DeAndre patted his hair into place. He knew he looked good. He was getting ready for church. It was a cold day in January, 1995. He was excited because it was cold enough to wear his black leather trench coat. It had not been cold enough to wear it before now. He was going to Parkridge Pentecostal Church. His cousin, Jasmine, had been raving about the church every since she started going to the church. She was getting on his nerve. Jasmine was like that, once she got excited about something, she usually never stopped talking about it. She kept telling DeAndre that the church was a place where they could start over and be whoever they wanted to be. That was appealing to DeAndre because for so long, people had been asking him was he gay. He could not help it because he was good looking, knew how to dress better than most women, and always smelled good. He just liked to look good. He did not mind spending money to do so either. He had been raised by women and he had a bunch of female friends, but he was not gay. Okay, so he was 20 and did not have a girlfriend, but that did not mean a thing. It was hard to figure out why the church wanted him to get married. He was single and a hard working Christian man, you would have thought that the church would have found a way to put him to work. They were always complaining that there were not enough workers in the vineyard. With all the workers being married and tending to their families, a single man had to be a commodity, but church folk were always trying to marry him off. It got on his nerves, too. It was even worse for his cousin, Jasmine. She was forever telling him that some old hag from the church had cornered her and asked her, “When are you gonna get married and have some kids?” Jasmine would usually just smile and walk away. DeAndre always told her, “You need to just curse one of them old ladies out and then they will leave you alone.” Jasmine would respond, “That’s all I need is for those old ladies to go tell the pastor that I cursed them out. I would never hear the end of that.” DeAndre laughed as he thought about his cousin. She was a cool person. She was understanding, patient, and always willing to give everyone a chance. That was the total opposite of him. He would cut a person that hurt him off so quickly that the person would never realize that they had been cut until two days later when they were in the hospital for a blood transfusion. He had been hurt so much in his life by church folk, that he had no patience for them. Church folk could be mean, brutal, and conniving, especially preachers. DeAndre had no love for church folk who acted like saints on Sunday and did dirt the rest of the week. That is what made him such a fire and brim stone preacher. DeAndre had preached a number of hell fire and damnation sermons since becoming a minister a year earlier. He was rarely ever invited back to many churches. What was it that made people not want to hear the true word of God? People only wanted to hear about what God could do for them, instead of what God expected them to do. Did not Paul the Apostle write in II Timothy 4, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Why did folk act like that was not in the Bible? DeAndre stopped the sermon that was running through his head and put the finish touches on his three button gray suit. He had dressed conservatively today because he did not want anyone to say anything crazy about him. He looked good in his Italian suit. His classic double reverse pleated trousers had a crease in them that would cut butter. His purple shirt was accented by his gray and purple tie and handkerchief set. He wore his light purple shoes with the suit, even though he had a pray of gray shoes that would have went with the suit just as nicely. He had to add a little flair to his outfit, so he went with the purple shoes. He also had a purple watch that went with the suit. DeAndre took a step back and did his best model pose. He looked fabulous. He went to his closet to select a cologne to wear. He had the most expensive colognes that money could buy in his collection. He mostly purchased his cologne from Neiman Marcus. He did not like to smell like everyone else, so he had to make sure that he did not shop where everyone else shopped. He decided to wear Egoiste Platinum By Chanel. He strategically sprayed in the cologne in the right places. He walked back into his room and took one last look at himself in his full length mirror before he grabbed his coat and walked out the door to go get in his car and go to the church. *** Jasmine was driving down the highway. She was planning on moving to Sheldyville next month, so she wouldn’t have to drive back and forth from Maysfield to Sheldyville every weekend. She had recently graduated from Maysfield State University in Maysfield. She was so glad that her uncle was a professor at the college, because she did not have to go to college in a city where she did not know anyone. He uncle had been a great help to her while she was in college. Jasmine was grateful to her uncle and aunt. They had adopted her after her parents died in 1975. Jasmine’s parents died in a car crash. They were hit by a drunk driver while they were on the freeway. Her mother died at the site of the accident. Her