A Tale of Two Christians

New Hope City

  Jason J. Cross

  Copyright 2014 Jason J. Cross

  See films and other projects from Jason J. Cross at fsocross.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Available in Paperback

  by Jason J. Cross

  His Calling

  His Calling 2: Inner Demons

  New Hope City

  Available in eBooks

  by Jason J. Cross

  His Calling

  His Calling 2: Inner Demons

  New Hope City

  Welcome to My Home

  Promises

  Autumn had always been Kerri's favorite season. The beautiful colors of the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures and the early sunsets were all wonderful to her. Today was a perfect example of the Fall days she enjoyed. Not too hot and not too cold. All you needed was a jacket to keep you warm.

  As she walked down the street, she looked at all the trees, and took in their beauty. As far back as she could remember, the colors of autumn always filled her up with awe. She couldn't even imagine there ever would be a day that these colors would ever stop being beautiful to her.

  Kerri had just left the Church, wearing her Sunday best, and was now heading toward the bus stop. Normally her boyfriend, Jeff, would have been walking along side of her, but not today. Football season had just begun, so (after Church) Jeff headed to the bar to watch the game instead of coming straight home with her.

  She had a love/hate relationship with Football. She hated it when Jeff's team lost because he would come home in a fowl mood. Not that he would abuse her or anything, he would just be in a depressed state of mind. As if he lost a loved one or something. But when his team won, now that was a different story. He would come home filled with excitement and usually lead to . . . well, you know.

  How her evening was going to turn out, was going to be determined by men in heavy gear throwing around a football. Nothing she can do about it, so she would just go home and lounge out until Jeff arrived.

  When she reached the bus stop, she sat down and looked at the changing colors of the tree across the street. It was such a beautiful display of red and oranges. Taking out her phone, she went to take a picture of it. She kept so many pictures of trees she had taken over the years; both digitally and on film.

  She was about to take the picture when a homeless man came up to a garbage can near the tree. He started going through it, looking for food. For Christ sake, she thought, disgusted as she lowered her phone. Somebody should do something about these disgusting people. Not only is he ruining my shot, but he is. . . just disgusting.

  Kerri impatiently waited for the homeless man to leave so she could take a picture of the beautiful tree. It was just then that a woman approached the man. Though this woman was dressed down – with ripped jeans and old faded T-shirt - you could tell she was far from being homeless. Why on Earth, Kerri thought, would anyone want to talk to these loathsome people.

  The woman pulled a sandwich from her bag and handed it to the homeless man, who was so grateful that he actually hugged the woman. When the woman hugged him back, Kerri felt like she wanted to puke. Why would she do that? Never mind how dirty you would get from touching this degenerate, but how can she stand the smell​?

  As disgusting as what Kerri was watching was, it wasn't the thing that was bothering her the most. What was really making her mind race was the fact that the woman across the street looked so very familiar. Kerri knew she knew her, but could not put a name to the face. Deeper and deeper she searched her memories, trying to figure out who this woman was.

  As the woman smiled and started to walk away from the homeless man, the correct memory popped up in Kerri's mind. “Jane,” she called out as she stood up and waved.

  Jane turned around, wondering who called her name. When she saw Kerri waving at her, she instantly smiled and waved back. She started to cross the street toward Kerri.

  As anxious as Kerri was to talk to her old friend, she was secretly praying that none of the smell of the homeless man went onto Jane. That would be way more than Kerri could take and still hold a civilized conversation.

  “Kerri?' Jane asked as she came up to her. “Is that really you? It has been years.”

  Jane went to give her a hug, but Kerri held her hand out. “I would love to give you a hug hello,” Kerri explained, “but I am wearing my good clothes and I saw you hugging that . . . “ Kerry pointed to the homeless man from head to toe, then pulled her hand back as if pointing at the vile creature alone would transfer the dirt and smell onto her. “I just don't want to get my clothes dirty.”

  Jane, confused, looked at the homeless man, who was deep into enjoying his sandwich. “Oh,” Jane said as she looked back at Kerri. “I get it.”

  “Well, how have you been?” Kerri said, getting off the gross subject. “I haven't seen you since . . .”

  “High School,” Jane said, finishing Kerri's thought. “I'm doing great actually. How about you?”

  “Oh, so much has happened,” Kerri said, bragging. “I went to college and got my Masters in Business. Landed a great job and a great man. We have been living together for a little over three years now. I don't know, I guess you can say we are in love, but I think we are still in the lust stage, you know what I mean”

  “Oh,” Jane replied.

  Kerri waited a second, expecting Jane to say something a little more supportive of a friend getting her rocks off. When Jane didn't say anything more, Kerri continued, “Well, I couldn't be more happy. Things just seem like they are falling into place. What about you? Did you graduate?”

