Ten Months: Part 2

Welcome, eager readers! In our opening issue, which, I trust you have read, we were all thrust into the amazing tale of a very common young man. Or, not so common after all, it would seem. Might any of us surmise to offer a glimpse of the future we are about to see? Do you really think you know what's about to happen? Well readers, now, is the time for answers!

ACT VII - Burning Questions

"Without the shedding of B-A-LOOD... there can be No remission of sin! So says the Word of God! Christ is your Only propitiation! Christ is your Only mediator! And, whether you want Him to be or not, He is the only one upon whom your belief or, lack there of, makes any difference. I implore you, choose wisely! Let us bow our heads in prayer."

Sunday evening's service was the most unusual Kevin had ever attended. He was still struggling to wrap his mind around how, just two days before, God had directly intervened into his life and made a miracle happen. Though his pastor would not agree, Kevin's father was of the mindset that God was a bit further removed from the daily happenings of the common man. The pastor's voice seemed to slip away to some distant place. In his mind, Kevin cycled just one continuous thought. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

After the service and as a crowd was gathering in the parking lot, his mother proudly displayed her hero and bragged on what the Lord had done. Kevin slipped around the side of the church with his brother.

"Kev!... did... did you see God?!"

The thought humored him. "Nah bro."

"Did you at least hear Him?"

"Well, yeah, but... it wasn't like... well, I can't tell you what kind of voice God has. It was sort of like I just knew." Shoulders shrugged, "He downloaded instructions into me, dude. I knew where to go. I knew what to do. And I wasn't even afraid.", he shook his head. "I don't really understand it. But, I'm gonna stay after to talk with Pastor J some. I'll catch you later."

Hours later:

"Thanks. Thanks a lot Pastor J., for the ride home and for your ear." Just a salute and Pastor Jimenez was off in a flash. Almost as quickly, Kevin was up in his own room. His thoughts were collected. He knew that he could trust Devin with everything. "KRUST!!!" The clock showed 10:37. "Nerd boy!", he muttered. As he threw himself down into his own bed, he was filled with equal parts anger and disappointment. "Devin's already crashed out!"

The clock showed 4:18. "Wake-up! Come on. Get up!"

"D! Man, leave me alone. It's still dark!"

"Kevin, wake up. It happened again. You have to tell me what really happened in that fire."

"You tell me first."

"Dude, you know it's the same old story. You invaded my dreams again."

"Maybe you invaded mine!"

"You Invaded my dreams again! As usual, you were all the way Black and you were telling me the secrets you thought you could hide. Did all that really happen?"

"That depends. What did he tell you?"

"Dude! Will you stop always talking about yourself like you're somebody else. He's you!... Only Black. That's all. And with green eyes. And a lot more honest. An all around likable guy. I think I agree with you. Definitely a different person."

"Did Evin tell you about the stuff?"

"What?!?!?! You named him?!"

"Yeah. So?"

"Dude, you... you need to stop hang'n with Mom. You know what I mean? And what in the world possessed you to pick Evin?"

"He's not quite me. Just drop the 'K'."

"Look... I'm not even talking about this. Yes... Yes. He told me about the stuff. But none of this makes any sense so just start talking."

"Did he tell you that I saved some of the stuff?"

ACT VIII - Beyond The Call

Finding it difficult to concentrate on his work, Devin chuckled loudly remembering Kevin's hilarious story of how he saved his pants from the paramedics and emergency room staff. It was practically cement, though. The fluffy stuff Kevin said that he had snatched a handful of had since bonded with the fibers in his jeans and crystallized. He got his answer though.

"D, what took you so long to answer your phone, man?"

"No phones in the science lab. Remember? Guess what. I can tell you what it is."

"Devin, there's no time for that. You've got to get over to the hospital. Get there fast! It's going down now."

It was no surprise that their mother would go under the knife. Everyone knew that she was brave. Still, everyone questioned her choice. Twenty-two years ago Sofi Mae, her twin sister had been murdered. Nevertheless, she chose to fight to save the life of the murderer, the same man that almost took her life and left her with gruesome scars across her back. Once again, her brother would benefit from her kindness. Kidneys shot and near dead, Reta Mae Wahbash was his last genetic link to a chance at life.

