Lay it on the Line : Prodigal book one

Chapter One

Chapter 1

New Iberia, Louisiana

1991

Faint Snoring could be heard in the back of the church service accompanied by gurgling of spit. A few people turned to watch the younger male. His arm was propped under his chin as he snored faintly in his sleep. A few of them chuckled, while others turned up their noses in disgust. The man's mouth hung open as his head tilted back leaning on the hard pew for a head prop. The preacher asked the congregation to stand for the reading of the word and the older woman sitting beside the sleeping man reached over and poked him hard.

"Jonathan James Simoneaux." A sharp pain in the ribs jolted throughout his body as his mother jabbed him with her fingers. "Johnny" The jabs were followed by stern whispers.

"JJ..." His mother, sitting beside him, gave the young man another poke in the ribs. The last poke made JJ jump out of his sleep, causing a snort to come out. The young blonde man, sitting beside JJ, let out a laugh. The blonde quickly covered his mouth as his eye went wide. The mother gave the blonde a death glare. "Sean, don't laugh at your brother... you hush, and JJ get up! I don't care that you worked last night, you are in church..." the mother tried to be quiet as she fussed her grown sons.

She gave them both another death glare as she stood up with her bible in hand.

"I don't care how old you two are, you are not too old for me to take you outside and put you over my knee." She turned back to fuss at JJ, who was still half asleep. She glared at Sean and motioned for him to stand up. Her voice was low, but stern and full of agitation.

"A Nineteen-year-old and twenty-one year old acting like they are five...." the older grandmother added in as she stood beside her daughter.

"What is the chapter again?" The grandmother asked out loud causing a few people to look at her.

"Mom, you are just as bad as the boys, shhh." The mother shushes the grandmother.

"Oh lord, I am gonna have to pray for you all, always giving your mother grief.... JJ go wash your face in the bathroom or something." She hissed and turned to face the preacher on the pulpit. Sean pointed to his brother and continued to silently laugh, picking fun. JJ glared up at him for a moment before using his knuckle to punch the back of Sean's knee. Sean slapped a hand to his mouth to keep from screaming as his knee buckled. Sean caught himself on the pew and glanced around to see if anyone witnessed the punch.

JJ's heavy eyes shot open as he almost fell asleep again. He blinked a couple times, shaking his head, trying to gain consciousness of where he was exactly. JJ ran a hand through his messy black hair and slowly stood up to make his way to the bathroom. Pulling down his wrinkled dress shirt, he made his way to the bathroom.

The rows of people in front of him were standing with their bibles open as the pastor on the pulpit read. The building was small, and the congregation was even smaller. Only about thirty people were spread throughout the pews with their attention on the front.

JJ could see his mother still fussing his brother before he turned to enter the hallway. The old country Church's wooden floor creaked as he walked to the bathroom. JJ didn't mind coming to the church he grew up in, he just wasn't that into it as his mother Mary. He was twenty-one years old and the young Cajun just wanted to go out and do his own thing. Fishing, hunting, heck even just watching the baseball game on TV would be enjoyable, but he knew that would upset his mother. So, to avoid an argument, JJ came to church. Even if he worked the night before and only had four hours of sleep, JJ still came with his mom. JJ would always tell himself that when he was older, or up in age, then he would take it more seriously. Oh, how the young thought they were invincible, that church was just for those older folks getting good with the lord before they passed away. JJ was taught to know better than that, to always attend church and follow God's word, but he was a young hardhead and thought he knew everything. For now, JJ would just attend church for his mother's sake.