To Know Him

part two

Bill was bored, throwing rusty knives into a bail of hay in the front yard. Impatiently waiting for the crew to get their butts outside so they could get their collections over with. It was Sunday and he'd rather take a nap and add unnecessary touches to his motorcycle the rest of the day with a cold beer at his side. His younger brother and sister came out squinting from the blaring bright hot sun.

"Christ," Bill shook his head. "Let's go already."

"It's early," Eija whined.

"It's damn near noon, let's go," he snapped his fingers, throwing a leg over his motorcycle. When his sister tried to hop on the back with him, he shook his head again. "Go with V," he nodded his head in the direction of his little brother.

She begrudgingly hopped on the back of V's motorcycle, rolling her eyes at her big brother Bill. "Ace said to collect from the library too," she told him.

"The library? Really?"

"Late fee money," V said matter of fact.

"That's stupid," he shook his head. "Fine. We gotta make a detour real fast, c'mon," he said kicking the bike stand back and speeding off.
...

Gloria sat at her usual spot on the front pew at church with her mother following along with the sermon her father prepared. She had her worn bible open on her lap ready for her father to call on her to read a passage before the congregation. She felt it was over the top for him to pick a verse for her to read before everyone but she did it dutifully, to please him and make him proud. And proud he was every Sunday as he beamed at her unashamed at his prized god fearing daughter.

"Gloria," Pastor Castillo pointed a hand at her, "could you please read the passage from Luke 6: 31 to 32 and 35 to 36? Everyone, follow along."

Gloria smiled and smoothed the skirt of her white dress down while she stood. She faced the congregation, softly clearing her throat before speaking.

"...Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." She punctuated with a polite smile to the crowd and sat down quickly before her father had everyone to clap for her and before they could see her cheeks flush red with embarrassment.

"Beautiful baby girl, thank you." She sank into the pew when her father said that before closing up his sermon.

From outside, the whole congregation could hear those unruly motorcycles revving by the church. The old women in church looking behind them towards the noise shaking their heads disapprovingly. They came to a stop close by. Most likely at the general store again, Gloria thought to herself.
...

Bill stepped off his bike and told his siblings to go to the soda bar and he'd catch up with them later. But they weren't going to let him go without bombarding him with a string of questions.

"Can you two slow your horses? I'll be right by stop sweating me," he told them.

"Why can't we go with you?" Eija asked crossing her arms.

"Because," he said meeting their dead stares. They weren't going to let him budge without knowing where they were going to have to bail him from if something went wrong. Those were the rules, no one goes anywhere alone unless everyone else knows where you're at. "I'm just going to the church," he sighed. They both began to laugh at him.

"Finally goin' to repent for your sins, B." His little brother said.

"Shut up. You two know where I'll be at so get," he shooed them with his hands.