And
what
profit
do
we get
if
we pray
to Him?
[Job 21:15]
********************
(Taking rubber-band
off of pretzel bag.)
"This is a hard
question,
Lord."
[GENTLE VOICE.]
"What,
child."
(Angry voice.)
"Ya mean,
You didn't listen
to my FATHER,
when he PRAYED
to YOU?"
[SILENCE.]
(Glare at the ceiling.)
(Stick hand into bag.)
(Stuff two mini-pretzels
into mouth.)
(Mouth full.)
"WELL....?
Do You...
or DON'T..
YOU?"
[PATIENT FROWN.]
(Mouth full.)
"I'm SORRY!
I'm really
TRYING... to be more
REVERENT!"
[PATIENT SIGH.]
(Squint up at the ceiling.)
"NU*?"
[CHUCKLE.]
(Impatient voice.)
"DO...
YOU?"
"Do I
what,
My precious?"
(Whiny yell.)
(Spit a piece of
pretzel, out.)
"LISTEN!
LISTEN!"
[PATIENT VOICE.]
"I hear
everything,
My child."
"Yeah....but,
I've heard CHRISTIANS
SAY that....."
[GENTLE VOICE.]
"What I have
told you,
child?"
(Chomp on another
mini-pretzel.)
(Chomping.)
(Full mouth.)
"About,
WHAT?"
[PATIENT SIGH.]
"HEY!
I've been FLOSSIN'
my TEETH, every
NIGHT!"
[ETERNAL PATIENCE
OF A SMITTEN CREATOR.]
(Chomping.)
(Swig some Orange Crush.)
"Eh.......not to....
skip BREAKFAST...
cuz, I get too CRANKY?"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
(Burp.)
"....Not to drink so
many SUGARY SODAS?"
[GENTLE VOICE.]
"Tell Me."
(Shrug.)
"That,
You HEAR EVERYTHING?"
[GENTLE NOD.]
(Frowning.)
(Glare at the ceiling.)
(Angry shout.)
"Ya know....
my MOTHER
was JEWISH,
TOO!"
[TENDER VOICE.]
"Are you
listening,
child?"
(Shrug.)
(Turn away.)
(Pout.)
[GENTLE SMILE.]
[TENDER WHISPER.]
"What more,
have I told
you,
Mein kin'der?"
(Pout.)
(Look away.)
(Shrug.)
(Toss Orange Crush bottle
into recycling-bin**.)
(Open refrigerator,
to get another Orange Crush.)
"I dunno."
[PATIENT PAUSE.]
[SMALL WHISPER.]
"To
listen
to
Me."
*********************
Hear,
O Lord,
when I cry
aloud,
be gracious
to me
and
answer me!
[Psalms 27:7]
___________________
*Yiddish: "Well? So..
tell me!"
**Being a dinosaur,
I truly fought it;
but, I finally gave in.
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