“Bow your heads”. Jan listens as this man who was just cussing her out this time yesterday is now speaking to God with poetic, impressive words. He’s so nice… in church, she thinks. She lifts her head and pans the audience.   Her mind then begins to drift off to the argument that she and her husband had the other night.   They fussed and argued about their son, well at least his son, Kevin. Kevin and his father don’t get along. To Kevin, his father is too strict. “He’s just an old holy roller!!”, Kevin would often say. Since Jan and William got married, it seems as if Kevin began spiraling downward. He began getting in trouble in school, whenever he decided to go to school. Kevin was a junior in High school; tall, clear skin, soft curly hair… a typical pretty boy. He was trying to “find himself”. He didn’t like to stay home because he and his dad would argue. Their arguments often turned into threats that he would be kicked out to make it on his own. Jan often found herself caught in the middle. And if it seemed that she was taking Kevin’s side, William would get enraged and turn his anger on her, raising his voice, cussing, fussing and occasionally slapping her around. He would say things that were very hurtful…things very unbecoming of a deacon in the church. That’s right. William was a deacon. A leader. Looked upon with admiration and respect. If these church folk knew how he was at home… she thought scanning the congregation as her husband prayed. She tries to pray but the thoughts of the chaos in her home clouded her mind.   Thoughts of being in the tug of war between Kevin and William. Thoughts of feeling abused and unappreciated. Thoughts of just walking away from it all. The more she thinks, the angrier she becomes. “Thank You Lord!!!!”, “Hallelujah!!!! Amen!!!”, “You betta’ pray sir!”. These were what the voices said around her, but the voices within her said something totally different. Jan was not in the mood to pray yet alone to hear William pray publically. William is still praying. Jan becomes restless and begins to sway from side to side eagerly waiting for William to end his poetic prayer so that she can sit down.

            During the prayer, on the left side of the auditorium is a man who wears a wedding ring but his wife is never seen. He’s Daron Wilson, an accountant and a financial advisor. A married man but not a very happy man. As William is praying audibly, Daron is praying inwardly. “Lord fix my wife”. Daron can’t quite find the words to say. Tears begin to roll down his face as he thinks about his situation.   He’s tired of showing up to church alone. Besides, so many single ladies who assumed that because he is always alone, that he must be a divorcee or a widower who can’t part with his ring have hit him on. “Lord have mercy”, he utters under his breath. Joanne, Daron’s wife is a drunk and recently has been experimenting with drugs.   Daron is confused and doesn’t know who to turn to. While Deacon William is praying, Daron also reflects back to how things used to be between he and Joanne. How beautiful she was; How well they got along, That was until… William then says…. “In Jesus name Amen!” Everyone is seated. It’s amazing where people go during a prayer.

To Be continued!!!