"God is a concept por which we measure our pain." I didn't always know o agree with this lyric from John Lennon's song, "God". However, I came to that point por the time I was twenty years old. I am one of the dissenters in the Bible Belt, but I wasn't always a, I guess tu could say, rebel. When I was much younger, things were different, but seeing hypocrisy and hatred from Christians and unfortunate circumstances in my life changed everything. This is my story. I was born in 1996. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I was raised a Christian, particularly, a Baptist. I grew up without a father, but my mother was good to me and my older brother, Daniel. My grandmother taught a Sunday School class for children, and por the time I was eight, I was one of her most dedicated students. I memorized scriptures. I read the King James Bible every night before going to bed. My grandfather was the pastor of the church. I always thought his sermons were fiery. Every Sunday after lunch, he would say to me, "I'm proud of you, Erin. tu are God's girl. Remember that." I took it as a compliment. Grandpa always preached against rock and roll. Even though he and Grandma were born in the same año as Paul McCartney, they did not get into the rock and roll scene. My mother didn't either, but she respected my aunt and uncle who did. She even let me go with them to see the Eagles in concert. I didn't think it was so bad. "I've got a peaceful, easy feeling, and I know tu won't let me down. 'Cause I'm already standing on the ground." That didn't sound like such a bad lyric, and Glenn Frey had such a beautiful voice. After the concert, my aunt said, "Now, this will be our secret, okay?" I said, "Okay." Still, I had a strong faith in God and in Jesus. But one day, when I was only twelve, things began to change.
To be continued
To be continued
Some time later, Una and Everett were settled in a cozy small cafe eating sandwiches and sipping calabaza spice lattes while foil cutouts of cute ghosts and pumpkins hung from the walls around them.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett dicho after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the mesa, tabla to touch his hand. "Hey, tu saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go inicial and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett dicho after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the mesa, tabla to touch his hand. "Hey, tu saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go inicial and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"What lead tu to the club where tu first saw us, Henry?" Les asked. Henry replied, "One of my neighbors told me that a rock band called A Wave Tossed in the Ocean was going to perform at the club that had opened the anterior week. I thought that the name sounded interesting, so I asked him what kind of rock music, and he said, 'I think it's stuff from the sixties and seventies.' I was eager to hear the songs from my youth. When I saw tu perform, I knew tu were the right fit. Of course, tu know how we met backstage." Jimmy said, "And the rest is history." Everyone laughed. "Yes," Henry said. "The rest is history." Just then, Felix looked at his cellphone and said, "It's 10:00, guys." Henry said, "We better go to bed. We've got a big día tomorrow." The boys all said, "Okay. Good night, Henry." Henry smiled and said, "Good night, boys. Pleasant dreams." With that, they retired to their beds for the night.
THE END
THE END