EVIL ASCENDANT - DELIVERANCE: Within and Without Time - Book IV (Within & Without Time 4) by Hennessey D. I

Author:Hennessey, D. I.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: arkHarbor press
Published: 2022-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

The scene that instantly surrounds me is jarring but not wholly unexpected. Radison is sitting alone outside the Calvary Hill Church. Sounds coming from inside suggest that the church is hosting dinner for a large number of people. The wet streaks on Radison’s face are clear evidence that he’s been crying. A stuffed duffel bag looks like it’s been tossed haphazardly on the step beside him.

While I’m watching, Pastor Jerome steps outside through the church doors. He seems surprised to see Radison sitting there.

“Hello, Radison. Why aren’t you at home having Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Mrs. Oram threw me out. She don’t want me there no more.”

“On Thanksgiving Day?” Jerome said sadly. “How did you get here?”

“I took a bus to 85th… walked from there.”

“Are you hungry? We’re having Thanksgiving dinner inside; come on in and join us.”

It’s evident from the way Radison licks his lips that he is hungry, but he looks toward the door reluctantly. “Could I just eat out here? I don’t know nobody in there.”

Pastor Jerome could have made the case that he knew lots of the people inside — Radison had grown up in this church. Instead, he insightfully understands the boy’s awkward embarrassment.

“Wait here,” he offers, “I’ll fix you up a plate.”

Jerome emerges a few minutes later carrying two plates and sits down on the step beside Radison, joining him for dinner. He watches as the boy inhales his food, looking as if he hasn’t had a meal in days. When he’s done, the Pastor looks at his own untouched plate and then offers it to the boy. Radison accepts it without hesitation, quickly finishing that one as well.

“You want to talk about what happened with Mrs. Oram?”

Radison looks at the ground as he speaks, avoiding eye contact. “I guess she just hates me, is all.”

Jerome sits silently, waiting for him to continue. Radison eventually begins to open up.

“She don’t like my friends or any of the stuff I like. She was always yellin’ at me; I couldn’t do nothin right. She never really wanted me there anyway. It was just for the money and food stamps and stuff. I never even got much to eat or nothin’ — she ate it all.”

“Did she ask you to leave, or did you run away?”

“It was her! She made me leave, I swear! She packed all my stuff in that bag and everything.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” he replies quietly. “Can I stay here… at least for a while?”

Jerome is quiet for a long minute. Radison draws his gaze away from the ground and looks up at him hopefully.

“Your grandmother was a great woman and a good friend. I owe it to her to see that you’re cared for. We have some ground rules here. There are other families here with kids of their own — young kids; we won’t stand for anything that leads them astray. You’ll need to share a room with the other boys… we don’t have much room, but we’ll find you a bed.

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