“I thank yall for showin up on time this mornin for Sunday services.” Reverend Marcus spoke, his eyes burning holes in me as I sat down up front.

“Today, we gonna talk about sinners, yall. Lowdown, dirty, heathen sinners that want nothin more than to live like dawgs. Feral dawgs, pervertin God’s plan. God’s purpose. Pervertin tha Earth isself.”

Mary Thornworth turned her fat, disgusting jowls in my direction, squinting her dull cow eyes with each repetition of the word “pervert” by the good Reverend.

“Sinners, yall, are here in our very town. In this very House of God!”

The holier members of the congregation turned blatantly in my direction.

“These sinners,” the Reverend continued, “are out like beasts of tha night….. drinking whiskey! Partaking in drug use! Fornicating! Thieving!”

Every word grew in emphasis and volume. Every accusation turned another scowl in my direction. I’d had enough. I stood up to leave.

“Do NOT turn your back on tha Lord, son. Let God’s light shine on your sins.”