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The Prophet (Chapter1)

// February 9th, 2009 // My Novel

Micah rolled out of bed and stretched. The alarm clock droned some AM station that was just out of range and sounded more like static than music. He slapped at it lazily almost knocking it off the bedside stand. “the rat race begins” he thought… he ambled around the room finding clothes that didn’t stink… worn out t-shirt, un-buttoned button up, busted up cargo pants, and sandals that looked like they were 2000 years old. He called them his “Jesus shoes”. He moved into the kitchen dropping two budget friendly toaster pastries into the toaster. He peered into the sweet tea pitcher on the counter… inspecting it for stray “alien objects”, being satisfied, he proceeded to find a clean tumbler… he found one in the sink that looked ok, ran it under the tap for a moment and mumbled “caveman clean” and proceeded to fill it with the 3 day old brew. The toaster pastries smelled of burning sugar so he flipped the lever, wondering why they don’t really fly out of the toaster like on TV. He walked to the bathroom and pulled a swig of mouthwash, swished a few times, and spit. Smiling into the mirror he pumped a dollop of hair junk and ran his hands through his hair leaving it more messy than when he started. He wiped the remainder on his cargo pants as he grabbed the sweet tea and the toaster pastries and he was out the door.

The Ford Fiesta started ok and Micah bumbled along listening to his favorite radio station… the talk show rollicked on with jokes and gritty humor. He grinned occasionally at the antics of the hosts. Soon the segment ended and he switched to a religious station for a few moments of piety before work… a radio host was quoting, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” and ambled on talking about other things… Micah being the thoughtful type… started thinking… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me… hmm what does that mean exactly… what was Jesus saying? His mind just kept getting stuck on “My sheep hear my voice” that always bugged him how people say they can hear God… but not really… whats “not really?” either you do or you don’t right? … It always irritated him that educated christians seemed to have all these exceptions for things that Jesus always said plainly… as if he always spoke in code or something. Samuel in the bible heard God… he even thought it was someone else calling him! seems plausible that God is not above speaking to us in reasonable ways, he reasoned. “God, can I really hear your voice?” he mouthes the words silently. “what if I don’t hear your voice? am I not one of your sheep? why do others claim to hear? what do they know that I don’t?” Micah jolted back to reality as a car door slammed next to him.

“hey buddy!” Carlos peered at him through the dirty side window, “great monday huh?” the chicka’s will be flooding the dock today! it is hot!”

Micah nodded absently.

“whats the deal man? bad weekend? “Carlos continued.

“No… no it was ok.. just thinking.” answered Micah

“thas cool, thas cool, as long as you are ready to hit it hard, cause we got a big day ahead of us!”

“what do you mean?” Micah suddenly was paying attention.

“Some idiot made a last minute order and we got to pump out three thouuusand Tee shirts!” Carlos moaned.

“Three thousand?!” Micah exclaimed… “today?”

“Yep! today… ” Carlos deadpanned. “the paint and screens are already set up though, Me and Jamie worked on ‘em this weekend..”

“oh…” Micah seemed releived. “Well thats not so bad then… we can do THAT”

” Gotta love the screen printing business! eh?” Carlos laughed “It is either all or none!”

“ain’t that the truth!” Micah answered. ” Man am i glad I didn’t wear my good clothes!” he sarcastically added.

Carlos feigned amazement. “you have good clothes!?”

“Sure!” Micah counters quickly ” I wore them yesterday, if you would come to church you would get to see them”

“See there you go… bringing up church… why do you have to ruin another perfectly good day by talking about church” Carlos half teased.

“well mebby you ought to try it out” Micah tossed a silkscreen at Carlos, “Can you not work and talk at the same time?”

” I don’t have time for all that goody goody stuff!” Carlos tossed the screen back.. “wrong one”

“sorry” Micah answered “what about me? am I goody goody?”

“kinda” Carlos shrugs

“What! How so!?” Micah stopped, offended.

“Sorry man… but you are!”… Carlos continued… you always think that your cut and dry answers should be enough and most of the time if you really think about it you probably don’t beleive it yourself!”

Micah was stunned… ” I … wha… “

“look man.. enough about religion… lets get these shirts done so we can hit up Maria at the taco shop for lunch” Carlos slapped Micah on the shoulder… “you’re alright buddy… religion is tough!.. thats why I leave it alone… just end up getting kicked in the teeth eventually”

Micah nodded silently… this would sting for a while yet.

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