“The Fall”: Chapter One
Week. 1
Another Sunday
In the church, the choir sings.
Some were sitting, some were standing.
The children playing on purple pews,
Drawing and writing.
When the kids looked like they weren't paying attention, you would see them singing along.
Michael was having a good time talking to his friends.
Their parents were everywhere in the church, like on the pulpit with the deacons or teachers of Sunday school.
Michael's mother, they sat next to.
All the kids were in their own world, as the adults listened to the pastor preach about God.
The only unwritten rule was don't be loud, notes were being passed, games being played.
Michael and his friends on their knees, playing in the seats.
If they started getting a little rowdy, Michael's mother would give them a stern look, to settle down.
At times Michael turned around to see his father, sitting on the pulpit, paying attention to the pastor.
His father was a minister, sometimes he would preach. Those would be the times Michael really paid attention in church, taking in all of his dad's words.
A couple of aisles up Michael saw such a pretty girl.
Her caramel complexion and little curls.
She was sitting with her sisters next to their mother.
All of them were wearing their Sunday's best, each sister wore a dress.
She stared at Micheal, then smiled at him.
Michael felt a strange feeling in his stomach.
He was only ten years old.
His two friends were playing tic-tac-toe to pass the time.
Brandon whispered, “Hey Michael, ask your mom if we can come over.”
David heard Brandon and nodded in approval. Michael didn't say anything, giving his attention to the girl sitting with her sisters.
Michael asked David for a piece of paper, he handed his friend a sheet while he was focused on the game with Brandon.
The church service was almost over, he knew because the pastor was now asking people to come up for prayer.
Michael understood he was running out of time.
On the sheet of paper, he wrote do you like me? With a box that said yes and another which had no.
Michael folded the paper so neatly.
He heard the pastor praying for one of the members.
There was a line of people waiting to get prayed for.
His father was praying for members with the other deacons and ministers.
The choir was singing softly in the background. For a second Michael imagined himself in a long robe praying for people. Maybe he would be a pastor of a church one day.
By the time he snapped to reality, Michael realized everyone was getting ready.
There was a woman making the last minute announcements.
He grabbed the important piece of paper.
Tapping his mother, she asked what he wanted as she was holding his little brother Isaac.
Michael asked if Brandon and David could come over after church.
She looked at Micheal and answered, “We got to come back for the late service, their parents are coming back too. If it's okay with their parents they can come with us to eat.” One of the ladies started talking to his mother. Michael told his friends to ask their parents if they can come eat. He told them they were all coming back for the late service. Brandon was like cool, David said okay but you could tell he was so nervous. They both left looking for their parents in the crowd of people. Michael was about to walk away when he heard his mother say, “Don't go too far. When we're ready to leave I want to find you.”
Michael said, “Yes ma'am.” Before leaving his seat.
He had to find the girl before her family left.
Walking around the people, saying hi to his parents' friends.
As he made his way to the back of the church, Michael saw the pretty girl standing by her older sister.
Holding the paper, he got so nervous.
Thinking to himself, what if she doesn't want to take the paper or even worse what if she says no. It looked like her mother was almost done with her conversation. Michael walked up to the girl and said hello.
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