Part 5 (1/2)

For a while, Jim Ed drove up to Jackson on Fridays to pick up Christina from school and bring her home for the weekends. One Friday afternoon when they were driving home, he made a little detour to the banks of the Tallahala River.

13.

I looked up over Jim Ed's head and couldn't believe my eyes! Behind him, on the trail in the distance, was none other than Eric heading our way. Really? You gotta be kidding me? I thought. Hoping he wouldn't recognize me, I turned my back and crunched down on the bench.

”What are you doing?” asked Jim Ed.

”It's that Eric guy I was telling you about,” I said. ”I don't want him to see me. Don't draw attention to yourself. Look out over the lake or something.”

Jim Ed just kept painting, only now holding his head up high in defiance to what I had asked. After a moment or so, I peeked around thinking maybe Eric had pa.s.sed. Not a chance. He'd already spotted me and was zeroing in.

”Adam!” he called out, jogging right up to the bench between Jim Ed and I. ”Twice in one morning! Must be a Divine Appointment!”

”Praise the Lord,” I mumbled under my breath.

”What are you doing, man?” he asked taking a swallow of bottled water. ”You've been here this whole time?” As he spoke, his back was to Jim Ed never acknowledging him. ”You took off in such a hurry back at the store,” he said, wiping his mouth with his forearm. ”Thought your family needed you?”

”They do.”

Eric nodded toward Jim Ed. ”Who's this guy?” he asked in a demeaning sort of way. ”Is he painting your picture?”

”It's called a portrait actually,” I said with an att.i.tude. ”Here, let me introduce you. Eric, this is Jim Ed. Jim Ed, this is Eric.” From his stool, Jim Ed held out his hand for Eric to shake, but Eric only looked down on the portrait.

”Different,” he said cynically. ”Doesn't look like Adam at all.”

”That's because you're not seeing with the right eyes,” Jim Ed replied coolly.

Doesn't look like me? I thought. Now I was really intrigued and stood up to peek.

”Sit down, Adam!” thundered Jim Ed. ”It's not time.”

”Yes, sir,” I said plopping back down.

Eric glanced at me with an expression that said, ”Who is this joker? What the heck are you doing here, Adam?”

”It's a gift,” I told him.

Eric shook his head. ”Sure man, whatever you say.” He twisted the cap back on his bottle of water. ”Well, gotta scoot. Got a lot on my plate. You know I'm preparing for my big presentation tomorrow at the church?”

I shook my head. ”Nope, didn't know that.”

”It's been in the bulletin for a month, Adam.”

”Oh yeah,” I said scratching my head, ”Seems I remember something about it now.” Once again I lied, now completely certain I was going straight to h.e.l.l!

”It's called 'How to Raise Champions for G.o.d.' Pastor Rick asked me to teach on it. See you tomorrow.” At that, he started jogging off.

”Eric,” Jim Ed called out kindly but sternly.

Eric stopped and turned around. ”Yeah?”

”How's that little problem you've got with your computer?”

Eric looked perplexed. ”What are you talking about, dude?”

”I think you know,” said Jim Ed.

”No. I really don't,” said Eric, jogging off again, this time faster.

”We're as sick as our secrets, Eric.” Jim Ed yelled out. ”You know...those things that are secretly tormenting you.” Eric never turned around but slowed to almost a stop keeping his legs moving in place. I didn't know what was happening but felt the electricity of the moment. ”G.o.d wants to set you free, Eric,” Jim Ed continued. ”He really loves you. You can stop the performance.”

Eric slowed and then turned his body around again to face Jim Ed. I thought for sure he was going to blow a gasket or something, but instead sorrowfulness dropped across his face like a wet blanket and a fist-size knot rose up in his throat. His legs became still and he swallowed hard.

”G.o.d wants to free you from your diluted self and the lies,” Jim Ed said warm and inviting like he had done with me, ”so you can become the authentic man you were created to be.”

Eric glanced at me, back at Jim Ed, back at me, then back at Jim Ed again. I could tell he was wrestling in his mind, didn't want to expose himself. Just then, his whole body began to shake. He dropped his water bottle and fell to the ground on his knees.

Jim Ed walked over, knelt down and gently touched Eric's shoulder. ”G.o.d wants you to know that you are His, Eric,” said Jim Ed. ”Never doubt that.”

I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, but I could see the impact it was having on Eric. It was as if Jim Ed and Eric were the only two people in the area. Their conversation was intense, and Eric covered his face as tears streamed down his face. Then Jim Ed said, ”Now go in peace and prepare well for your presentation tomorrow. Some young parents need to hear what you have to say.”

”Thank you,” Eric said, rising to his feet. He turned to me with a contrite look on his face and nodded like an unspoken sign of acceptance. The pasted-on grin was gone and the Eric I was seeing now was someone I could probably spend some time with. He then reached out his hand toward Jim Ed. Jim Ed grasped his hand, holding it tightly for a few long seconds before releasing it. Eric turned and took off down the trail.

Jim Ed resumed his painting as if nothing happened while I sat there amazed at what had just transpired before me. A warm peace filled my heart as Jim Ed continued his story.

14.

A gravel road wound from the bridge down to the Tallahala River's edge and the two of them were sitting in Jim Ed's parked truck. It was a place where the local coloreds came to fish, swim, and picnic. The sun was beginning to set and he and Christina were gazing out over the water. ”Ain't That a Shame” by Fats Domino was playing on the truck's scratchy radio. Christina was swaying, tapping her fingers to the beat on Jim Ed's thigh. He let the song finish then turned the radio off. The only sounds were the whine of the locusts in concert with the churning river water where it flowed over some fallen trees. Jim Ed pulled Christina closer and tenderly kissed her on the lips. The aroma of her perfume and hair combined with the moistness of her lips and the softness of her skin overpowered him. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her essence.

”It sure is beautiful out here,” he whispered in her ear. ”I thought about this place a lot when overseas.”

Christina pushed him away. ”I thought you only thought about me,” she said, her lips forming a silly smile.

”You know I missed you the most.”

”Just making sure. A woman has to know about these things.”

”That reminds me,” said Jim Ed, reaching into the truck's glove compartment for something. ”Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you. And don't you peek.”