father died on the way to the hospital. Her aunt and uncle, DeAndre’s parents, had raised her as if she were their own child. She and DeAndre were more like sister and brother than cousins. Her parents had left a some money to help care for Jasmine, so that helped her aunt and uncle out some. Thinking about her aunt and uncle made tears form in her eyes. Jasmine wiped her eyes. Jasmine could not believe that she had to drive to Sheldyville on Sunday. She had planned to drive down on Saturday, but she was not able to do so. She had to get up at 6:00 AM and drive down on Sunday morning. There was not much traffic, so it was an easy drive. She did wish that her cousin DeAndre was in the car with her, but she knew that he was at his house primping in the mirror trying to get dressed. That boy was worse than a woman when it came to getting dressed. He dressed better than any woman that she knew, too. He was three years younger than her, but he always acted like he was the oldest. It must have been that alpha male thing that she had heard so much about in psychology class. Jasmine was thankful that DeAndre had agreed to let her move in with him. His mother had recently moved back to her hometown of Booneville, so DeAndre was living in a three bedroom apartment by himself. He probably enjoyed it because he did not have anyone their to bother him. Jasmine, DeAndre, and her aunt had lived in the apartment for over 12 years, before Jasmine went to live in Maysfield to go to college. Jasmine could not believe that she had lived in an apartment for most of her life. Jasmine chuckled. She and her cousin had some good times living in the Broughwood Park Apartments, perhaps, the second time around would be just as fun as the first time. Oddly enough, the apartment complex was down the street and around the corner from Parkridge. That was cool because she would not have to get up that early to go to church. She had gotten use to living very close to the church that she went to because her uncle was a pastor and he lived in the church’s parsonage, which was right close to the church before he had a house built in Maysfield. That house was not that far from the church either. Jasmine was glad that she was moving to Sheldyville in a few weeks. She was so tired of making the two hour drive from Maysfield to Sheldyville. Her uncle was constantly fussing at her because she was putting so many miles on her car. She would just laugh at him. She was about 30 miles from the church, but she was going to be late for the service. She hoped that DeAndre would wait for her outside. He liked to make an entrance, so walking in late might be cool to him. He world probably wait on him. Jasmine picked up her cell phone. She dialed DeAndre’s cell phone number. The phone rung forever. Jasmine was about to hang up when DeAndre answered, “Where are you at girl? You got me out here in this car waiting. Folk are looking at me like I am crazy.” Jasmine laughed, “Good morning to you, too.” DeAndre smacked his lips. Jasmine shook her head, “I am still on the freeway. I am about 15 minutes away. You can either wait on me or go ahead and go in the church. It’s up to you.” DeAndre smacked his lips again, “I’ll wait on you. Hurry up and get here. I am tired of waiting on you.” Jasmine responded, “I am driving as fast as I can. I’ll be there. See ya!” DeAndre snapped, “Whatever. Just get here. Slow driving behind.” Jasmine laughed as she hung up the phone and sped drove down the freeway. *** DeAndre watched as Jasmine pulled her dark blue Acura Legend Sedan up next to his gray Chevrolet Impala. He waved at her as she cut the car off and got out of the car. She walked over to his driver’s side door. DeAndre acted like he did not want to get out of the car. Jasmine made a face at him. He laughed and got out of the car. He grabbed his cousin and gave her a big hug that lifted her up off the ground. She laughed, “You need to quit hugging folk like that. You are gonna hurt somebody one of these days.” He smiled, “Look at you looking all good in your pink outfit. I am scared of you.” She laughed, “I do look good, don’t I.” DeAndre twisted his lips, “Whatever. I am the one who taught you how to dress so, you should be thanking me.” She licked her tongue out at her cousin. He had no problem reminding her that he was responsible for her whole look. “Whatever,” Jasmine thought. DeAndre put his arm in Jasmine’s arm and walked her to the entrance of the church, “You are wearing your heels. That’s good. You look like you may be able to walk in them. You are too cute.” Jasmine shook her head, “Leave me alone, please. Remember, we are starting a new life here, so don’t be telling all of my business. No one knows us here, so we can be whoever we want to be.” DeAndre laughed, “You are too serious. So, I can be a big time lawyer instead of an accounts payable clerk.” Jasmine shook her head, “Yea, if you want to be. You need Jesus.” DeAndre retorted, “Never said I didn’t.” That was his response to that phrase every time she said it to him. They finally reached the door of Parkridge. DeAndre let Jasmine’s arm go as they walked through the front doors of the church. DeAndre looked around. It was as nice as Jasmine had said it was. The building met with his approval, as