Fiction

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“Get out of here! You’re a filthy selfish little brat. Get out of the house.” Jessie’s mom was an alcoholic. She would have her normal routines, wake up, smoke a cigarette, attempt to cook dinner while sipping down boxed wine. After a few glasses she was finding every excuse to start a fight.
Jessie was used to it. Sadly. As if being thirteen was hard enough, her mother was tangled in her own issues.
Jessie left the house that night as usual. She would take her normal walk around her streets.
Their had been a church three streets down. Monday was prayer night, Tuesday was some type of men’s night, and Wednesday was church again. Friday was youth night. After a month of her moms alcoholic temper, she had the schedule memorized.
Thursdays were her favorite. Worship practice. She would sit outside the doors just to listen to a piano note, or a drum beat. When she got close enough she could here the gentle voices of a few different people.
Thursdays were her escape. The music always soothed her. It gave her relaxing breaths her hole walk home. Making it easy to walk into her house.
When she did get home, her mom would be passed out on the couch with a cigarette in hand. A typical tobacco commercial. Jessie would always put it out, then turn off the television. Jessie made sure to always put her fathers blanket around her mother every night.
Her father died about five years ago. The same time her mom made friends with the wine.
The next morning she would got ready for school. She avoided any eye contact with her mother. Afraid looking to close my start a fight, she kept her eyes pointing down.
“Make sure to come straight home today. You have chores.”
“Yes I know.”
“Don’t get a tone with me young lady. “
Jessie nodded and headed out the door. She never made any friends, nor did she want to. She was so afraid of letting anyone know about her life. Besides her dad being dead, and her mom being nothing but a drunk, Jessie was to ashamed of her house. It was never clean. Always smelt of liquor or cigarettes.
So Jessie would go to school everyday, alone. She would sit on the bus in silence. She would eat her lunch with no one. She would leave the school yard without any goodbyes. She wanted to be invisible.
“Get cleaning. Look what you do to the place.”
“What I do? Mom! You don’t even leave. You don’t even shower.”
“How dare you speak to me like that.” It wasn’t even dinner and her mother was already drunk.
“How do you want me to speak? With love and appreciation? For what? For a drunk mother who cant even drink water?”
Jessie froze as her mothers hands slapped across her face. Jessie didn’t move. She knew she started it, but she couldn’t hold it in.
“Get out!” Her mother yelled.
Jessie ran upstairs, grabbed whatever clothes she had and headed for the front door.
“You were never good to me. Just leave.”
She tried not to hear her mother yelling out the window. She held her face in one had and wiped her tears with the other.
“Tonight is the night. I’m through going back to pick up her mess.” Jessie said out loud.
It was Friday. All the stores were open late. Jessie however, had no money. The church had youth group. So she couldn’t hear them sing.
She proceeded to take her normal route. As if any other night.
When she reached the church a bunch of parents were dropping off their kids.
Usually when she walks by its quiet and everyone is inside.
She stood behind a tree, staring at everyone who was outside. She saw so many people her age. Some she recognized from school. They all looked happy and excited.
Jessie wanted that. For once she wanted someone to talk to.
She walked by as always hoping to not make any eye contact. She was blocked by a group of kids who were laughing about their shoes.
“Hello. My name is pastor Dan. You must be new?” She looked up to see a larger man standing in front of her with a wide grin.
“Well, I don’t really. I’m just passing through.” She told the tall man.
“Well just passing through, if you would like to join us tonight your more then welcome to.”
She looked up at him. He was so welcoming. He offered a complete stranger into his holy place.
“Thank you.” She said to him. She wasn’t sure if that were a yes or no. She quickly walked down a little more and turned into an alley way. She waited till everyone left inside before going back.
She then crept up to the front and headed through the doors.
She was amazed on how big it was. Tall ceilings. A stage in the front. She saw a piano, guitar, drum set and a microphone. She was hopeful for music, and there was
After the music, she listened to the tall same welcoming man give a message. His message was on love. She got comfortable and figured she would hear him out before leaving.
“Love. Who here thinks love is that fuzzy feeling inside. Come on don’t be shy. Well sorry but your wrong.” Jessie started to smile a little. He had humor. Not what she thought.
“Love is an act. It portrays patience, kindness, and politeness. Love hopes for the hopeless, and wants the best for those who is loved. If you read 1 Corinthians 13:4 you will see more clearly.”
As he began teaching about love Jessie was confused. How could she love her mom? For how she acts? Or what she says. How could she love that? How could anyone?
“I am challenging everyone single one of you to love. Love someone you never thought you could. Love the person you cant stand in math class. Or Love a complete stranger on the street. Pray for them. Pray love for them. I'm not asking you to marry you classmates I’m asking you to love them as god has loved you. Because without love, you are nothing.”
She was stunned. She didn’t know how this man knew her biggest problem. She was shaking in her seat.
“I have one more thing to ask all of you. Come stand with me. If you feel like there is absolutely no way you could love someone you thought you couldn’t, come up here. I believe you can. Don’t be afraid. Just come up and we will pray for you.”
Jessie was weak. She didn’t know how to explain the sudden erg to stand. She felt like a puppet that was being controlled. She stood and walked to the center isle. She froze looking down the long runner. As afraid and confused as she was, she walked. When she reached the front, she had been full of tears. She dropped to her knees and cried.
“Dear. You don’t have to explain anything. Just let us pray for whatever it is that is holding you back.”
As she was broken on her knees, she felt as if everything were coming together. She raised her arms as if attached by strings and held her hands in the air.
She felt loved. Not only did she feel loved, she had love. She loved the tall man for his message. She loved the two girls next to her, for praying for her. She loved the man on stage playing the piano. She wanted to know so much more about the man that was love.
After service was over Jessie headed back home. She was so happy about what had happened It was hard for her not to go back.
When she gave a smile as she stood in her doorway. She said a little prayer before walking in. She knew this night would be better.
Although her mom wasn’t in her usual spot. Instead she was upstairs in Jessie’s room.
Jessie heard her crying from the hall way.
“Mom!” her mom looked at her with water filled eyes and gave a glimpse of relief. “Mom I love you. I’m so sorry and I love you.” Jessie threw her arms around her mom. She rested her cheek on her shoulder.
“Oh baby I’m sorry to. I love you more then anything in the world. I am so sorry for letting myself go. I want the best for you. I want to change. I will do anything. I love you. Please forgive me?” Her mom let go of her hug and looked her daughter in the eye.
“How can I make it up to you?” She asked Jessie.
“Come to church with me Sunday. See what I saw tonight, Feel what I feel now mom. I forgive you.”
Her mother nodded and hugged Jessie.
"Yes i promise." Her mother responded.
That night changed everything between them. Her mom woke up the next day getting rid of any liqueur she had in the house. As promised, Jessie and her mother returned to church and have never stopped going since.

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