short story archives

the church across the way

I live across the street from a church. This church in particular is very beautiful. Their stained glass windows depict their lord in all of his heavenly glory. The church-goers are loyal, always bringing their families even if they do not wish to go. Their soothing hymns give me comfort, even though I am not very religious, yet there is something ugly in this church. The clergymen speak against my beliefs, which is fine if you realize that their opinion does not impact you, but this is a bit more than just a few preachers. This is denying the rights of groups of people, spitting at the 'choices' that they have made. I hear. Them hollering 'amen!' While I simply mutter 'this isn't right'. They despise people on things that they believe are 'choices' when they are not that at all. It's just how our minds have worked for thousands and thousands of years. Parents that attend this church don't even realize that some of their own children are who they spit on.

Now, I have told you the background of this church. It is time that I get to the story. On a gloomy October afternoon, I sat next to my open window to hear their songs before their preaching began. I sat in my old wooden chair, reading, when this fateful hour occurred. Their voices were faint at first. I had just thought that it was a different hymn in the church at the time, but oh, was I wrong. Their voices grew stronger and louder, until there was no denying that these voices, these gorgeous voices, weren't a part of the demonic church across the way.

Their voices shouting their song of defiance. The church grew silent, or the parade drowned out their voices. I wasn't sure. The parade wore every color in the rainbow, lighting up the day with their divine light. Men, women, and children of all ages were smiling as they sang. The church-goers poured out of the building as the parade stopped and began to finish their song.

The priest exited the church on their final note and screamed, "How dare you come to this house of worship?! You will all burn in the depths of hell!"

I scowled at the old man as one of the member of the parade said, " we have as much of a right to be here as we both have a right to love whoever we want! You can not control how people feel!"

The parade yelled "amen!" As a sort of mockery to their harsh rule.

The priest thrust out his arm and said, "leave this place you demons! Or may you be purified in this house of God!"

I spoke before I even realized it, "they are not the demons here," I screamed at the top of my lungs and pointed to the church, " you are!"

There was an uproar of applause from the parade, and an uproar of hatred from the church. I didn't pay much attention to the groups as a whole, but I looked at some of individuals that stood out. Some of the adults in the religious group were almost completely silent,as they beckoned for for some of the teenagers to join them. They only yelled louder for their rights to be seen by them. After a few moments, I saw a man almost look like he got slapped in the face. He looked towards the priest and his followers as they spat at their enemies, and then he looked at his child in the parade. I was surprised when he looked directly at me of all people. He seemed to be asking me what he should do. We shared a moment, just looking at each other. I wanted to tell him what he should do, but I couldn't... Or could I? In a moment of madness I jumped onto the narrow catwalk below my window and stood tall as I screamed at everyone to shut their mouths.

They all looked at me as if I had gone insane, which I suppose was a valid opinion wince I was standing on my roof at that moment.

"Listen up!" I said, " this church in front of us may have a pretty facade, but it's because of people like your precious priest, who are moronic enough to think that it is right to deny these people love, that make my stomach churn." I looked directly at the man now, " if you have a child in this parade today, you should not discriminate against them! You should let them be who they are and not try to 'fix' them! This isn't just something that you can beat out of them. Just stop making your children feel like they are worth nothing because of what a few bad men think. Have your own opinion for gods sake! Don't abandon your kid because of something as petty as this!"

I wish that I could say that every parent there went to their child and accepted them. Very few people did, but those few made all of the difference. Some of the paraders apparently recorded and posted my little speech on the Internet. A few days later, the father that I helped came to my house with his son and a bag for me. It contained letters from people all around who had seen the videos or read the posts about me. Some were thank you letters and others told me to watch my back. All in all apparently I had a way with words. This story is how a kid got to stand up for 'my kind' and also, how they came out to their parents.