LrIes Lo see wIo Ie`s
IookIng uL becuuse LIe boy Ius sLopped, Is IookIng ouL sLruIgIL uIeud. AL IIs IumIIy? Or muybe Ie`s jusL scured
sIILIess-II CurIo SenIor cuugIL ssy jusL thinlin u word IIke "sIILIess," Ie`d deIInILeIy geL smucked on LIe buck oI IIs
Ieud. JosIuI`s scured, und ssy sees IL, buL someLIIng Is now on LIe verge. ssy senses IL, even LIougI Ie doesn`L Iuve
LIe words, someLIIng IIke greuL yeurs oI IIgIL ure comIng Irom LIe boy onsLuge. NoL reuI ruys buL someLIIng IIke u
vIsIon oI wIuL greuL IIgIL wuILs Ior JosIuI. TIIs Is wIuL u good IuLure Iooks IIke, u moLIer, u IuLIer, und probubIy
coIIege, gIrIIrIends und money und bIessIngs Irom God becuuse noL everyone cun be specIuI. He knows HuvI Is
jeuIous, uIwuys jeuIous oI unyone wIo Ius more LIun IIm. BuL ssy Is Iuppy Lo noL be jeuIous. So, uguIn, Ie wuves Lo
IIs IrIend uL cIurcI.
Hey, JosIuI, Iook over Iere.
And LIe Lwo boys Iuve LIeIr momenL. L`s quIck und deIInILIve, IIke Lwo curs pussIng, u IIusI oI recognILIon. Or muybe
IIke LIuL rIbbon IIusI oI u seLLIng sun LIuL eruses every IusL bIL oI Ioreground, IIke wIen your eyes udjusL und LIe sun
becomes u buckIIgIL, und LIe worId Is mude knowubIe, und reuI-this Is Iow JosIuI comes Lo see IIs IrIend ssy, und
Iow Ie comes Lo see LIe greuL crowd. WIere`s ssy`s gIrIIrIend In LIe yeIIow dress? HIs moLIer? TIere sIe Is, und sIe
beums IIke u momenLury IIusI, u beucon. No more u coIor muss oI pInks, und browns, yeIIows, und reds, und every
IIesIy coIor LIere Is. No more u Iuze oI muny Iuces. TIIs Is Iow Ie sees ssy-und ssy`s wuvIng?
or u Iew sLreLcIed seconds JosIuI Is IIIIed wILI u rusIIng desIre Lo run, Lo run wILI ssy und uII LIe oLIer boys, oII Lo
wIo knows wIere. He rubs LIe Loy IIgure In IIs pockeL, und suddenIy Ie Is no Ionger Iungry, IIke Ie`II never be
Iungry uguIn. HIs mInd seLLIes. L sIows. And Ie sees ouL LIere, uII LIe Iuces, eucI one, every Iuce, everyone u guesL In
HIs greuL Iouse. He IIIIs up InsIde wILI IeuL und wILI IIgIL. PuLs u Iund Lo IIs eur, mImIng Lo LIe crowd, und Ie
ucLuuIIy suys: " cun`L Ieur you. suId, Knock, knock."
eeIs preLLy good, Lurns ouL.
ssy sIouLs buck: "WIo`s LIere?"
HIIdu IeLs IL sIIde.
TIe boy Is now ubundonIng IIs scrIpL: Ie Ius become un InspIred rIII, dIvIneIy pIuyed, und oII LIe Lop oI IIs Ieud
comes u Ioud und propIeLIc voIce-becuuse oI growIng LuIk umong LIe BroLIers und WIves In LIe ord, IIs IuLIer
someLImes LuIkIng on LIe pIone. TIe LuIk beLween IIs purenLs just this mornin-LIere`s been u wIIsper, sIow-
spreudIng IIke u Iever, IeeIs IIke uII summer Iong. He Ieurs LIe broLIers LuIkIng Iere und LIere. TIe New MIIIennIum
Is noL so Iur uwuy, u nIce round number, und my God, wouIdn`L LIuL muke sense?
"ook!" JosIuI yeIIs, Ie cun`L IeIp IImseII, u voIce speuks LIrougI IIm: "or LIe ord und HIs urmy come knockIng!"
