Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father

Asher laughs. “She doesn’t need a life preserver. Jesus walks on water.”

“Ha, ha. Very funny guys.” I shake my head and begin grinding coffee beans in anticipation of the next rush.

“We’re just teasing,” Asher says apologetically. “I’m happy you’re questioning. The worst thing kids on the hill can do is stop asking questions.”

I stop the grinder. “Wouldn’t you say that’s the worst thing anyone can do?”

He nods. “I would. So, you’re telling me you want to get out an hour early tomorrow for the Bible study?”

I came in a few minutes early to plead my case. “Please.”

Chelsea rolls her eyes. “Oh, sure. So you’re telling me if I want to go to a Bible study, you’ll let me off early on our busiest night of the week?”

“Chelsea,” Asher sighs, “I’d let you off early with pay if you wanted to go to a Bible study. I’d literally pay to see it.”

She sticks out her tongue, exposing her black barbell piercing, and grabs and empty dish bin. “I don’t need the money that bad…yet.” She winks and heads to the cafe to clear tables.

I chuckle and push the button to brew a fresh pot of decaf. Roland will be in soon, and when he comes on Saturday nights, his coffee is sans caffeine.

“Hey,” Asher nudges my side, “don’t let her get to you.”

Looking up, I’m confused to see a semiserious expression on the rather goofball manager’s face. “Huh? Oh, Chelsea? She doesn’t. She’s just teasing. I’m kind of used to it. Kind of straddling the line myself these days.”

Asher’s eyes pinch at the sides as he seems to study my face. “What’s changed?”

I swallow hard and shrug. “I don’t know, really,” I admit. “Even though there’s a lot going on politically on the hill that I don’t agree with, I feel like that’s kind of missing the point. Like, if I use that stuff to judge Jesus, I’ll never want him. But, honestly, I’m feeling myself pulled in that direction, and I’m seeing that the political stuff and some of the day to day stuff is just clouding it all. I want to follow Jesus, not the latest brand. I think.”

“You think?” Asher leans against the counter, looking amused.

“God could have come down and destroyed the world with the snap of a finger and had us all start all over again. But he didn’t. He came as a baby.” My voice drops to a whisper. “A baby. A tiny person that needed to be nurtured, then grew to nurture, and who knew what was going to happen and did it anyway. For us.”

Asher clears his throat and shifts slightly. “I thought you were only in an Old Testament class? That sounds like New Testament territory, if I’m not mistaken.”

“I read ahead,” I tease, sticking out my tongue as Chelsea had earlier.

He laughs. “I’m going to need to write, ‘keep your tongue in your mouth,’ in the dress code, aren’t I?”

My eyes are drawn to a familiar voice at a nearby table, and instantly blood rises.

“What?” Asher cranes his neck to follow my line of vision. “Oh, good. Your door-to-door friend.” He spots Joy accurately.

“She’s not my friend,” I assert.

“Just keep an eye on her. She hasn’t been a problem since that one day you were here with her.” With that, Asher heads back to his office, and I’m faced with taking Joy’s order, since Chelsea is busy checking out tattoos on a customer.

“Hey, Joy.” I smile and try to sound as friendly as I can.

“Hey,” she says with relative niceness. “Just a medium soy latte, please.”

I nod. “Okay, I’ll have it up at the end of the counter in just a minute.”

Joy turns and walks directly to the end of the counter, watching me as I work on her drink.

“Eden says you’re coming to Bible study tonight?” She speaks over the high pitch of the steamer.

“Yep. Want this for here or to go?”

“Here.”

I finish her drink and slide it across the counter. “There ya go.”

“We’re starting the Gospel of John tonight,” she says after her first sip. “I’m glad you’re coming.”

“You are?” My eyes widen and I feel a twinge of hope for Joy.

She nods. “I’ve been praying for you a lot.”

“You have?” I arch my eyebrow—twinge of hope slowly packing its things.

“Yes. I recognize how hard it is to set aside a life of sin and try to follow Jesus. I admire you, Kennedy. See you tonight.” She turns on her heels and heads to the back corner, taking out a book for our Old Testament class—no, we don’t just use the Bible—and begins studying. Presumably for our mid-term on Wednesday.

Life of sin?