Rev. DuWright

The bake sale brought in some good dough. The ladies managed to raise eight hundred dollars. Still, that's not nearly as much money as we need. We still have bills to pay and thousands in repairs. So, unfortunately to most of the church's dismay, we were gonna give brother James's idea a try. I will say one thing the bake sale did other than bring in some money was give the church some good exposure. A couple people from the sale said that they would come visit us this Sunday, so hopefully they like us and become members.

I sat behind my desk, inside my office in the church, going over the sermon I had prepared a week before. I mumble my thoughts to myself, going over a few notes. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. I called for them to come in and I thought that I had died. A gentleman, who closely resembled Jesus in the painting next to the door, stepped into my office wearing a tan suit.

I stood to greet him. "Good morning sir, what brings you here this morning?" I asked as I extended my hand.

"Business." He bluntly said in a straightforward tone, leaving me hanging.

I put my hand down. "Oh, well what kind of business?"

"Debt collection."

"Debt collection?" I questioned, confused.

"Yes." He said abruptly, almost cutting me off as if he's in a hurry.

"How much debt?"

"Eighty six thousand dollars."

My eyes grew big in shock hearing that number. "How in the world is the church in debt to you?"

"Well, it isn't debt to me, but to my boss, Mr. Angelo. I'm just the middle man. And the previous pastor came to us asking for a loan, so it was granted. He agreed that the church would pay us back in three months, but that was four months ago, on this day exactly. Since that pastor has now left, that debt now falls on you."

I sighed while running my hand down the back of my head as I began to pace behind my desk. Where the hell am I gonna get eighty six thousand dollars from. We barely made anything from the bake sale, and most of that was going to bills.

"For the past three months, we have sent small reminders to pay the money back, but they were not answered. Mr. Angelo was kind enough to even give you all an extra week, even with no response to the reminders." He said, interrupting my thoughts as he continued to explain.

"Listen", I started off trying to reason with him. "I don't have that kind of money but maybe if you could give me some time, I could pay you in bits and pieces."

"That wasn't what was discussed during the business deal. Mr. Angelo was told he would be paid the full amount all at once." He said in a tone that sounded like I was inconveniencing him.

"Please, just give us some more time and I'll try and pay you in small payments." I was begging at this point.

He exhaled before letting out an annoyed "Fine." I sighed in relief. "But don't get too comfortable, the answer isn't yes just yet. I will bring this matter up Mr. Angelo." He exhaled before looking around. "But just in case the answer is no, you may wanna start selling a few things." He smirked before making his way to the door.

I swear that the previous pastor is getting on my last nerve and I've never even met the man. I gotta ask the assistant pastor and head deacon if they know anything about this. I can't believe none of this was mentioned in the board meeting we had. Maybe the rest of the church doesn't know. But where were the reminders sent? Oh what the hell.

Just as the gentleman was turning the doorknob to the door, I remembered that he hadn't told me his name. Maybe if I ask them his name it'll ring a few bells. "I don't think I got your name." I commented asking in a way as if I had forgotten it, even though he never mentioned it.

He opened the door, still facing forward, answered, "Jonathan Addington." And with that he was gone.

Jared Leto as Jonathan "Frost" Addington

Shardae

As I walked into church this morning, I saw a few new faces. Some of them I can vaguely remember seeing at the bake sale. It's nice having fresh faces around and hopefully they decide to keep coming and even join the church.

"Oh, hello sweetie, do you remember me?" A heavyset fair skinned lady with a heavy southern accent approached me saying.

"Um." I raced through my mind trying to desperately remember if she was one of the people at the bake sale.

"Oh darlin'." She chuckled. "I bought an apple pie from you at the bake sale yesterday."

Finally my memory was jogged. "Oh, yes." I smiled, pulling her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry." I apologized for forgetting her.

"It's ok hun. My boys loved that pie you baked. They just tore it up, almost ate the pie pan it came in." She chuckled loudly.

"I'm so sorry, can you remind me of your name again."

"Oh yes, I'm Connie." She looked over her shoulder before calling two boys over. "Boys, come on over here so I can introduce you both." Two teenage boys approached the both of us.

"This Raymond, my youngest." He held his hand out for me to shake it.

"Hello ma'am, nice to meet you." He greeted me.

