The Unworthy Servant

By Bob Williston

Aaron Finkelstein turned to his friend's cultic religious group for fellowship and a spiritual experience. That he found, but his pursuit of a personal relationship with God became a trek through a maze of legalism and confusion of doctrine. Extortion and money laundering were part and parcel of doing business with a homeless and penni

• Language: English
• Publisher: Go To Publish
• Release date: Dec 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781647499617

Book preview

Dedication

The Unworthy Servant is dedicated to Dale and Gene, whose insights and real life experiences I found invaluable to the understanding of such ministries as this novel addresses.

Thanks

Special thanks to Cherie and Chester who read, proofread, and edited me through this project. Their contributions and encouragement were much appreciated. This is not to forget the many others who followed my progress with interest and enco uragement.

Preface

Throughout California there is a network of small congregations of an obscure Christian sect commonly called the Way. Among those who know members personally, they have a reputation for strict morality and modest living. Way members are not distinguishable from the rest of society by any peculiarity of habit or dress, but two points of doctrine separate them from mainstream Christian churches. One is their weekly worship services, which are held on Thursday evenings in the homes of their local bishops. The other is their ritual of foot washing, which is performed during their Thursday evening worship services.

The Way was organized somewhere in the Midwest in the 1880’s by a man named John Campbell. Campbell had become disenchanted with the mainline church he had been attending, so he began having his own Bible studies with a few of his friends. Before long attendance had grown to 15, and Campbell was encouraged to go out recruiting others for their group. By 1900 he had become a traveling preacher. Others who wanted to go preaching also would do so under Campbell’s tutelage. As the preachers became trained, they spread out and an organization emerged to manage the affairs of the budding ministry.

However, this not so distant past is never mentioned among the members. In 1905 it was discovered that Campbell had been having a five year affair with the wife of one of his converts, so the senior members of the group ousted him from his position and expelled him from the organization. To distance themselves from the shameful reputation of their founder, the new leadership decided never to mention his name again. But the sect continued to grow. Today small congregations have been established throughout all of the United States, as well as in many other countries of the world.

Chapter 1

Aaron Finkelstein had an epiphany. It was like being shaken wide awake, about two o’clock in the morning; and he couldn’t go back to sleep. All he could think about was his friend Nico, and the things he’d told him in high school about his spiritual life. He had to sit up and clear his head – and see how much he could remember.

I’m not religious, Nico had told him. I don’t belong to a church. I just have a spiritual life. At the time Aaron thought Nico was a bit strange. None of his other friends ever talked like that.

Why do I have to think about this at this hour of the night? Aaron wondered. And there was almost an audible voice responding, You need to do something about this.

Aaron had asked Nico, Are you a Christian?

I think so.

But you’re not sure?

Well, if you mean do I believe in Jesus, yes. Maybe that makes me a Christian.

Obviously he doesn’t care what he’s called, Aaron remembered thinking. Most people either want a convenient label, or to be considered disassociated.

But Aaron wasn’t so ordinary himself, religiously speaking. His father was a Jew, but insisted he was a Gnostic. Aaron was never really sure what that meant, except that he rarely went to synagogue and he always made sense when he talked about religion. His stepfather was a Muslim – or rather an Arab who alternately defined himself as a Gnostic or a Sufi. And his mother, on her best of days, was a dry cleaning clerk in South Central Los Angeles – chocking up a long list of live-in lovers.

Are there more people like you around? Aaron had asked Nico.

Yeah. I know quite a few

Do you have services, or seances, or dikkas, or something?

Yeah. Well, just meetings in people’s houses.

Another time Nico had told him, There’s no organization, no church building, or anything. It’s nothing more that people who believe like we do.

That’s cool. That was VERY cool!

Aaron got out of bed and paced, and looked out the window to see if something out there had awoken him. But the street was empty.

All I’m concerned about is knowing spiritual truth, Nico had told him. No one inherits that from his parents. He has to search for it himself.

Aaron and Nico had met in high school. Aaron lived in Manhattan Beach, and Nico lived nearby in Hermosa Beach. Aaron was a slim, blond, messy-haired beach bum looking kind of teenager, and Nico was more muscular with black buzzed hair, and wore scholarly looking wire-rimmed glasses. They didn’t look like a couple of guys who had much in common.

