a reading from King James Bible .
. the priest sermonisingdeploying
hed suggest Genesis 28:11
And he lighted upon a certain place,
and tarried there all night, because the sun was set . . .
very humouredgently he nudged
his mothers elbowmurmured Jacobs dream Isnt it the premise for the hymn Nearer my
god to thee Sarah Flower Adams
he
didnt believe but he loved the Bible stories his mother read to him as a small boy
before he could read what he wanted
he returned from Nam the day
earlierhis mother overjoyed
Please please come to church with me tomorrow, I prayed every day every
day for you.
he kissed her widows peak
Yes loveyes gently he reminded her You remember I do not
believe he had been away two tours
she hugged him harder but didnt say
anything
they stood in the warm scented kitchen
hugging
Sssh, yes. she whispered in answer
laughter
bubbled inside him
Youll please excuse me for a moment Maw he withheld augenblick leaving alone confused her he stood he excused himself as he went along the
pew before parishioners to the side aisle
he followed it out into the
narthex then outside
outside his laughter possessing himhe roared he placed his hands on the church to hold himself up
he chortled Nearer my god to thee it almost came out his nose
Nearer my god to me
on his last R & R he went to
Japan
other GIs preferred Korea
they were looking to get laid American dollars went a long way
he was looking for
companionship if something came in the
offing so be it
three days in there was an offing
Yui
older than he shapelier than most Japanese women
seductively she shimmiedshed her
bra though kept her V-neck blouse on
I make me comfortable.
Excuse me while
I slip into something more comfortable
Hai. Yes. her eyes bright
he tried Excuse me while I slip into someone more
comfortable
Huh? confusion lathered her face
Im sorry Im teasing
he fixed his look his
eyesrelished her breasts furtive shadows
behind white cotton he inhaled exhaled
chuckled to himself Nearer my god to me
0654, Sunday,
20 11. 22
1148, Sunday