  “No, I didn't,” Jane said, feeling a little embarrassed.

  “Well,” Kerri responded with a smile, “you were always the wild one. The ultimate party girl able to out party anyone.”

  “Yeah,” Jane said, uncomfortable. “Got me into a lot of trouble.”

  “Come on,” Kerri pried. “I am sure you have a lot of amazing stories to tell.”

  “Very interesting to say the least,” Jane said looking down. She then took a deep breath, smiled and looked back at Kerri. “Luckily, those days are over with. I am a new person.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes, I am. I found Jesus and the experience turned my life around.”

  “Well, that is really good to hear,” Kerri said honestly. “Me and Jeff – that's my man – go to Church every Sunday. You should come to our church one day, there are a lot of great people there and not so good people. I will let you know all about them, after I introduce you to them, so you know the scoop.”

  “Okay,” Jane said, nodding. Changing the subject she said, “Isn't being in a relationship with him amazing?”

  “Who, Jeff,” Kerri said, smiling fiendishly. “Well, he does some things to me that you wouldn't believe. . . “

  “Oh no,” Jane corrected. “I don't mean Jeff. I mean Jesus.”

  Kerri felt a little uncomfortable. She looked around and saw and older gentleman sitting there trying not to pay attention to their conversation. From his appearance, he wasn't too happy to hear was said. “Oh yeah,” Kerri said, lowering her voice a bit. “That's great too.”

  Jane didn't lower her voice as she started to feel excited. “Giving my heart to Jesus is the most important thing I ever did. Gave my life new meaning.”

  “Oh yeah, sure,” Kerri said, trying to give Jane nonverbal cues to lower her voice. She noticed the older gentleman was now looking over at them,
getting upset. Kerri gave him an apologetic smile.

  Jane, obliviously missing Kerri's cues, continued, “Oh, I love Jesus so much. He is doing such great things in me. It is simply amazing. Praise you Jesus!”

  “Uh, Jane,” Kerri said, feeling uncomfortable. The older gentlemen now folded his arms and looked away from them, frowning. “Maybe you want to keep your voice down. You don't want to offend anyone.”

  “Offend?” Jane asked, confused.

  “Yeah,” Kerri explained. “Not everyone is a Christian like us you know.”

  “Oh, that is why we have to spread the Word. To help get people out of Bondage.”

  “Well, a lot of people really don't want to hear about it.”

  “But that is not a reason why we should be quiet about it. So many people are living in sin and we need to show them there is a way out of it. I am not saying we should shove the Bible down people's throats, but we should be talking about it. Making people aware of the love and sacrifice that Jesus has made for them. Pray that these discussions leave a seed that will someday grow.”

  “What,” Kerri joked, “are you a Pastor now?”

  “Oh no.”

  “Well then,” Kerri said as if talking to a little child, “I think it is best if we leave the preaching up to the professionals. I mean, who are we to tell people what to believe or think?”

  “It's not about telling people what to think,” Jane said, shaking her head, “it's about letting people know that there is a Savior who loves them.”

  “Well, I am sorry, I am really uncomfortable about that,” Kerri said, disappointed that Jane was not getting her point. All that time she spent partying must have slowed down her brain, Kerri thought to herself.

  “But we have to,” Jane said, trying to make her point clear. “We have to step out of our comfort zone. We know that hell is real and we know a lot of people are heading straight for it . . . don't you think we should do everything we can to stop them from going there?”

  Kerri frowned and folded her arms across her chest. She felt like she was dealing with an emotional child that refused to see reality. “It is a free country,” Kerri scolded, “and people are allowed to believe whatever they want to believe. We have no right to bother other people by talking about our beliefs in public places. We should respect their beliefs and not offend them because our beliefs are different from theirs.” Kerri looked to the older gentleman for approval and he gave it to her with a nod. She smiled and felt accomplished.

  “But don't you see the danger in doing that?” Jane asked desperately. She took a second to think about it, then continued calmly. “If you saw someone crossing the street, not paying attention, and a car was heading straight for them . . . would you say something?”

  “Of course I would,” Kerri said, offended.

  “What if that person did not believe that car existed? Would you let them believe what they wanted to, just so you wouldn't offend them? Or would you do something to save their life?”

  Kerri sighed and looked back at the older gentleman. She shook her head (as if to say she was sorry for her friend) and he just rolled his eyes and smiled (as if he was letting her know that she was not the one who was wrong).

  “Come on now,” Kerri said, getting a little tired of what she considered a stupid conversation, “they are completely different things. You're making yourself look like a fool by being over dramatic.”

  “It's not being over dramatic,” Jane once again pleaded, “it is the truth. It is . . .”

  A sudden screeching of tires cut Jane off. Both Jane and Kerri looked over to the source and saw an out of control car heading right for them.