Neither of them was unsociable – they were just both quiet and perhaps a bit shy. But they both loved to surf. Whenever they could they’d gone surfing together, and when they couldn’t surf they’d lay on the beach and have intellectual conversations and study the airplanes arriving and leaving at LAX.

One time, during a political discussion. Nico elaborated on how the truth will make you free. They’d discussed the difference between liberty and freedom.

Liberties are dispensations granted by authorities, Nico had explained. Freedom, on the other hand, is inherent in an individual, and he only has it if he grasps it and takes advantage of it. Otherwise, he is never really free.

But freedom isn’t free, Aaron had echoed the familiar cliché.

"Yes, freedom is free – in the sense that you cannot give money for it. Oh yes, you might have to fight for it, but if you pay for it, it’s really only a liberty granted. Fighting for your freedom is like fighting to regain stolen property."

So how does this apply to corrupt politicians? If they tell the truth they aren’t going to get locked up?

"The quote is not that telling the truth will set you free – the quote is that knowing the truth will set you free, Nico specified. If we know the truth about corruption, we can be free from being ensnared by its deceptions. That goes for everything – politics, religion, everything. As long as we exercise our choice to be free."

Where did you learn this?

I don’t know. I think I just know that.

He has to be a Gnostic, Aaron decided. I just know was the phrase his father always used.

After a half hour Aaron got back into bed. While he was falling asleep he concluded that if he changed some of the terminology Nico used, it sounded exactly like things his father would say. And, I’m glad Trixie went home tonight, he thought. She’d make me stop thinking about this.

Fortunately he had a test to give to his students the following day, so while they took the test, Aaron sat and meditated about what had awakened him the night before. He hadn’t seen Nico since they’d graduated from the State University in Long Beach. Nico had gone on to Boston University. But I really need to call him, Aaron vowed.

Aaron! How are you?

Great.

Where are you?

Manhattan Beach.

I was hoping you were in Boston.

Not this time, Aaron said. I just need to talk to you. I called your Mom for your phone number and talked to her for an hour. Did I wake you up? It’s after midnight there.

But I’m still up. What’s up with you?

I got a job teaching at our old high school – history. A teacher quit and the principal got me to finish the year there.

Great. You can work your way into the district that way.

But this strange thing happened to me last night. Aaron launched into the main reason for the call. I woke in the middle of the night and all I could think about was your, you know, spirituality.

Nico didn’t reply.

Are you still into the same spirituality you were in high school?

Yes.

I need something – something spiritual. What is it you believe? Does it have a name?

Not really, Nico said. We just call it the Way

So is it a religion, or what?

I suppose you could call it a religion. We get together for meetings. It’s really just a way of life. I’m surprised I did anything in high school to make you remember my religion.

In high school I wasn’t terribly concerned about spirituality. Right now I want to know more about it. You know, it sounds very much like my father’s spirituality.

Oh. Nico paused. I thought your Dad was Jewish.

He is, but he calls himself a Gnostic. Do you know what that is?

I’ve heard of that, but I really don’t know what it is.

They talked for another hour. They talked about Aaron’s job, and Nico’s studies. Nico was surprised to learn that Aaron was dating Trixie, that eccentric girl they knew in high school.

Before they hung up, Nico promised, I’ll find someone to get in contact with you. We have some preachers who can do a lot better job of explaining this Way than I can. I’ll give one your phone number and he’ll get in contact with you.

Thanks. And I want to see you the next time you’re home.

We’ll go surfing.

It’s a deal!

Two days later Aaron got a phone call from and man named Chester Rose.

My name is Chester Rose. I’ve been told you’re interested in knowing more about the Way.

Yes, I am.

Are you married?

No.

Have you ever been married?

No.

Chester paused, then explained. We ask everyone that question.

Okay.

Do you have any questions? Chester asked.

Not right off the top of my head, Aaron said.

Well, we’re having some gospel services in Tarzana, just off the freeway, on Sunday evenings, if you’re interested in attending.

Aaron got the directions and the time and said he’d be there. Then he called Nico.

I was talking to someone called Chester, Aaron said. He asked me to go to a service on Sunday evening.

Good. I think he’s a pretty good guy. He’s been in South America for a long time.

Why did he ask me if I was married? Aaron wondered.

Married?

Yeah. He asked me if I’d ever been married.

