BROKEN By: RONNEA STILES

James

James 2

The church sang and praised loud. The whole town could hear us. I bobbed my head, stomped my feet and clapped my hands on beat to the wonderful sound of the music. The church today was crowded. My old man was the bishop and I was his son. James Junior that's right, that's what they called me. I kept looking around when I spotted Sylvia. That girl was a doll. She had big brown eyes, long and pretty brown hair with smooth caramel skin. She was one of the praise dancers and the good lord knows I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself from staring at her slim body. I suddenly shook out of my dazed thoughts and remembered where I was .
"Lord forgive me".
I thought, I knew I shouldn't have been thinking those foul and horrendous thoughts while in the house of God but, the thought of her body up against mine was vivid in the back of my mind when starring at her. Suddenly that's when the music stopped and everybody sat down "Finally".
I thought,
"I have time to collect myself".
As we sat down my father "Bishop Jones" spoke up by the podium.
"Let the church say amen"
"Amen".
Said the church.
My father was a cocky built man and my mother sat on the right side of him she was First Lady Mrs. Jones. My mother looked aimlessly and proud at my father. Everyone looked up to him and so did I. One day I hope to become as great of a bishop as my father is. Nothing more good then praising the Lord as much as I can and knowing when you die you'll get into heavens gates, knowing you lived righteously, that's all I wanted.
"Today we need to praise the Lord . . . Because I've got a testimony. My son James Jones was accepted to attend . . . wait, let me rephrase that, he got a full ride scholarship to play football at Mizzou !"
The church people cheered loudly in triumph for me and to tell you the truth I was proud myself.
"C'mon up here son".
I confidently stood up as everyone watched and clapped their hands. I walked slowly to the podium getting a feeling of exasperation from all the welcomes and praises. I smiled at everyone as they looked at me.
"Geez . . .I wasn't expecting my father to put me on the spot so soon".
Everyone laughed.
"But I will say it was in Gods strength and will to give me the blessing of receiving this scholarship and without God in my life I wouldn't be saying this right now . . ."
Before I could even finish, a filthy girl walked into the church, everyone gasped and looked at her. She was soaked and her face was beat up, her hair was all tangled and rough looking. She looked at everyone then ran out. I don't know what or why but a weird feeling inside of me made me follow her. I chased her outside yelling
"Wait!"
The girl turned around. I walked up to her to notice behind all that filth she was extremely beautiful.
"What?"
"What made you leave?"
"Everyone was staring at me . . . What do you want?"
"I want to help you".
"Do I look like I need help?"
She asked aggravatingly.
"Yes you do".
I chuckled.
She rolled her eyes and turned to walk away until I grabbed her arm.
"What?!"
"I want to help you".
"Leave me alone I don't need your charity!"
She then stomped away. I stood there watching her vanish into the night, while I got soaked with God's tears. I didn't know what it was, but I was in love.