Short Stories

Turk did not have an answer. Admitting he felt a hint of hesitation in front of all those nice folks could cost him his life. What did Leo know about being nice? Turk stiffened and rebuttled, “I’d a gotten beaten to a pulp if I made a wrong move. just tell Cheryl she ain’t going back to that job anymore, not if she cares about what’s good for her. Ya just don’t go around deciding for everybody what they should do. One more slip and Jared is done.” “No you idiot, he’s done NOW,” Leo screamed with a heightened level of seniority in his voice.

Carli spoke few words to Jared before heading back to her car and calling it quits for the evening. Maybe some things are better left unspoken, she thought. Jared had things going on in his life that he was dealing with and he didn’t owe her an immediate explanation. Maybe he would open up to her if they had another chance to meet somewhere.

Pursuing that thought, she decided to leave a note on Jared’s desk the following Monday, offering her understanding of what a difficult moment it must have been for him to stand face to face with a threat that not only could have harmed himself, but the rest of the crowd. That, in her mind, warranted some recognition. Yes, Jared needed her support.

I’m sorry Leo,” Cheryl whispered for fear of igniting a rage in her husband. “I was just wanting some company. Them people are always so kind to me, and out of respect, I wanted to show my appreciation. I promise it won’t never happen again.” Leo gauged whether he should believe Cheryl or not. She deserved punishment, but an invisible hand kept him from striking her face.

Last year when they’d met, she appeared to be the kind of gal who loved living on the wild side, and was willing to jump into the trenches for her man - to come along side Leo and his hit-man business, whatever exactly that meant. I can be a good woman to a man like him, she thought, knowing so little of what she’d said yes to.

Turk’s initiation as a front man into the gang was never enough to pacify Leo’s craving for more money, more drugs, and more power. Turk needed to turn things over quicker if he was ever going to stay on Leo’s good side.

Recently, Turk mulled over the rare occasions he’d had brief conversations with Cheryl. What is all this God stuff she keeps rambling on about? The whole ride home and on and on she went. Damn if I’m gonna stoop so low and believe one word of it, Turk pacified himself.

He wasn’t raised to be mean spirited or abusive, Leo taught him how to do that. What was it inside Turk that craved approval at this level? Have I lost my mind? he’d often contemplate. But before he could entertain the idea for another second, he remembered the day he took a vow to become a man of honor under Leo’s authority, and no man ever goes back on his word.

A sudden unexpected memory of his mother came flooding into his mind.  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction. Hard as he tried, he could not rid his mind of that foolish talk.

Carli finished her note, satisfied with the words she’d chosen to help draw out of Jared what brewed below the surface of his soul that plagued his past memories. He seems fine at the office, never giving any hint of conflicts or distractions. But he is entitled to his privacy, Carli reminded herself. I’m on a mission now to protect Jared, even with what little I know. Carli closed her eyes and prayed that Jared would find a way to make peace with these people and himself and let the past remain in the past.

By four o’clock in the morning Jared had not slept a wink. These bruisers got a little too close for comfort tonight, he thought while clenching his fists before he came to the realization that when I gave my life to the Lord, I died to self that Christ might live in me. Surely God has plan for Turk and Leo. God give me wisdom to move forward. Let them know you and your forgiveness.

At eight thirty-three Monday morning, Jared stood over the wall of Carli’s cubicle and said, “Thanks, I needed that. Your prayers mean a lot. All I want them to know is what I know - God is good.” And with that, he turned and walked away. Carli understood that taking company time in front of the other employees was not the best choice for a conversation about what took place at the beach. She’d follow up with Jared after hours and ask if he’d be open to sharing more about his faith. Maybe building some trust and security in their friendship could help open the door for him to express himself more freely.

Much to Carli’s surprise, Jared beat her to the punch and invited her to his Bible study that night. I’ll let him take the lead, she decided, and maybe the conversation will lend itself to more discussion about how he came to know the Lord.

After the Bible study, Jared divulged to Carli how overcome he was with an urgency in his spirit to be more bold. Witnessing to Cheryl at the office and knowing she had become a child of God was all good, and he had rejoiced with her, but there were so many more souls out there needing to hear the good news of salvation. He dreaded the thought of where his “preaching” to Cheryl had ended up. He was now on Turk’s and Leo’s hate list. He knew what betrayal meant. Remorse flooded his soul and he gasped at the life he lived prior to meeting Jesus.

