"Fornicators!" The bellow came down like a roll of thunder from the pulpit. "Fornicators will not be tolerated, will not ever, ever… ever- be welcome in this kingdom of God we have created!" The reverend wiped his pale, sweating brow; looked to his flock from the high angle of his perch- and with love and pride in his heart searched out the face of Mrs. Janie Ann Landers- the brief smile between them passed a thousand words of promise and hope- and he declared,


"THE TRUTH OF GOD, OF JEEEESUS and the Holy Ghost, lies in your hearts! If our children, your children continue to walk down the path of the sodomite; THEY WILL BE SCORNED!"


***


They shook his hand and said kind words while they passed through the wide oak doors leading out of the church.


"Wonderful sermon." Said Mrs. Bryon, as she held her loving husbands hand.

"Powerful… Reverend, I feel the need to say you, and you alone, are saving the souls of this town from the devils abyss." Mr. James stated with the tears of salvation in his eyes.

The reverend was watchful and pleased; he had seen the change in his people and knew he had let the light of heaven into their hearts. His chest swelled with love and accomplishment; and knew, very soon, that this tiny little flock of children he prayed for each evening was riding the crest of salvation he, and he alone, had created.


She came to him meekly, and small; almost withering in the glow of his powerful light and whispered gently into his ear, "I am sorry for my sins, I am sorry."


He thought for a bit, recalled the passages that had always meant so much to him as a boy and wondered, inside himself, what kind of God let a woman want so much, but gain so little. He did this, and he whispered back into her ear.


"Mrs. Landers… Janie; in the eyes of God you are no sinner; you are pure of heart and body; you're PASSION for God can only be felt through a true soldier in his army… that soldier will always be me."


She looked up into his gleaming eyes then, her head and heart screaming in silence and wanted him more, at that moment, then at any other time before. At that point she knew. She knew without question of remorse she would go to him that night, unlock the door which he had given her the key to and lay with him in the bright light of salvation.

Want to comment on this Flash Fiction? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Flash Fiction and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...