Righteous

By Timothy Jacobs

Follow a group of friends through a tragedy at sea that leaves one thought dead and the others morally conflicted. Saved from the depths of the sea by a vision of Jesus, he is unable to ignore the vision’s commandments even though it goes against his moral code. In the end, will he be righteous?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728308807

Timothy Jacobs

Timothy Jacobs was born into a good Christian home where faith and duty to God served as the foundation for daily life. Encouraged to learn and study other religions from a young age Tim became fascinated with the creation of different religions. Finding similarities in many of the religions around the world but each claiming their own righteousness in the eyes of the Lord left him with many questions. One stood out the most, if any religion is the true religion then what type of God would damn most of the world to suffer under incorrect teachings? Long and careful reflection and study on this subject redefined his understanding of religion and our societies view of it.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

My world has gotten small! The sun had just risen over the ocean on a crystal-clear morning until it reflected off the masts in the small marina. The brightly colored businesses surrounding the boats painted a pastel backdrop for the community of boaters that lived there. So, this is it? This is what you want? Carter spoke to someone, who was not there. The warm rays of the sun hit his face drying the morning dew from his clean-shaven head, warming him during the chilly summer morning.

He sat beneath a lighthouse, on a small hill beside the marina. To the south, he could see the outline of Catalina and to the east, he can see miles of homes built right up to the ocean. But most of his view was open-ocean, that was where he placed future hopes and dreams, but for now, his home and the fight for it lies here in this small marina. He doesn’t belong here, hell, he doesn’t even own a boat, it’s like he had transcended some imaginary plane into another world that keeps trying to spit him back out. The only black man in a community of white boaters and business owners, it has been by pure will and determination that he has remained here this long. But now, he knows they are trying to kick him out, falsely accused of harassing women, sinking a boat and trespassing.

I’m not going down without a fight. He said aloud, feeling his back, shoulders and chest tighten as he reflected on the party where it all began, just four nights ago. The yacht club had thrown a party for the World Series. The club was new, and to attract members, they allowed the local live-aboard community to attend the event and bolster the club’s membership. Most of the attendees of the party had not paid the ten-thousand-dollar enrollment fee, but the clubhouse was packed, and the manager, Dave, was entertaining a half dozen potential new members in the VIP area. Most of the live-aboars were illegal, meaning they snuck aboard without permission from the marina or paying the additional charges required. A not-so-affectionate term for the eclectic group of miscreants was ‘dock rats’.

Captain John organically became their leader; thin and distinguished looking at 6’ 4" he commanded attention when he walked onto the docks. At only 28 he had already gone grey giving him the looks of a man many years his senior, with the experience and confidence to boot. John was aptly aware of this power and employed it regularly to cover up his Peter Pan-like personality. At now thirty-five he had lived aboard various boats as a dock rat for more than a decade. He would frequently be seen on the docks wearing a rainbow mohawk wig, swim shorts and sandals and a fake fur shoulder wrap. He gives off the confidence that he is the most beautiful and fascinating creature to roam the earth. Daily the challenge is to attract as many young girls as he can onto his boat. ‘Captain’ is an honorary title as the leader of the ragtag bunch of dock rats rather than any sort of license.

Captain John Carter yelled across the room in his barreling voice that feels like it penetrates your soul.

Brother Carter John replied across the room, raising his glass, and with this, entry is granted to the club. Carter greeted a couple of others from the docks then went up to a young, thin kid who gave him a glass of wine.

I told you I didn’t want Carter around here. Dave the newly hired club manager, pulled Captain John aside to share his concerns about Carter’s arrival.

Hey dude, take it easy, Carter’s not hurting anyone, anyway, he’s a part of the group, John said with the kindest of smiles. Besides, it’s always more interesting when he’s around. If you want him gone, you go do it.

He’s trouble, John. He’s hit on every chick at the club, wives, girlfriends, all of them. I am getting complaints from the members.

They’re only pissed because he scores. John laughed.

Not funny. Mired Dave.

Just relax, John replied, I’ll ask him to lay off a bit as soon as I can. Have a good time, it’s a party. Turning towards the bar, John held up his glass and tipped it slightly, saying in his most yachtsman-like voice. Adam, my kudos to the sommelier, another glass of the Chablis please.

