Teensville
“Janey, would you like to go to the sock hop with me on Saturday? It should be swell,” I ask the girl who goose-pimples my arms.
“No, Tim, I can’t, but thanks for asking. Say, I’m going to church on Saturday. There’s a special speaker, a missionary who spent three years in the Congo. You’re more than welcome to come.”
Oh Jesus, not church, the one place I can’t stand, even for her. It’s not that I don’t believe. Heck, you gotta believe. Who doesn’t? Well, that goofy Larry Kendricks doesn’t, but he’s nowhere, always has his head in a book. It’s always the same thing: pray sing listen pray sing listen.
“Really? The Congo? Wow, that sounds neat. Would you like me to pick you up? I can get the car if I ask my dad right away.”
“No, we only live three blocks from the church. You know which one, right? Evandale Methodist. I can walk.”
Maybe she doesn’t really like me. She’d get in the car if she really liked me. I bet she’d get in Jerry Grady’s car. Most girls would, but Janey is so nice, yeah; she probably never gets in cars unless her dad’s driving. Maybe Janey won’t get in my car because I’m a Gloomy Gus. I’ll smile more. Remember that: smile.
On Saturday night, Janey and I sit with her family. Mr. Parker shakes my hand and calls me “my-boy.” I say, “yessir.”
Jesus, am I sweating? I hope the missionary tells me something I can use for conversation after. Maybe Janey will be allowed to join me at Pie Heaven. I have enough for two slices of blueberry.
No such luck – just a bunch of junk about Jesus and natives and being in tight spots but faith finds a way out.
Afterwards, Janey says it was a blessing to be in the presence of such a great man. Didn’t I think so?
“Yeah, a blessing, a real blessing,” I say, eyes on my penny loafers.
I leave the church after shaking hands. The sky is all weird, pink as the inside of a cat’s mouth. I wish I were a hymnal, and Janey’d turn my every page, sing me to the whole congregation. But I’m not.
– Kenneth Pobo won the 2009 poetry chapbook contest from Main Street Rag Press for his manuscript Trina and the Sky, which was published in December. In 2008, WordTech Press published his book Glass Garden. His fiction appears in: Galleon, Verbsap, Word Riot, Tonopah Review, and elsewhere.
