Jane was over half an hour late for church. She was so late that everyone had already taken their seats and the first couple of worship songs that kicked off the service had already been sung. She walked in quietly through the back door and took a seat in the very last row on the left hand side. It was a packed house.

She noticed Mike Dell sitting a couple of seats across from her. She never understood why he came to church. Jane felt like she had no choice, even though she was eighteen the weight of family expectation was too heavy, she had to come. No one was forcing Mike Dell.

Mike had been in a few of her classes in school. She knew none of his family came to church, his mother was known for being a crazy drunk. He’d been arrested at fifteen for writing political graffiti along Main St. Most of the time he looked like he was stoned, hungover or possibly both. She didn’t think he was a believer. He often laughed at stuff said during the preaching, there was even a faintly audible bullshit one time.