Of course, Captain, Adam replied mimicking the formal conversation as he held up a sparkling bottle and popped the cork towards the ceiling. Adam was sponsoring the wine tasting for the yacht club, for events like this, he puts out a few bottles from lesser known vineyards and sells cases to the attendees. It helps him earn a little extra money on the side and keeps him well supplied with wine. Adam is a thin kid that barely looked old enough to drink much less be knowledgeable about wine.

Adam owned ‘Lucid Dreams’ a 1974 Catalina 30, she wasn’t perfect but it was his, from his position behind the bar he could see her at the dock and he smiled, happy about his life.

Hey, John, what’s up with Dave? Adam asked Captain John as he poured the frothy liquid from the bottle.

He’s got a hair up his ass about Carter again. John Sighed. You know how it is, Carter’s a bit to handle sometimes, then there’s the fact that he doesn’t even own a boat here.

Yeah no shit, he’s going to get us all kicked out of here if he doesn’t stop drawing attention to us sneak-aboards. Adam said with latent frustration.

Don’t worry about it Adam, us ‘sneak-aboards’ are as much a benefit to this harbor as anything. No one else is keeping an eye on this place, the city won’t fix our security gate and they try to say the business security guard is also ours but in reality they aren’t responsible for the marina or the boats. The other boat owners want us here, I have a few in my pocket that will raise hell if we are told to leave. Still, I get your point. I heard the other night that some girl got two of her guy friends to start pounding on him, Carter said when he reached out and swung to defend himself, the only one he ended up contacting with was the girl. That didn’t end well. Fuck it anyway, don’t worry about it. There’s nothing we can do about it, what will be, will be. I always say. John rambled dismissively.

On the other side of the room, Carter walked up to a 20 something blonde girl that he caught eyeing him. She was sitting, turned away from him at the bar, her head arched around to look at him. The opportunity was too obvious to pass up. Apparently, she had been left alone a little too long by her date.

OOOOOHHH Girl, you are looking right tonight, what’s your name?

Susan, she said as she looked over her shoulder and gave Carter a look that started from his crotch and slowly worked up to his chest.

What are you drinking? Asked Carter with a slight laugh in his deep voice.

I had a chardonnay, but the thin blonde paused as she turned and pressed the flute of her glass into Carter’s chest. Leaning into him, she whispered, I thinking I’ll switch to something, a little darker.

Damn right girl, an I got something for you right here. Carter closed his hand over hers against his chest and moved it down as he gently removed the glass from her hand, and said. But before we get to that, I’m going to have my man, Adam set you up with a nice pinot.

Dave watched Carter from the entrance to the club, wondering if Carter would cost him his job tonight. He paused for a moment and thought about the conversation he had with his wife the night before and how he ended up managing a start-up yacht club.

Dave, what’s troubling you?" - Mary, Dave’s wife, saw him drifting during dinner.

nothing

Bullshit, we have been married for 32 years, raised two kids and put two kids through college, and you still are going to try and give me that crap.

Nothing

fine, you get the dishes then if nothing’s wrong, I’m going to bed, Mary said as she walked out of the kitchen and through the living room of their home, it felt empty to him now with the kids gone. The 3200 square foot two-story home in the gated community near the golf course seems excessive now, but for years it was perfect. Now Mary pays a couple of Mexican women to come and clean up after them, including the dishes but she was making a point.

‘Nothing’ was far from the truth, Dave had retired from 25 years as an executive at Citibank, his retirement looked secure through the booming Real Estate industry and many prominent protected investments. He had hoped to retire early, play golf, do a little sailing and relax. Now at only 58 years old, those great Citibank investments, and especially his heavily weighted investment in C, the stock market symbol for Citibank, had all but wiped out his savings including much of his equity in the home they had once paid off. On the advice of his financial planner, he took all the equity out to put in these new Real Estate backed investment bundles that were doing so well.