As a favor to the mother they loved and respected, both Kevin and Devin had undergone testing to determine if either could share a kidney with their uncle. Even their father humored her and gave it a try. At least, he thought, he'd be in the registry for somebody worthy. None of them could have guessed that such an evil man could have been a link in God's good plan. They prayed for her safety. All but Bo prayed for her brother's. Quietly, Reta Mae also prayed because of the news she knew the boys would soon find out. Her eyes met her husband's. They both wondered how the boys would take it.

"It's been forever since we left. How do you think Pop's holding up at the hospital?"

"Like his normal self. You know he has his teeth in. He might bite someone."

They laughed. He actually did it once.

"D, I wish we could be there, bro."

"Me too, but, you know Pop. No Missing School!"

"You think it's over?"

"Mom's should be. It's already 10:00."

"Yeah, Pop's gonna call."

"BTW, it's sugar. You know... the stuff."

"Sugar?"

"Sugar. I think marshmallow."

"That explains it!"

"Yeah... well... I was wondering about that. What were you doing with all that marshmallow?"

"I didn't have any."

"I'm supposed to believe it just oozed out from the walls?"

"No! don't you get it? I already told you. They asked me about my medical history and I told them about the diabetes. My sugar was only 74! 74!!! The stuff. That's what happened to it."

"What was your last sugar?"

"Almost up to six."

"Six??"

"600."

By the time their father called, they had already fallen asleep. Neither was certain of what was really going on.

The clock showed 6:13. Bo peeked in on the boys. They didn't notice him. He couldn't have noticed them. It was happening again.

"Do you ever wonder what it's all about?"

"Yo! Who the heck?!"

"_ _ _ _"

"Oh, it's just you. I was just about to get my next Nobel Prize, thank you! And all those babes over there were about to kiss me too. What do you want?"

"Do you think I'm special?"

"If you mean short bus special, yeah... I actually do. You got eyes? 'Cause I got babes, money, and adoration. What do you want?!"

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

"Why are you quoting the Bible? The Bible and babes do not mix."

"It's Jeremiah 29:11. Coach Thompson showed it to us."

"No he didn't. I've never talked to that guy."

"But we did. Just before Jem dumped us."

"Oh, this is too creepy! Now, you do it in our dreams too."

"Happy 37th birthday. That's how many weeks it's been since we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior."

"Yeah, um, happy 37th."

"So, where are you at in your personal study? We've been just everywhere in the Bible. Did you know that, on several occasions, Satan tried to destroy Christ personally or by lineage before His advent?! Satan failed to kill us too."

"Who? You us or us us?"

"Do you ever wonder why we're so different? How come we can do this? I'm sure God is preparing us for something. Why don't you ever pray with us? It's ironic. If Uncle G had killed Mom, he would have killed himself in the process and we would never have been alive. Personally, I think Uncle G is possessed..."

Devin stood awestruck as his brother rolled thought after thought off of his tongue while seemingly unaware that his entire body was aflame. They woke simultaneously with a start.

ACT IX - Cause And Affection

Many a man has suffered the impact of the harsh reality that ogling females and driving just doesn't mix well. That's exactly how Devin managed to walk right into the side of the cherry red classic mustang belonging to the one and only Vince "The Spider" Lockhart. There would be no missing that dent. Devin hadn't the opportunity for fear to well up. Vince had apparently gone back in time and put Devin in a headlock before he even had a chance to open his door. From so close, Devin could even hear the crackle of the 210 lbs lineman's voluminous muscles constricting him about the head and neck. Consideration was given that it might just be his own vertebra snapping. He guessed that he could see his demise coming out of his right periphery. That was going to be the biggest fist he'd ever set eye on.

Just like out of a comic book, a hair's breath from his face, the meteor sized fist instantly stopped. There was a grunt and a large pop. Next, came a thud. Always a bonus for your common spindly nerd, Devin hit the ground still alive. Rolling over, it was obvious that his own brother had pried apart the deadly pythons of "The Spider". Devin felt his head looking for a massive wound. Kevin was big but, "The Spider" was... "The Spider"! Somehow, Kevin made hurling Vince across the school parking lot look effortless. Those sticker bushes had to hurt.

Before the crowd could get any bigger, the two swooped away in Kevin's new hoopdi of a ride.

"YES YES YES YES YES! I don't believe it! Kev! You just saved my life!"

