Believers
Jeremy smiled broadly as he glanced sideways at Mandy. Frustrating Jonathan Fullshire had to be on his top ten of favorite things to do. He knocked on the door and waited. He knocked louder after no response.
Jonathan Fullshire was inside. He was not sleeping, he was not even busy. He saw it was the youngest Scott boy standing outside, with a broad smile on his face. That only meant one thing, he was instigating aggravation.
The first time he met Jeremy Scott, the child was five. He had wandered away from his mother and was walking around the lumber section of the hardware store. Jonathan was rebuilding the chicken coop after coyotes had dug underneath to get inside. Jonathan wasn’t aware a child of five could even have the presence of mind to ask so many questions. He also wasn’t impressed by the fact that when he started to get annoyed with the lost child it only made the child more interested. Mr. Fullshire’s entire complexion generally changed from pasty pallor to a brazen red anytime Jeremy was around.
Jeremy knocked again.
Jonathan sucked up what was left of his peace and walked to the door.
“It’s a great day to praise the Lord!” Jeremy grinned ear to ear.
Mandy watched Mr. Fullshire’s annoyed face. “We’re here to raise money for…” she tried to lighten the mood.
“I know what you’re here for.” Jonathan cut her off. “And I don’t want any.” He put his face closer to Jeremy’s, “ANY.”
“Awww come on now, Mr. Fullshire.” Jeremy continued smiling and held up the bible he brought. “The good Lord wants us to Love one another.” he opened it and began to flip the pages.
“Are you bringing Sunday School to my porch, Son?” Jonathan warned.
“Let the Spirit of the Lord convict you!” Mandy voiced in enthusiasm.
Jonathan passed her an exasperated look.
“Oh how do I love thee…” Jeremy began making stuff up as he held the bible open. “Let me count the…”
“You pulling that from the Bible?” Jonathan question as he crossed his arms.
“You know the Lord loves you.” Jeremy continued smiling. “Why? Oh why?” Jeremy began to exaggerate. “Do you turn away from His Grace and Glory? Why..”
“WHY… Are you standing on my porch?” Jonathan knew he would get nowhere.
“The Lord’s love for you is so great.”, Jeremy smiled. “Why do you shun his love? Why do you run from his acceptance?”
“You’re going to be running from my buckshot if you don’t wind this up soon, Son.” Jonathan warned.
“If you agree to come to the Cornerstone Baptist Church for pot luck lunch next Sunday we could leave now.” Mandy explained.
“So they’re resorting to extortion now?” Jonathan’s blood pressure was beginning to rise. “They can’t recruit any more people, they assimilated the half the town. So those they can’t convert they’ll torture till they repent? Well this ain’t the inquisition. And you kids can get off my lot and property, and don’t come back.”
“Oh come on now, Mr. Fullshire.” Jeremy started. “I know you love us and want us to come back.”
Jonathan straightened himself up and looked down at Jeremy.
Mandy’s alarm went off on her watch.
“Better get going.” Jonathan urged in annoyance. “Don’t want to be late for whatever that’s for.”
Mandy tugged on Jeremy’s shirt sleeve, “Come on, let’s go.”
Jeremy still smiling, wasn’t as ready as his counterpart. “You go on ahead. I think I’ll stay here a while and visit.”
Jonathan released his anger and decided to take control of the situation. “You go on home with your little girlfriend here, or I’m calling your mother to come get you.” His face couldn’t get any more serious.
“Aww alright.” Jeremy could see it was time to leave. “But I’ll be back, Praise God.”
Jeremy and Mandy turned and started walking slowly off the porch.
Jonathan slammed the door shut and went back to his secluded, silent, and peaceful life.