The market crashed three years ago, his house is now so far underwater he can’t sell it. There’s little work for a former banking executive, he felt lucky to get the job at Sole Harbor Yach Club. His income was shit, but Mike had convinced him to take a risk giving him options in the company that would pay out if the club was successful, in the meantime, the burden of his prior success drained what little cash he had set aside. Everything rode on the success of the club, and at the moment the most unstable thing in his life was hitting on a lanky blonde.

Dave’s hand fell firmly on Carter’s shoulder. Carter can I have a word with you. He said firmly. Over here.

Sure man. Turning to the young woman. I’ll be back with something sweet and dark in a minute, oh and I’ll grab that pinot too.

Heyyyyyyyy Man, Carter replied to Dave in a calm, reassuring tone. I got you man, I got you, there ain’t going to be no trouble around here.

Dave still sternly, Stay away from that girl over there, she came with one of the members.

Carter placed his, well defined, sleeveless arm on Dave’s shoulder and took off a pair of lightly tinted sunglasses to look deep into Dave’s eyes. In a thick comforting voice he said, That chick is not going home with her boyfriend, if it’s not me it’ll be one of the other guys… But it’s cool, it’s your show, I’ll do my best to keep away from her, let me just say goodbye. He pated Dave on his chest and walked away, as Dave inaudibly tried to get out something, his mouth was left gaping and silent as Carter disappeared into the crowd.

Hey Sweetness, here’s a little something darker for you, I hope you like it, Carter said as he slips a large glass of pinot noir into Susan’s delicately manicured hand. It would appear that the powers that be don’t like you talking to this Brother, but I say Fuck them, so how you wanna play this cause if I’m going to piss them all off, I got to know what you’re down for.

Susan had been keeping an eye on her boyfriend since Carter had first come by, not only had he not seemed to care about her new friend, he had not strayed from his position at the bar talking to another short redhead. She was beyond irritated now, and someone would have to pay. Carter would make an advantageous and amiable pawn in her manipulation.

Like I said… I’m switching to something dark, where can we go? Susan said with some intent in her voice.

Well alright girl, I’m on a boat right down here in the marina but let’s not leave together because I assure you we won’t get out that ddd…….oooooo…rrrr. Carter’s voice pitched high as she grabbed his crotch and pulled him in towards her.

We’re going out of here together. She said, but leaving was now unnecessary; that got her boyfriend’s attention, and Dave’s, who had strategically planted himself near Yoseph. A Norwegian sailor currently relocated to Southern California as a hired gun for ‘Burnt Reality’ a Santa Cruz Open 40 sailboat, that raced the local series races and was preparing for the Transpac. He didn’t really give a shit about Susan; she was just filling the gap while he was here, but he wasn’t going to be disgraced in front of his crew.

Yoseph tapped his buddy and headed over. Dave followed closely behind.

What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Yoseph said to Carter as he pulled the two apart.

Smiling, Carter said. Well hell, I was just ready to take care of this beautiful woman that someone left alone, what’s your problem?

That’s my girl, asshole, Yoseph replied.

Susan, now happy with herself, tried to play the innocent, He came onto me, he grabbed me and pulled me in.

Yoseph didn’t fall for this. Shut up, you stupid American slut, I saw you grab his tackle box. Turning to Carter. I don’t give a shit about this red light district whore, fucking Americans, no respect.

Carter’s blood boiled at the blatant sign of disrespect to Susan. Even though he saw through Susan’s game, he wouldn’t put up with her being treated so poorly. After all, it was this arrogant son of a bitch who was ignoring her while talking to another woman.

Man, we all know what game that chick is playing, but you don’t talk to any woman like that. Carter got right up into his chin, Yoseph towered over him by at least six inches.

Ahh Jyou vant to be zee big man… Yoseph spoke, seemingly with a heavier accent as his buddies stepped up closer behind him.

Damn right. Carter rips off his shirt exposing the three large wounds on his chest from another altercation years ago.

That’s it! Dave had gotten John, and Adam and headed over, they grabbed up Carter and took him outside.

You’re out of here, and I don’t want to see you around, you don’t fucking belong, you’re just a homeless piece of shit! Dave had his finger in Carter’s chest at the bottom of the steps below the Yacht Club.

uhhh, AND I don’t care who your father is. Dave tried to cover up the homeless comment, not wanting to seem like he was allowing that kind of person in the club in the first