if the house of the Lord needed anyone’s approval. But DeAndre had had his fill of store front and small churches, the church had to look nice for him to consider joining it. DeAndre was looking for a new church home. He had outgrown his current church home. He had been a member of the church since childhood. There were not any young people joining the church and the pastor would not listen to any of DeAndre’s ideas about revamping the service slightly to attract a younger crowd. DeAndre ad not suggested any drastic changes, just mostly updating the service style. The old fashion foot stomping, hand clapping, testimonial service style of worship was cool for a weekday service, but upwardly mobile young folk, were more into a structure Sunday morning service. The choir still even sung the old style of songs from the 1980s. Please, at least update the style of music that the choir sung, but the choir president, who had to be over 110 years old, would not do it. Okay, so Sis. Moss was only like 60, but she still needed to teach the choir some new songs. The pastor even preached an old style message. He preached a goulash message for over an hour. Young people wanted a more polished message that could be followed easily. DeAndre had a hard time following his pastor when he jumped from talking about shacking to talking about how it was when he first built the church. Seriously, what in the world does shacking have to do with building a church? DeAndre did not want his pastor to change his message, just change his delivery. DeAndre understood the need to preach Holiness or hell, but there was a way to preach it without boring everyone in the sanctuary with the message. Jasmine tugged at DeAndre’s arm, “Boy, would you come on. We have missed the beginning of the praise and worship service. Let’s go.” DeAndre smiled as he thought, “Did she just say ‘Praise and Worship’ service? I may like this church after all.” He smiled as he made his grand entrance into the church. With each step down the middle of the aisle, he said, “Look Parkridge Pentecostal Church, Evg. DeAndre Woodside has entered the building. Ya’ll ain’t ready for him.” Jasmine smiled as she watched DeAndre walk down the aisle. He was doing his “Ya’ll ain’t ready for me” walk. He was so funny. How could anyone who preached Hell fire and damnation sermons be so stuck on himself. He needed Jesus. Jasmine and DeAndre finally found a seat close to the front of the church, DeAndre’s choice of course. He always had to be where he could see and other folk could see him. Jasmine did not understand that. She always took a back seat to everyone else. That often got her pushed to the side and overlooked, even when she was the one who had done all the work. DeAndre often told her, “You need to stick up for yourself. Open your mouth and quit letting folk run over you!” DeAndre could be harsh when he wanted to. He always spoke his mind. If he hurt your feelings, he would apologize for hurting your feelings, but not for saying what he had said. Jasmine shook the negative thoughts out of her head and replaced them with positive thoughts. “I am going to be more vocal. I will not let people run over me anymore. This is a new day. I am a new me. This is a new start for me.” Jasmine wished that she had more faith in herself, but she did not. DeAndre stared at his cousin. She had that far off look on her face, so he knew that she was thinking about something. That is all she ever did, was think. One of these days, she was going to act instead of think. DeAndre knew that he should not think those kinds of thoughts about his cousin, but he was tired of her crying to him about how someone had hurt her feelings. She needed to speak up for herself and quit letting folk run over her. She was a sweet person and would give you the shirt off her back. But she had a nasty habit of giving people chance after chance. So many people had ran over Jasmine with a Mack truck and she just forgave them and still tried to be nice to then.. She need to learn to cut folk off. “You get two chances with me. That’s it.” That was DeAndre’s slogan and he meant every word of it. His cousin was forever telling him that he was too harsh. She did not know what she was talking about though. You had to be tough or people would walk all over you. DeAndre had tried to soften his stance more than once, but every time that he did, he got walked on. DeAndre sighed as he thought, “Maybe I should try to be nicer and people more chances. Lord, You got to help me do that because I can’t do it on my own. Lord, while You are working, could You help Jasmine to not let people walk all over her?” Both Jasmine and DeAndre stopped their thoughts and joined in the service. They both purposed in their hearts to make a new start and to make some much needed changes in their life. The service went the same this Sunday as it had most other Sundays. The service was exciting, moved quickly, and was energetic. