The Prophet (Chapter 4)
“Whats not to like?” Fred countered familiarly
“ahh the beach… the bums… the sidewalk performers… ” Brad continued
“the occasional purse snatching” Fred interjected
“Speaking of…” Brad looked at Fred comically, ” What happened to Mrs. Callahans purse last week?”
Fred grinned “Sam stole it again! I guess he just can’t get it through his head that stealing a purse is not the way to a womans heart! besides she’s married!
Brad shook his head in mock sympathy. “but she won’t press charges… people are strange… like I said… it never gets old!”
Brad stopped. Suddenly his radio was going crazy with chatter. Accident…corner of 6th and main.. pedestrian involved… He looked at Fred…
“This sounds bad… we better go help.” He turned the key in the squad car and whipped out on to 6th avenue… in the distance he could see a crowd gathering…
Vivian
Vivian sat on the steps of her apartment, it was a nice summer day so she was enjoying the sunshine. With her toe she pried at a loose stone in the concrete slab. Her two children Tabitha and Jeremy were skipping around in the small patch of grass that she called her “backyard”. Things seemed to be getting better, Carlos had finally settled down at the printshop and had kept his job for more than a year. They had finally scraped enough money together to buy a decent car so that he could drive to work rather than ride his bike. Yes, things were definitely looking better. The phone was ringing so she grudgingly got up to answer.
“Hello?” The minute she heard Olivia’s voice on the other end she knew something was wrong…
“Olivia! what happened? What’s going on? where’s Carlos?…. An accident?”
Vivian’s knees buckled…
“no!.. no!.. is he ok? Olivia! oh!… this can’t be happening!”
Vivian clutched at the phone trying to make sense of Olivia’s panicked disjointed babbling.
“Olivia! I am headed there now ok? just wait for me there!”
Vivian slowly put the phone down still hearing Olivia crying as she placed it on the reciever. Her mind was reeling as she attempted to put everything together… but nothing made sense… everything was in slow motion…
“ok no car so I am not going anywhere… I will call Micah.”
she picked the phone up and dialed Micah’s cellphone. After a few rings a strange voice answered.
“Hello?” … not Micahs voice..
“Yes is Micah there?”
“Excuse me Micah?” the voice questioned.
“Yes.. Yes! Micah!”
“Um, Maam, Mr. Micah is occupied at the moment… he is being detained… he will have to get back with you later”
“what?” Vivian was really worried and confused now. “who is this?”
“Maam, my name is Brad, Officer Bradley Morris, and this is really not a good time.. can you please call back later… thank you maam… good bye.
“wait wait wait!!” Vivian shouted into the phone… but the line went dead.
Vivian feverishly dialed the number again… and again… and again… each time it went straight to Micah’s voicemail.. She was absolutely terrified and had no idea what was going on… she did the only thing she could. She gathered the children and started the hour long walk to the print shop… shaking, terrified and completely confused.
Mack leaned back in his desk chair, he was feeling pretty good… “its only five oclock and I have made the week already!” He was definitely enjoying being on his own as an independent consultant for developing small businesses.
He was particularly in a good mood because of an interesting conversation he had with Carlos this morning. Carlos had been talking to a coworker about Jesus and seemed to be making some headway. He had met Carlos when he sold his beat up Mazda to Carlos for five hundred dollars, they had similar interests and soon became friends. Mack couldn’t put his finger on it but for some reason he really liked Carlos and every time they talked he felt a rush of excitement that he hadn’t felt for years! He had even pulled out his bible and started reading it. Mack looked up at his theology degree still hung on the wall… maybe… just maybe…
Abel readied himself for the beep… “Hey! what the heck are you doin skinny?! I’m at the box office and they have two tickets left! do you want me to get yours?…. OOOOHH tooo bad! they just sold em! well I guess I have to watch the movie alone! well call me back brother!…. lata!” he flipped the phone closed obviously pleased with himself at his masterpiece message… and confident that Micah would call back immediately to pitch a fit.
20 minutes pass and Abel is starts to get worried.. Micah is never a flake when It came to a good action movie. And… he always returns his calls! Abel looks down the street for Micah’s car once more… “dang it! Micah is gonna make me miss this movie!” he mutters under his breath. Finally the phone rings… “Mom? thats wierd! she never calls me… ” he mutters as he looks at the caller ID… he hits the answer button.
“Hey mom…what?..Micah’s in the hospital?..what happened?..he got in a fight?… why? he got arrested!? what the heck is going on?! ok… ok …ok …what hospital? ok… got it … heading there now…you guys are coming here? ok… it’s probably not that bad… just a misunderstanding…. or something….Tampa is probably the best… it is still a two hour drive… but the easiest to get a flight… Ok…ok I’m waiting… … alright flight 645 out of Dallas… got it.. ok .. YES! I wrote it down! ok mom… I am going…. Love you too… I will… ok.. MOM! ok …. love you too… bye.
Abel started towards the car… “I guess I oughta call Gabriel.. ” he hit the speed dial…
“Gabriel…hey you busy man?…hey micah was in a fight…micah!… man it’s Abel!…yeah micah is in the hospital.. Mid-City… yea.. alright I will see you there.. hey… thanks for coming man.. .ok alright.. later.”
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Thanks for reading.
Jason Carroll
Jason the bald guy
jasonthebaldguy.com
Good format, good plot, keep it coming.
AGREED!