He could blame his dad - that would be easy. Absent dads are always targeted to get the bad end of the stick, and the truth is, they usually deserved it. Jared had a relentless ache for his dad’s approval growing up that consumed his unmet expectations of a happy home life and a rock solid relationship with his father. The gang provided all the attention he needed, or so he thought. Jared felt valued perhaps for the first time, and craved recognition for a “job” well done. All was moving right along according to plan until one day, he ended up in the hospital with a concussion that almost killed him. It was the nurse who helped bring him back to life, more spiritually than physically.

Over the following month laying helpless in his hospital bed, Jenna became a type of savior to Jared, explaining the emptiness that can consume a person when they are separated from their heavenly Father. Jared had no choice but to listen. Her kind and caring words showed him a side to life he never knew existed. So love is real, he concluded. Elusive but real.

Before receiving his discharge papers, Jared had become a new creation in Christ, the old had passed away. Thank God, he rejoiced, the weight of that sin was gone, and he was now free to live out the calling God had on his life. Jenna was quick to point out that God had a job for him and promised to carry it out to completion, and Jared must never waver from it. Staying in close fellowship with other believers would be his lifeline and to never forget that.

Life had been good since then, and Jared wanted to believe his former life had truly passed away. Maybe it was God keeping the gang members away from him. Sure seemed like it. Often tensing up at the possibility of repercussions, he fasted and prayed for God to pave the way for a healthier lifestyle that would bring honor and glory to Him.

Leo set up a meeting with Turk to remind him for the last time that Jared was done for. Get rid of him if you want to see tomorrow’s daylight. Turk knew what he signed up for years ago when he got hired, but this was getting old. What kind of life offers nothing more than one dead end after the next? Turk made a decision right then and there that if Leo wanted Jared gone, he was going to have to take him out himself. All he’d been hearing about is how Cheryl ruined their marriage and that she wasn’t coming around to support him in front of the other gang members like she used to. That wasn’t cool. Something needed to be done quickly.

Turk left town – for good.

Failing to get through to Turk, lazy bum, Leo muttered, he took a hit of cocaine, got in his truck and drove to Jared’s office. That dude deserves everything he’s got coming. You don’t mess with the ring leader.

Barging in the front wooden doors separating the Weiskopf Advertising Agency from the hallway, Leo spotted Jared and placed the barrel of his gun on his forehead. The other employees hid below their desks, fearful that if they screamed or yelled for help, Leo might do something reckless and cause more damage than was originally intended.

Leo raged at the top of his lungs how utterly rude and disrespectful Jared acted when brainwashing his wife to believe in some deceiving God who wasn’t real. How dare he sneak around and bribe his wife into reading the Bible. And the scare tactics of going to hell? Get out of my face with that f—ing bull. Leo seethed with anger and sweat dripped form his forehead.  

Jared then placed his hand on Leo’s shoulder and without batting an eye, probed deep into his eyes and said, “My friend, your heavenly Father loves you. Always has and always will. There will never be anything you can do to change His mind. He can’t love more than He already loves you right now. There isn’t anything you can do to earn His love for you, He loves you right where you are. He thinks the world of you. If you were the only person alive, he would have died on the cross just for you. He’s been standing at the door of your heart, waiting to be invited in. He won’t hurt you, embarrass you, belittle you, or shame you. What He will do is accept you, approve of you, rejoice over you, and call you His own. Lay the weapons down friend.”

Leo fell to his knees weeping. The tears streamed down his face as he convulsed in sorrow at the wicked person he’d become. How did he end up on a road that lead to utter destruction? A life so full of hate and revenge. How much longer would he have had to live like this?

Leo picked himself up and wiped the tears from his face. He never believed love was real or genuine. Love was for the weak. But not today. Love was for him, the sinner, the lost, the broken man he’d become. Catching his breath in between sobs, Leo uttered, “Thanks man. And sorry for the pain I’ve caused.” Jared reached around his shoulders and witnessed an enemy of the cross laying his guilt down. Truly a miracle.

Sadly, Cheryl had not been permitted to return to her job, so she was not able to witness this miracle. Leo wondered what she would say, and if by her reaction, would she believe he experienced a true conversion. It didn’t take long to find out. Leo arrived home still sobbing. He got down on his knees for the second time that day, in complete surrender, asked for Cheryl’s forgiveness. Truly another miracle.

“Leo, I always loved ya, Just didn’t always love what ya did, that’s all. I know you’s got a good heart, I see it coming through right now!”

Carli met Jared down by beach before the sun went down, back to same location where they’d first anticipated an enjoyable evening together. Except this time, Jared took hold of her hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed them. His eyes welled up, and for a moment he had to close them and catch his breath. “There are no words,” he tried to communicate, “when God reaches down and takes hold of one person’s life. He cares that much. Today will go down as a testimony of how God took a bullet and converted it into a blessing.”

Based on a true story