By now, Kevin was breathing heavy and even shaking. "W-w-w-w-w-hat just ha-a-appened?!"

"You did it! You just out muscled 'The Spider'!"

"Why??? Just tell me why before I'm the one that kills you."

"Dude! It's not my fault. I was watching Bouncin' Betty and... I slipped. The dent wasn't even all that big. At least it wasn't before you slammed him."

"I never slammed him!"

"Oh, yes you did! That must just be your adrenalin talk'n, bro. It'll come back to you when you calm down. Man, you turned into the Incredible Hulk! I think you might be right. God's doing something to you. You're just like Sampson... Sampson 2.0... Slimy Sampson... Slimy Fireproof Sampson."

"Will you Shut Up!" He was trying to hold back the laughs though. He also didn't want to seem proud of himself.

"Come on. Swing back around to the science lab. I've gotta take a second look at the stuff."

"We don't have the time."

"Sure we do. Look, it's a little after two. We can't even get to see mom until seven anyway. After what I just saw, something tells me I need to run a few quick experiments. Did you bring your glucose meter?"

Before they could get out of the car, there was a call from their father. Visitation was being allowed hours early.

Racing each other through the automatic doors after having made record pace to the hospital, they both stopped in their tracks, faced each other and, in unison, exclaimed, "FLOWERS!"

The smiley face sign in front of the gift shop read, "Please pardon our mess. We should be open for business on Monday." Since it was Tuesday, the boys ran right back out the front door. Ten minutes later they finally came across the Red's Grocery Cottage. Devin was out of the car and up the red clapboard stairs before Kevin put the shifter in park. The minutes ticked by. They kept on ticking.

"What took you so long?! I knew I shouldn't have left it up to you to make a choice."

"Kev, it's not my fault. It's like the weirdo shopping hour in there. Crazy old man Dietz is back in town. He was already at the counter when I got in the place. He had like, a hundred cans and fifty boxes and before he would let the girl ring 'em, he had to stack them all perfectly with the labels facing the right way and in special geometric order. Then, get this, he realizes that one of his pancake mix boxes has an image with one less blueberry on it and he goes spastic! You know, so, I turn around in frustration just trying to get my breath and calm down, right, and... Yo, you see that creepy dude on the Harley right there? As soon as I turn around he's got his giant glowin' red eyes burn'n a hole through my head! I dropped Mom's flowers. Stepped on 'em too. Then, creepy guy skips me in line. These were the only flowers left. Uh-oh, hear that? I think Dietz just found another problem."

The trademark headshake was accompanied by, "If'n dem idn't da sorriest look'n dandelions I eva did see!"

"Hi Pop." They replied together.

"Hello boys. Come give yo Mama some suga."

She told them how great she was doing and that she was progressing ahead of schedule. She told them that their Uncle G was also doing well. It was difficult for any of them to care about anyone other than her. Ever the encourager, she asked Bo to lead in a prayer for the staff and patients of the hospital. The time and tears together was exactly what they all needed. She made them promise that they wouldn't visit past 6:00 on Wednesday. That way there'd be nothing stopping them from going to church.

As it happened, when they got to church, they were a few minutes late. The service had already started and the place was packed. The three found separate places to sit with Kevin finding a seat the farthest back. A minute or two later, someone muscled a hip in the tiny space between him and the arm rest. His brow and lips tightened, and his neck snapped left. Quickly, he threw on a sly smile and nudged the person to his right over a few inches. He pretended not to notice how pretty the woman to his left was but, the sight of her had distracted him from being able to hear his pastor as he invited a guest speaker to the pulpit.

He was none other than the famed Duane Kittles. At least, that was what the bulletin said. Duane spoke for about 45 minutes on the need for the men of the church to be Godly men and about the value of Godly women in nurturing boys to grow up and become real men that lead their families in following Jesus Christ. His personal testimony was as powerful and moving as it was riddled with tragedy, drugs, violence, and a seemingly impossible split from the world's meanest biker gang. All of which, he had purported to have stemmed from a long tradition of broken family ties and sinful choices. Kevin forgot all about the beautiful woman sitting to his left and was totally engrossed in the message. At first, he had been somewhat startled by the rugged look of the muscle bound "Tough-Guy-Moustache" wearing speaker. His weathered face didn't seem to match his pressed pinstripe navy blue suit or his perfectly cropped do. His voice had a harshness like that of a cousin he had only met once, a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Yet, the truth was everywhere to be found in his message. Compelling was an understatement. He wanted to be the kind of man that Duane was advocating.

