Meals from Mars by Ben Sciacca

Author:Ben Sciacca [Sciacca, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Social Issues
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2017-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

Jim looked at Malik as he finished his story. He didn’t want to speak without thinking for a moment. Malik wanted Jim to say something. The standoff of silence was unsettling.

Finally Jim cleared his throat. “That’s unfortunate,” he said. “It’s frustrating when the cops get the wrong guy.”

Malik chuckled. “The wrong guy?”

“I mean, they obviously got your uncle confused with someone they were looking for, right?” Jim said, throwing his hands in the air. “I mean, that’s awful when it happens, but they make mistakes.”

Malik tightened his lips, shook his head, and sniffed.

“A mistake,” he said coldly, “is something that happens once in a blue moon, man! That’s just one story. My uncle got pulled over three more times that summer just going to pick up my grandma. I bet you he’s been pulled over at least six to eight times on your side of town. And why? Because he ‘looks like someone’? Come on, man! We both know it ain’t that! It’s just because he looks a certain way. Period.”

Jim waited. He knew Malik wasn’t done.

“My uncle is more educated and more decent than most of the folks who live over in your neighborhood. But when’s the last time the cops rolled up on your ride or rolled up on one of your friends, huh? Probably never. Am I right? So yeah, we got reasons to be scared too. You think your neighborhood is like Disneyland or somethin’, where everybody is safe and happy. I don’t feel safe or happy over there. In fact, now when I’m over there, I can’t wait to get up and out of your neighborhood, man. Ask anybody where I live if they like it over where you live. Why do you think a lot of folks ride the bus? My uncle’s experience ain’t unique—happens all the time. In fact, if I’m drivin’ your car through your neighborhood, I bet you I don’t make it home without getting pulled over. Bet you!”

Jim grimaced. Silence resumed as the two stared back at the fire. Another gust of wind pried at the roof and quivered the walls. After a few moments Malik let out a soft chuckle. Jim turned slightly. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

Malik shook his head. “It’s cold, dark, and crazy out here, man. But I was just thinkin’. I bet we both feel safer out here right now than we do visiting each other’s neighborhood. I don’t know—that made me laugh.”

Jim turned back and stared straight ahead as he wrestled with his thoughts. As strange as it sounded, Malik was right.

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