Chapter one
At 18 years old Steven thought He had his whole life planed out. Like most young men his age he was ready to graduate high school. Life in his small little southern town had been great. He had a great family that loved him. He was a popular kid who knew what his responsibilities were. He was a football player but did not consider himself a jock. He thought of a jock as someone who saw themselves better than others people. That was not Steven. Steven zeal saw everyone as equal. Each being uniquely created by god. He tried to help people when he could. Volunteering himself or picking up a summer job. Steven liked people. No question about that. More than that Steven knew that God liked people.
To really know who Steven was you had to understand his relationship with god. See Steven saw god a an actual person. Someone who was with him at all times. Not just some philosophical and metaphysical term for some sort of false morality. Steven not only believed in god and about god. Steven saw that the God who created heaven and earth was the one who helped him make everyday, seemingly mundane decisions. Jesus was his best bud as a small child. Starting his journey at the age of 6 he started to learn everything he could. About this person named Jesus. First just listening to stories but when he could read he did just that. His bible and anything else he could get his hands on. He was a 12 year old whose daily reading consisted of the old and new testaments and several other religious philosophers and theologians of days gone by.
When he was 9 he had an opportunity to meet a very important evangelist who was coming to town. Stevens father was a pastor and a very important person in the community and those surrounding their little town. This particular Saturday Steven was in his room getting dressed. He had snuck one of his fathers white dress shirts out of his closet. As Steven tried to tie one of his dads ties the shirt almost completely covered his body. It was unevenly buttoned so the right side of the color was hitting him in the eye while the left side of the collar barely his is own collar bone. The tie was wrapped around his neck about three times then hug down almost to his knees. As he was poring half a bottom of his fathers colon in to his hair he heard his mother call for him.
"STEVEN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING DEAR"
"getting ready for Mr. grayham mom"
"the reverend Grayham will not be her till about 3 baby and it is 9 in the morning."
Steven heard his mothers footsteps come from behind him. He spun around and his feet were caught in between themselves and the shirt. As he reached to close the door he tipped over and as the door opened his head landed at his mothers feet.
"what is that smell Steven baby"
"that is some of daddies smelly good stuff. I want to be all nice and special for the reverend momma"
"well, I think that some of your close will be good not your dads"
"well, daddy always looks good when he preaches, and I want to be just like daddy."
"that is great but I think that you would look so much better in a pair of your own khaki pants and if you want to wear a tie we will get one your size."
"really mom" Stevens face was a glow." wow thanks."
With that Steven tried to jump up but when he did he stepped on the tie that was around his neck and fell back down to the floor. His mother helped him take the tie off and suggested he take a bath. With that Steven slipped out of the shirt and his mom realized as he ran by her to the bathroom that he was also wearing a pair of his dads underwear. They barely were on Stevens little rear. About every three feet Steven would run he had to try and pull up his dads underwear. As he turned the corner and stumbled on the underwear one more time he just stepped out of the and continued down the hall with nothing on but the big green on his face. As Steven closed the bathroom door his father opened the front door. He had come from the church where he spends an hour every morning, including Saturday in his office studying. Reverend Paul zeal was not a huge man but he was a nice built man who enjoyed running and playing a little basket ball. As he walked in the door he saw the pair of underwear that Steven had on and bent over to pick it up.
hey honey why are a pair of my under shorts in the hall
Paul I have two words for you. Your son
I dont want to know, I think I can smell him, is that the colon your mother got me for Christmas like two years ago, that I have never used.
yes it is as she came in the hall and greeted him with a kiss then handed him a half empty bottle.
we may have to have dinner at the church if we cant get this smell out of the house.
They both just grinned. Ever since Steven had heard that the reverend Grayham was coming to do a revival he was so excited. Then when he found out that he was coming to the house. Paul thought he might had to get hearing aids Steven screamed so loud.
I am so glad he is excited, when I told bobby how excited Steven was he laughed. He said that we might have a little fireball evangelist on our hands.
or a nude evangelist
they both turned around to see a wet and half soaped Steven standing behind them.
is he here
no son, go back and finish your bath and I will help you get dressed .I am going to let you go down with me and help finish up the tent for the serves tonight. By that time the reverend should be at the church waiting for us to bring him home.
Steven did not say a word but just turned back abound and ran back in too the bathroom slamming the door behind him,.
AS Steven and his dad got out of the old red pickup there stood a large man. He was about 6 foot with short dark hair and light tan skin. As Paul came toward the man, the man spoke with a deep southern voice.
hello Paul, good to see you again.
you to bobby, Bobby I want you to meet my son Steven
well Steven, how are you
Steven was standing behind his dad and when he realized it was the reverend gray ham he ran and took a flying jump. His little tie was flying in the air. By instinct Bobby Grayham caught Steven and received the biggest hug he had ever got. It was like this was one of his won kids.
thank you son, that was a blessing he put Steven on the ground and Steven just looked up at him.
so what are you going to preach about tonight reverend. Are you going to preach about Jesus who is the maker of the world or Jesus the one who is my best friend. Personally I like stories about Jesus my best friend. Then he pulled the reverend down to his size even thought I know that dad says both important I like to know how much Jesus loves me. I think it is special that he died for me and you and dad too. What do you think?the reverend just smiled. He was amazed at the spiritual incite the 9 year old kid had.