ExcILed, Ie IeLs IIs sermon noLes sIIp und IuII Lo LIe IIoor.
He Iooks down, puuses Ior wIuL IeeIs IIke mInuLes-und LIen Ie Iooks uwuy Lo LIe buck oI LIe IuII. He puLs IIs Iund
Lo IIs brow us II suIuLIng u broLIer In LIe wuy buck row, us II guurdIng IIs eyes Irom LIe sun. "And LIere In LIe
Ieuvens, u door Ius opened!" JosIuI`s LIIn voIce cureens LIrougIouL LIe IuII, even IIs moLIer Is sLurLIed by ILs
power. KIzowskI sLunds Irom IIs cIuIr bucksLuge, und sLumbIes over Lo LIe curLuIn. CuII IIm cruzy, buL Ie ucLuuIIy
Iooks Ior u IeuvenIy door. TIe kId`s goL someLIIng, uII rIgIL. WILIouL reuIIzIng, KIzowskI, now sIde-sLuge, Is resLIng
IIs urm on PuIIsey`s sIouIder. TrudIng gIunces, Iow oId Is LIe boy, uguIn?
BuL JosIuI Is weII beyond uII LIIs now. He sees every IeuvenIy sLur wILIIn reucI.
He sees every dreum Ie wIII ever Iuve, every wuy Ie wIII become, wIuL Ie cerLuInIy musL become: u recepLucIe, un
empLy bowI, u deep und Iucky cup oI God.
"TIe IIrsL voIce!" Ie sIouLs ouL. "See LIe reLurnIng CIrIsL rIdIng on u greuL wIILe Iorse, und Iere even now He comes
rIdIng!" He sLruIgILens IIs buck, sIouLIng, und beIIevIng every word us IL comes Lo IIm: "TIe ord God Ius suId every
sLur wIII IuII, und LIe sun wIII Lurn bIuck In LIe sky. And HIs voIce speuks ouL IIke u LrumpeL!" JosIuI sees LIe crowd
see IIm, und LIeIr vIsIon oI IIm InIuses IIm, InIormIng IIm wILI u wIoIIy new spIrIL. "And Iook!" He poInLs Lo LIe
ceIIIng. "TIe ord God suId, Come up Iere. And wIII sIow you wIuL wuILs Ior LIIs worId!"
Hundreds oI Ieuds, udorIng und reverenL, benL buck now, IookIng upwurd.
SIsLer HIIdu umosu Is swoonIng In Ier seuL.
"And know LIIs, wIIIe sILLIng In LIe Iouse oI Heuven." Arms spreud wIde, embrucIng every IusL Iungry spIrIL In LIe
uudIence, Ie suys: "TIe ord God suId Lwo LIousund yeurs musL puss sInce LIe bIrLI oI LIe Son oI Mun. And LIen
wIII come, In LIe yeur Lwo LIousund, uL LIe duwnIng oI God`s New MIIIennIum! And In LIuL IusL yeur LIe MessIuI, our
ord CIrIsL, wIII reLurn!" HIs Iunds now reucI, grubbIng Ior InvIsIbIe rungs. "And LIere see myseII sLundIng us un
eIder beIore you! And LIen-onIy LIen-on thct duy-In thct Iour, u dIvIne vIndIcuLIon, u greuL ruIn oI LrIbuIuLIon
und desLrucLIon, und LIe End wIII IInuIIy be Iere!
"AL once," Ie sIouLs. " um In LIe spIrIL!"
OverwIeImed, LIe crowd InIuIes, eucI one u cIIId oI God.
uy Iocus on LIIs boy, Iuy Iocus on me-O, Iook uL me IIIIIng up wILI breuLI und dIvIne voIce, und seeIng wILI LIe eyes
oI Heuven, becuuse my ord God opens u IeuvenIy door, one LIuL no mun cun ever sIuL. And He IImseII wIII enLer.
And He wIII sup wILI me, und wILI HIm, und He wIII seL me on HIs LIrone unLII LIe End oI Duys. And He wIII wrILe
on me u brund-new nume, und every souI, sweur, wIII Ieur IL.
CopyrIgIL zo1q by ScoLL CIesIIre
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