Kidding Me

Chapter 15

16 Birch Lane turns out to be some kind of church. How did I not see that coming? May as well though.

The interior of the building looked nothing like what I imagined a church would. Bean bags scattered across the floor, all neon and multicoloured, with cushions similar to the ones I had in my room (before I chucked them out the window one day the week before). Filling the seats were varieties of teenagers. Some with blue and or red hair. Others with lip studs and ripped jeans. Some with all of the above. Then there were some who looked like they came out of the 1800s and couldn't find any appropriate clothing. They looked uncomfortable with their surroundings, with the other people in the room and some even in their own clothes... That'll be fun to wind up.

There were a few stacks of books and a laptop and set up with a projector across the room, and a hatch in the wall displaying a plate of biscuits and coffee to the left. The room was set up in a way that made it look like it doubled up as a club every Friday.

There seemed to be a neon theme as the right wall had luminous paint splatters flickered across that looked home made. The other walls were filled with a greeny-blue. Plain but bright. One window, no stained glass and a few posters.

Okay then...

A blonde quiff, probably about 17, with dark jeans and a purple top that had the letters GEEK spelled out of all kinds of electrical gadgets on, sat at the front looking not-quite-authoritative-but-almost.

"So we're looking a Job 10 in the bible tonight" said the quiff as I sat down in a bright pink bean bag.

"The book of Job just generally deals with this guy- called job- who was good and a nice dude but then loads of pretty bad stuff happens to him. So he's like what's up with that God, what'd I do wrong? He then starts to question God and whether he's fair and to be honest he gets pretty depressed and kinda suicidal."

What's this guy on about?

"It gets pretty deep so we'll take it a chapter at a time, yeah. So I'm gonna read Chapter 10:

"I loathe my very life;

I love this guy.

"therefore I will give free rein to my complaint

and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

Empathy.

"I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,

but tell me what charges you have against me.

Does it please you to oppress me,

Apparently.

"to spurn the work of your hands,

while you smile on the plans of the wicked?

Do you have eyes of flesh?

Do you see as a mortal sees?

Are your days like those of a mortal

or your years like those of a strong man,

that you must search out my faults

and probe after my sin-

though you know that I am not guilty

Well...

"and that no one can rescue me from your hand?

"Your hands shaped me and made me.

Will you now turn and destroy me?

He can try.

"Remember that you molded me like clay.

Will you now turn me to dust again?

Yup.

Did you not pour me out like milk

and curdle me like cheese,

clothe me with skin and flesh

and knit me together with bones and sinews?

You gave me life and showed me kindness,

and in your providence watched over my spirit.

Dad...

"But this is what you concealed in your heart,

and I know that this was in your mind:

If I sinned, you would be watching me

and would not let my offense go unpunished.

I'm stuffed,

"If I am guilty-woe to me!

So stuffed

"Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,

for I am full of shame

and drowned in my affliction.

Preach it.

"If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion

and again display your awesome power against me.

You bring new witnesses against me

and increase your anger toward me;

your forces come against me wave upon wave.

"Why then did you bring me out of the womb?

I wish I had died before any eye saw me.

If only I had never come into being,

or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!

I hear you.

"Are not my few days almost over?

Turn away from me so I can have a moment's joy

No such thing.

"before I go to the place of no return,

to the land of gloom and utter darkness,

My soul perhaps?

"to the land of deepest night,

of utter darkness and disorder,

where even the light is like darkness."

The poster advertised a completely fresh start, where's he going to go with this?