The Hidden Genre (C. H. H. Ain't Dead 01)

chapter eleven - part two

Every word brother Ryan said went in and out of Luke's ears, but he sat there, eyes forward. He felt like everyone behind him had their eyes in his direction, which normally was fine when he had a mic, but not in a church. Being here made him . . . nervous.

   Why didn't his body want to move? Why didn’t it want to escape when this was the exact reason why he chose the end seat? He was glued to this destiny of sitting here, but he could still make the decision to leave at the same time. He couldn't do it anymore. The pressure filled his lungs. How dare they judge him when the Bible says, not to judge? He turned to confront the hypocrites, but their eyes were in their Bibles.

   “So for all those who don’t have Bibles with them,” continued Ryan, “I'm reading from the Book of Luke.”

   Was this part of his imagination? How had he forgotten about the book of Luke? Surely it wasn't the overcast weather that clouded the celebrity’s mind. Luke had forgotten so much the last three years, it was as if his home town was throwing all the memories back at him when he least expected it.

   “Then all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them saying, ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ Luke 15:1-10 NKJV.

   Jesus went on to speak about the Prodigal Son. And I'm sure everyone knows about he who wasted his inheritance and still got accepted by his father when he returned. I feel called today to focus on these parables.” He walked away from the book stand to face the Church. “I had three different dreams leading up to today, and in all these dreams, there was one main plot. This is what I believe it to be, but I admit that I could be wrong. What’s going to happen is: the lost among us are going to be found, and our hearts will be tested just like the brother of the Prodigal Son. May ye with ears hear - Jesus came to save not the righteous, but the lost.”

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The overcast weather threatened to let loose, but this didn't stop the two young men from stepping out from the covers of their heated car.

   “Yo Claude, why are we here fam?” the man, who got out from the driver's side, asked. “I don't remember you saying that you have family in this part of North City.”

   “This is the place where the Rappers Behind Bars competition was held,” came the reply, “Yahshuandi performed here in that final I heard.”

   “Did you hear that?” chuckled the man.

   “What? What's funny?”

   “It sounded like you said Yahshua and I performed here in that final I heard.”

   “That is how it's pronounced, right?” asked Claude, confused.

   “Yeah, –”

   “So I don't get what you trying to point out.”

   “Don't worry about it, fam,” the man came to stand next to Claude. “More importantly, what's the plan?”

   “I'm going to organize a concert and pray on it,” he said as a cold wind cut through their jackets. “If he had some sort of social media platform, I could have gotten his number so easily, but he doesn't. So I'm trusting he heard the song that the Lord put on my heart and he shows up for the show. I think it’s a good idea. Any thoughts?”

   “What I'm thinking?” asked the man. “DJ Johnny and C:map are about to bring some heat to this city.”

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The service ended before Luke got too uncomfortable. People started leaving as if they couldn't wait for it to finish. Others stayed longer to talk with people they hadn't seen whole week, but to them, they acted like it had been years. The chattering was deafening as one could hardly eavesdrop on anyone's conversation.

   Luke was left out. It was no different from being at your best friend's party and not knowing anyone else. Plus, the fact that no one was talking about him just made it worse. He spotted one of the judges, from the competition, walking to the store room, “Bro, where's the bathroom?”

   “Close to the entrance,” said Isaac. “Don't tell me you forgot, ‘Men to the left, because women are always right,’ as well?”

   “Nah, I remember,” he lied.

   Luke put his hoodie on and kept his eyes on the person next to him. It seemed like Isaac didn't want the celebrity to speak to the judges, so he would have to find a way to find out why, even if it meant lying. Luke kept his eyes on Isaac, trying to make sure he wouldn't be seen going to the store room instead of the bathroom. Hastily he got off the chair and turned in time to knock a woman to the ground.

   “I'm really sorry . . . here, let me help you up,” Luke offered a hand up after they gathered the woman’s things. He recognized her from the Grand Fortuna Arena. It was the one with the cross on her necklace, “It's you . . .”

   The face expression she had was familiar to Isaac, very close to déjà vu, but not. That look of disappointment mixed with anger. He had seen it before.

   Where had he seen it? On himself. It was how he felt the past six months before he reconciled with Luke. But why did this stranger have such eyes towards him?

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