"Nice to meet you too Raymond, my name is Shardae." I pulled him into a side hug. "We're family around here so don't be shy to give hugs."

"And this is my oldest, Cassius." She introduced her next son.

"Nice to meet you ma'am." He greeted me just as respectful as his brother.

"Nice to meet you too Cassius, I'm Shardae." I said as I pulled him into a side hug.

Cassius Clay as Cassius Cook

"What a cute little guy." He says with a thick country accent as he tickles Caine's cheek, making him chuckle.

"What's his name?" He asked, flashing a smile, showing his slightly gapped teeth.

"Caine." I informed him. "Wanna hold him?"

"I'd love to." He excitedly answered as I gently placed Caine in his arms.

Caine immediately smiled and cooed as he looked up at him. "You're a natural Cassius." I commented, seeing how fast Caine took to him.

"Cassius loves kids, especially baby's." His mother commented, happily.

"Is that right?" I said as I thought of how I could use his help with some of the babies in the nursery class.

"Yea I love babies." He said as he gently bounced Caine in his arms.

"You know, I could use some help in the nursery room, if you're comfortable changing diapers and having some spit up on you." I chuckled

"Sure I'd love to ma'am." He smiled

"Just call me Shardae."

Rev. DuWright

I announced in church that we would be doing a benefit concert the next following Sunday. I also announced that we were going to have a movie night the following Wednesday coming up, to brother James's and the younger people's amusement. The concert will feature choirs from different churches. A couple of pastors from the area agreed to help promote to get more people to come in. The plan is to have people pay a little entry fee to get in, and maybe have refreshments afterwards. Likewise, with the movie.

During my sermon, I couldn't get what that guy said earlier about all that debt stuff. I wonder what his boss would say. If he would let me pay in small payments. I mean even if he does say yes, I still have to find a way to come up with the money. And bake sales and benefit concerts weren't gonna cover even half of the debt we owed.

In the midst of my sermon, I see a familiar face come in and sit in the back of the church. As I squinted my eyes, I wasn't surprised by who I saw. Lester. I say in my mind. What is he doing here. There was a teenage looking boy sitting next to him, and the more I looked at him, the more he sort of resembled me.

I see that he's found another boy to use. After church service Lester approached me, as I suspected, with his little sidekick or whatever he is to him, trailing behind.

"What's going on, preacher man." Lester laughed as he approached me.

"What are you doing here, Lester?" I asked not wanting to deal with his bs today.

"I thought everyone was welcome here? Or is it just the saints?" He asked with a raised brow, acting as if he was offended.

"Everyone is welcomed, but why are YOU here?" I asked, putting emphasis on the word you.

"Well, word on the street is you're in a pickle."

"A pickle?" I questioned, confused. I know he doesn't know about the debt with that guy.

He leaned in a bit."Word on the street is you're in some debt trouble."

How in the hell did word get out that fast? "And why is that any of your concern?"

"Oh it isn't." He put his hands up. "But it is yours. And since we're old friends, I'm willing to help."

"I told you I ain't going back to that life, Lester."

"And how do you expect to pay that money back, huh?" He said almost interrupting me and getting a bit aggressive. "By preaching? Saving people huh? Look around you nigga, you barely got twenty people coming into this broke down building. Hell, I was shocked the roof ain't fall in on yo ass in the middle of the sermon."

"Watch your mouth in the house of God." I interjected in a serious tone.

"My bad my bad." He sighed. "Between you and me, I like this new cat I'm working with, but." He looked back at the boy before looking at me, "he ain't you man." He shook his head. "He doesn't have the drive you had. He worried about bitches and where the hoes at, plus he's a hot head. You know how quick niggas like them get fucked up. You try the wrong one and that's it."

"Lester you got one more time to cuss up in here man." I warned him.

"Sorry alright." He apologized before making his offer again. "Look if you ever change your mind you know where to find me."

"Well, I won't be so don't expect me to show up." I assured him.

He chuckled. "Well, I tried. But you can't blame a man for trying."

"Guess I can't." I agreed just so he could leave.

He sighed before looking around for his protégé. "Welp, let's go Jody."

His little protégé mean mugged me as he passed me out the door."I'll be seeing you Eric." Lester said as he left.

Sure you will.

Thank you all for reading, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a like and comment some feedback. That would be much appreciated. Thanks again.