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre was having a good time. He was into the service. She did not expect him to dance or anything, because it took a serious jolt from the Holy Spirit to send DeAndre into a dance. Jasmine could tell that DeAndre liked the service and the church, so they were probably both going to end up joining the church. *** It had been a year since both DeAndre and Jasmine had joined Parkridge Pentecostal Church. They had both taken things slowly before they got involved in the church. Since joining the church, both of their lives were going good. Jasmine had gotten a job at the local library and DeAndre had received two raises in the past year. Things were going good for both of them. They had recently joined the Sunday School Department of the church. Jasmine was the librarian. DeAndre was the attendance secretary. It was easy work and the leaders were fun and did not act crazy. That was just what DeAndre wanted because he did not have time for any leader that wanted to act a fool with him. Jasmine was as happy as she could be at the church. DeAndre was still skeptical, but he was warming up to the people at the church. Oddly enough, Jasmine had made more friends that DeAndre had, and he was the outgoing friendly one. Jasmine had introduced him to everyone that she had met, so he knew quite a few folk. He just was not ready to make any new friends. He had made some connections with some of the young men at the church. He liked working with young men. DeAndre had a knack for getting them to open up and listen to him. DeAndre had planned on taking his time and making friends, and that is what he was doing. By the middle of 1996, Jasmine and DeAndre had become very involved in the ministries at Parkridge Pentecostal Church. DeAndre was the assistant Sunday School superintendent. Jasmine was a Sunday School teacher. They both were working with the youth ministry. That was a challenge at times because the director of the youth ministry did not seem to like DeAndre because he had a better repertoire with the young people than the youth ministry director. Bishop Boston had taken notice of DeAndre’s work ethic and commitment to the church. DeAndre was at almost every service. He was willing to help out when necessary and he seemed to work well with other people. DeAndre was an excellent dresser, too. the bishop noticed how good DeAndre smelled every time he got near him. DeAndre always seemed to wear the most expensive colognes out on the market. Bishop Boston thought DeAndre was a perfect young minister to mentor and cultivate. The only problem the bishop faced was that he could never get DeAndre to say anything to him other than, “God bless you, Bishop.” If DeAndre would give him a chance, the bishop planned on turning him into a top notch preacher. *** DeAndre sat down in the chair that was sitting next to Jasmine’s computer desk. He looked around her room. She had made herself right at home. She had pictures on the wall. She had her certificates and other awards displayed around the room. He laughed as he said, “You have made yourself right at home.” Jasmine looked up at her cousin, “Yea, and?” DeAndre threw the stress ball that was on her desk at her. She caught it and then threw it back at him. He laughed, “Let me ask you something.” Jasmine said, “What?” DeAndre asked, “What do you think of your pastor?” Jasmine made a face, “He’s kind of pretty and some of the things he says seem a bit chauvinistic, but other than that, he seems okay. You remind me of him sometimes.” DeAndre made a face, “Whatever, I am not a chauvinist.” Jasmine frowned, “Yep, you can be. Why did you ask me about Bishop?” DeAndre made a face, “Every time I get near him, he acts like he wants to talk to me or something. I don’t give him a chance to though. I ain’t got time to be getting close to another pastor. They shady sometimes. He is probably even worse because he is a bishop.” Jasmine shook her head, “You need to give him a chance. Maybe he just sees something good in you as a minister and he wants to help you be a better minister. I don’t know. Just give the man a chance. Every preacher is not evil.” DeAndre mad a mistrusting face, “You trust people too easily. Someone could be showing you a knife and you would invite them into your house. You need to quit that.” Jasmine shook her head, “Oh please. You need to quit.” DeAndre smacked his lips, “Oh please, you need to start.” Jasmine swung her pillow towards DeAndre. she knew that it was not going to come anywhere near DeAndre, but it made her feel better. DeAndre reached for the pillow. He missed it. He laughed and said, “You are crazy. Do your really think Bishop just wants to help me be a better minister?” Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, “Yea, what else could he want?” DeAndre paused before he said, “I just don’t have time to be getting involved with any mess. Church folk are so messy. They get on my nerves. I just don’t want no mess. I would hate to have to act a fool up at Parkridge. And you know I can act a fool.” Jasmine knew oh too well how big of a fool that DeAndre could act. She smiled at DeAndre and said, “All I can tell you is to pray and seek the Lord on it. You said that you want to be a big time preacher. Maybe Bishop is the person who can help you do that. You will never know unless you give him a chance.” DeAndre shook his head. Jasmine made sense. Maybe it was time that he gave the Bishop a chance. At least he could have a conversation with the Bishop. That could not hurt anything, maybe it would turn out good. |
