Pray
#1 of Pray
It's been such a long time since I've been inside thi...
It's been such a long time since I've been inside this place. The First Christina Church had been like a second home to me back when I was little. I was never close with my parents and whenever I had a terrible day, I would spend the day at the church with Father Bishop and his son. The elder aardwolf pastor was always there to help anyone in need. I'm actually surprised that he isn't here right now. I thought before gripping my left hip. The pain in my hip started to come excruciating again. It has been over two months since I was in that crash, but the unbearable pain makes the accident feel as if it had just happened the day before.
The benches are just as uncomfortable as they were seven years ago. I couldn't help but chuckle at this realization. I pressed my paws together and closed my eyes once I stopped laughing. The last time I prayed was back when I was still a young teen, but now more than ever I felt the urge to pray. "God, if you are still watching over me, I could use some advice. What can I do to have my parents to accept me again? They were all I could think about during my time in the hospital. I just wanted them to be there for me when I needed them the most. I miss them a great deal."
I started to feel tears drip down my face, but my hands remained clasped together hoping for a reply, one that I knew would never come. Some time passed before I decided to stand and ready to leave the church, when I heard the front door open followed by two sets of paws.
"I'm going to get the cutouts for tonight father. Be back in a few moments." The voice of the one that spoke reminded me of one of my friends back in high school. As the sounds of the speaker dissipated, the echoes of his companion's paws started and grew louder. That is when Father Bishop came into my view. It was easy to tell that aging was not treating him well. In one paw, he held a cane to support his fragile looking body. Not only that, but it looked as if he was stuck doubled over.
"Who is there?" The old man called out, waving his cane in my direction. "I may have lost my sight, but I can still hear and smell,' His voice was tainted with subtle fear.
I could not help covering my mouth to avoid crying. The aardwolf had weak bones for as long as I knew him, but the one thing he relied on most was taken away from him. "Hello Father, it's me Jeremy," My voice cracked with sadness. My feet made their way over to the shocked pastor until I was close enough to feel his breath on my arms. I stood silently as Father Bishop's paws explored over my face.
Tears began to flow down his cheeks as a paw traced over a scar that I've had since my youth. "I remember when you first go this," His weak, but caring voice made my heart ache. "What brings you back to Fredericksburg my son?"
"I felt as if it was best to come back after the accident I was in," My reply came out as I lent the old hyena a supporting paw. "Though, it does hurt coming back when no one visited me in the hospital."
"Don't be angry with everyone Jeremy, not everybody knew about it and others were just too busy. I know that Raymond wanted to visit you every day, but he's been too busy helping take care of me since I lost my sight," Father Bishop coughed and grunted for a while before his voice came back with some enraged passion. "However though, I am heavily disappointed with your parents. The three of us had an exchange after I found out about the crash. I counseled them to visit you, but it seems as if they are still incapable to get over you being gay."
"How... how long have you known Father? My voice whined and my tail dropped heftily between my legs. Every muscle in my build felt exhausted as if they were trying to hold up an unconscious body. My parents still hating me came to no surprise, but them telling other their reason for hating me is so low, especially since those who I actually care for, know for sure that I am gay.
"I guess I first realized it back when you were in high school. Raymond told me about the time when you were suspended for getting into a fight. Those boys had no right to say such horrible things, but for you of all people to react with violence; it just came off so suspicious. Then my suspicions grew when you left here without saying goodbye to anyone, especially Raymond. The next time your parents came to church, I questioned them about what happened to you. I am so apologetic those coatis couldn't accept you for who you truly are," The old pastor comforted me, resting a paw on my back and the other on my leg nearest to him. This brought me so close to tears that I had to force my eyes shut to keep from sobbing.
"So you don't scorn me?" My paws tightened into balls to help me calm down. At that moment, I just wanted nothing more than to die.
"No, I have never had a reason to hate you. I have always thought of you as a part of my family and there is a big motivation for that. That is because of my boy Raymond. He cares a great deal for you, almost as he does me."
I was about to respond to the aardwolf when I heard that voice again, that sweet caring voice from high school. Raymond's voice.
"Okay pop, I got everything I need for tonight. Mr. Burwell and Mrs. King will be here at six to set up for the re-enactment. Let's hope this years is better than it was last year," My heart felt as it had stopped upon seeing how beautiful the young aardwolf had become since the last time I seen him. What was once a thin and wild looking boy was now a muscular and well-groomed man. "Jeremy? Is that you?" My old friend sputtered out excitedly. He was beside me in a blur; his two massive arms embraced me in a way I nearly forgot. "It is so great seeing you again. I... dad would you mind if I talked to Jeremy in private?" As tough as he looked, I could see that Raymond still bashful, as he was blushing slightly under his dark gray cheeks.
"That is fine with me. Feel free to use the upstairs, nobody is up there," Raymond's dad offered shooing us away.
Raymond grabbed ahold of one of my paws and led me up the stairs. "So, what are you all going to re-enact?" I asked as we made our way to the upper floor.
"The birth of baby Jesus," The aardwolf said was a childish smug look. "Remember when we were a part of it? I was Joseph and you were Mary since all of the girls our age were in their feminism phase and would not show up. God, we were the laughing stock of school after that night. Everybody called us either Mr. and Mrs. Bishop or Raymond and his male coati lover."
"Yea I do," I sighed happily remembering the kiss we shared during the play. "Do they still make the kids kiss? As I remember, a lot of parents were quite enraged our year, particularly mine."
"Nah, they stopped doing it, but for a different reason. One of the boys playing Joseph a few years ago tried to grope his leading lady," Raymond bellowed happily me into a one-armed hug.
"I bet you never knew I had a thing for you?" I gazed up at the hyena and found my eyes paralyzed looking into his baby blue eyes. The sparkle in those eyes from the late day sunlight shining through a nearby window, made them mesmerizing.
"Of course I did Jeremy. You may be good at acting straight, but when we had that kiss, I could just tell that you had been wanting to do that for a while," I wasn't given a chance when Raymond leaned his head down and kissed me on the cheek. My heart felt so alive as it beat heavily against my chest as his lips touched me. "I've always been highly protective of you Jeremy Hoyle and I'm ashamed that it took me such a long time to understand why. I finally came to terms with how I felt about you, the day you left. Jeremy, I love you." Tears started to pool up in my eyes and Raymond hugged my tightly against his chest. "Please don't cry Jerry, please don't."
After a minute or two, I finally calmed myself down. For over a half-hour, the two of us sat together on the floor in what felt like a faux heaven. My scrawny arms wrapped tightly around his waist and my fuzzy face hidden in his chest fur.
I started to whine when Raymond started to stand up, ending the intimate moment. "Sorry Jeremy, I promised my dad I would assist setting up the stage tonight," His strong arms pulled my off the ground and held me close. "But if you would like to, you can stay and watch it. This way I know where to find you."
I do hope this is a sign that everything is going to be better from now on. I happily thought as I rested my head against his shoulder and let out a blissful sigh. "That sounds like a plan to me."