Nico laughed. What did you say?

"I said no. Why? Was that a trick question or something?"

I have no idea. Maybe he just wanted to know if you’d be bringing a wife with you.

But I forgot to ask him – will I have to take some money with me to this service?

No. It’s good you asked. You never take money, Nico assured him. We don’t have collection. The preachers are supposed to be penniless and homeless.

And homeless too? Aaron asked.

Yeah, Nico explained. They believe in going by faith. It seems to work, I guess.

Interesting.

Trixie knocked on the door and walked in.

Are you taking Trixie with you?

Would that be all right?

Sure.

I don’t know if she’ll go, Aaron said. She doesn’t agree with me on a lot of things like this.

She might surprise you.

Well, I’ll see.

Let me know how the service in Tarzana goes.

I will, Aaron said, and hung up.

Who was that? Trixie asked.

Nico Garza. Remember him?

Where did that nerd go to, anyway?

He’s in Boston, doing post graduate work at Boston University.

Good for him. What’s going on?

I’m going to a religious service on Sunday evening.

Where?

Tarzana – in the Valley.

Why so far away?

It’s the first place I found that I want to try.

Well, count me out, Trixie said.

Don’t you want to go with me?

No way. If you’re going to get religious can’t you find something down the street?

Maybe I’m going to be fussy about how I get religious, Aaron said.

Maybe I’m going to get fussy about hanging out with a religious freak.

Aaron was surprised. You’re serious with that comment, aren’t you?

Damn right, She said.

I guess that’s the end of that discussion! Aaron determined.

Chapter 2

Aaron went to the gospel service anyway, despite Trixie’s obvious di sapproval.

What kind of religion has services in someone garage? she asked.

I don’t know, Aaron said. I do know they don’t believe in building churches.

Are you sure it’s a sane group of people?

Nico’s one of them.

I always thought he was weird anyway.

I don’t think so, Aaron defended him. He’s an intellectual guy.

And they wanted to know if you’d ever been married.

Yeah.

Did they ask if you’re a virgin? she laughed.

No.

Did they ask you if you’re gay?

No. Why do you ask?

You know why.

Then I resent you’re asking.

Okay. They’ll ask you that at the door, she laughed. Tell them you’re a virgin and they can sacrifice you to their mother god.

Why do I tolerate her?

The service was indeed in someone’s garage, in the back yard. The owner of the house obviously had the garage for heavy equipment. There were four large earth moving vehicles conspicuously parked behind the fence in a vacant parking lot next door. Well-dressed people were arriving and very quietly disappearing into a door on the side of the garage.

A short, stout, balding man greeted Aaron at the door. Are you Aaron?

Yes.

I’m Chester, the man said. And this is my companion, Norman.

A younger man, in his thirties, stood and shook Aaron’s hand. We’re pleased to have you here, he said, and smiled wildly.

Thank you.

You can have a seat anywhere you choose, Chester instructed.

Thank you.

So Aaron took a seat on the far side of the garage where he felt he could watch everything that happened. He estimated there were about 150 chairs set up in rows, and over the next fifteen minutes the place filled up. A few people looked at Aaron and smiled, and a couple said hello. For the most part they seemed intent on being seated and quiet.

Aaron watched Chester and Norman greeting people at the door. Companion, he thought. Maybe they’re gay. I’ll surely not tell Trixie that. This is definitely no normal church.

But during the service nothing really strange happened. They sang He’s the One, to the accompaniment of a beat up old piano in the corner of the garage, and everyone sang. Aaron looked around while they sang, and checked out the rafters overhead. Am I ever glad I didn’t being Trixie here!

Then Chester prayed. Aaron didn’t pay much attention – it sounded like ordinary praying to him. Everyone put their heads down for the prayer, but Aaron continued looking around. Some good looking girls, but some of these women have the most gawd-awful hair styles I’ve ever seen. He almost laughed.

Then they sang Softly and Tenderly, and Aaron could sing that song because he’d heard the tune before. After that Norman stood and spoke for a while. It was all about Jesus. Yeah, this has to be Christian, Aaron thought. It sure isn’t Jewish or Muslim.

Norman didn’t speak long. When he finished they sang No Not One, and Chester began to speak. He was rather interesting, telling a couple of stories about things he’d seen in South America. