Then
the Jews
surrounded Him
and said
to Him,
'How long do
You keep us
in doubt?
If you are
the Christ,
tell us
plainly!'
[John 10:24]
*********************
"LORD?"
[NOD.]
(Suspicious squint.)
(Shout.)
"Is this,
JESUS?
Or....
the REAL GOD?"
[SMILE!]
"Why do
you wish
to know,
My child?"
(Frown!)
(Shake rumpled head.)
"I just like to know...
Ya know,
Who I'm TALKIN' to,
is all."
[CHUCKLE.]
"Ah!
I see."
"Yeah."
(Nod.)
"I'm glad
You understand,
Jesus."
(Look up at the ceiling.)
"I'm not trying
to be..
SASSY,
or anything."
[NOD.]
"I would never
do to that,
to You."
[WISE NOD.]
"I love to do
it,
with the BIG God,
though."
[BURST OUT LAUGHING!]
"It's actually
kind of....
..fun."
[LAUGHING!]
"Yes,
I know,
My precious."
"Yeah.
Ya know;
Him being Jewish,
and all.....
I enjoy sayin'
really sassy
stuff,
to Him."
[NODDING.]
[WIPING AWAY
TEARS OF
LAUGHTER.]
"He hears
everything,
My child."
"Oy gah veld."
[CHUCKLE!]
"So....HOW
does this WORK?"
"What,
My beloved?"
"This.....this,
Ya know:
this..LAYERED THING?"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
(Look up, hopefully.)
"You can me,
JESUS!
I won't tell ANYBODY!
I SWEAR!"
[PATIENT VOICE.]
"Don't swear,
child."
(Impatient shake of the head.)
"No! No!
That's just a SAYING, JESUS!
It's like......"
(Impatient sigh.)
"Like,
an English,
EXPRESSION!"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
(Thoughtful silence.)
"Ya know;
maybe....
they should have
some ESL*
classes...
up, in HEAVEN."
[CHUCKLING.]
"I've tried to talk
to the Real God,
about that,
too."
(Shake head, frowning.)
"I don't think
He understands
HALF.. of what
I'm SAYIN',
half the TIME!"
[PATIENT GAZE,
ON CRANKY CHILD
SIPPING A BOTTLE
OF WALMART ROOT BEER.]
"BUT,
WHAT ABOUT AMERICAN?
HE NEEDS TO STUDY
AMERICAN,
MORE!"
[PATIENTLY LISTENING.]
[NODDING.]
"Why don't YOU
tell HIM,
JESUS?
I don't want to
get into any more
TROUBLE,
with 'im!"
"What sort
of trouble,
My beloved?"
"PLEASE!
HE could gimme,
all SORTS of
TSORIS**!
I mean....
TROUBLE!
DOUBLE TROUBLE!"
[CHUCKLING.]
"Ya know.....
sort'a like,
YOU GUYS!"
[BURST OUT LAUGHING!]
"I understand,
My precious.
I understand."
**********************
My sheep
hear
My Voice,
and
I know them,
and
they
follow Me.
[John 10:27]
________________________
*English as a Second Language
**Yiddish.
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