That night, there was a cold snap. It was the kind of crisp cool air that Kevin loved. There was a special smell to it and a refreshing sensation with every breath that he greatly enjoyed. The youth pastor was the only adult that dared linger out past the enclosed vestibule. He was around the back side of the church playing basketball with several of the teens. Most everyone else was inside fellowshipping. Kevin made his way around to his usual place around the side of the church that was always most likely to be private. The dumpsters were near by. As he leaned back against the bricks and gazed up into the nearly cloudless star filled sky, he dreamt of the future and having a family. He wanted to be like his father, the man he most knew to fit the picture of the man Duane painted. Unexpectedly, he had a visitor. His travels had not gone unnoticed.

"Hi. I'm Pam." She stretched out her hand in a soft and feminine way as she flashed him a subtle smile. "You have a beautiful smile you know. That was very nice of you to make space for me inside. You didn't have to."

In his head he was thinking, "What was I going to do, dump you on the floor?" Out of his mouth came, "I'm... w-w-w... thanks." He couldn't believe that she had come over there just to meet him. She was clearly in her twenties and very beautiful. "I, um... my parents. They raised us to always be polite to a beau... um, to a lady."

"Well, it shows." She continued to make use of her more feminine but, wholesome gestures. She desperately wanted him to like her. "Do you normally like to be alone?"

"Who me? I... just come over here to think and... look up in the sky. A lot to think about, you know?"

"I know what you mean. Sometimes I like to just wish I could be up there in outer space too. It's really fascinating."

"Space, awe no. Not me. That's my brother. It's just good to talk to God here. I like to look at what He created."

"Right, oh, me too! I just Love everything God created."

One thing led to another and, eventually, they took the conversation to one of only three all night joints in the county, the Deeter E Eatery. It was only a little before nine though. They didn't stay long. He needed to be in by 10:00.

Kevin made it home in time and finished his last page of homework. He was excited like he hadn't been since the day he had come to call "D-Day". He shut off the computer monitor in the family room and went up to his own.

"Hurry up and close the door, Kev. I wanna hear all about it! What's she like, dude? How'd you meet her? Does she have any sisters?"

"D, it's past your bedtime and it's not like that. And, anyway, you should be ashamed. You already have a girlfriend."

"Oh, come off it Kevin, you and I both know that Kerry isn't really my girlfriend. All we ever do is enter science fairs together. I need a real woman. A woman with some class. A woman that can appreciate my stunnin' good looks and debonair charm."

"Hey, the slum just called. A bunch of crack heads want their pipes back."

"Ha, ha. So funny I forgot to laugh."

"Whatever, but, if you really wanna know what went down..."

"Yeah, yeah! Tell me."

"You might be looking at the next big action movie star."

"Un-hunh." His face dropped with disappointment.

"Really man. She's going to make me famous. It's just something small for right now but, other people have started with less. She gonna put me in a magazine man!"

"And how small of an investment do you have to make? Do you even get any free no money down real estate secrets?"

"You know what? I'm through with you. Good Night!"

As Devin rolled over toward the wall with rolling eyes and twisted up lips, Kevin just laid back smiling and thinking about how she might just like him.

Over the next week, things began to change. Their mother returned home. Devin, jealous of his brother's new friendship, spent little time with him and never took a second look at the stuff. Kevin, spent every free moment he had with Pam. She seemed genuinely interested in his story. It touched him deeply that she wanted to really get to know how he felt about losing his place in the spotlight and being sick. He had read stories about himself in local papers. Some were quite mean and accused him of just walking away from the sport. She was the only one to actually put in the effort with him personally. There was little he withheld from her. Though he was to be the focus of her editorial, he understood that the story would not be coming out for a few weeks because of other in depth research she would be conducting. Time with Pam was like good therapy and he was falling for her. They even shared an ice cream float together. What he could not know was her full intentions.

NEXT AMAZING ISSUE >> Somebody's Gotta Pay! Pam's story will be revealed. Who is the mysterious man in the store? What's with the crazy dreams? And you won't believe just who makes a special appearance in this next issue. You have got to stay tuned!

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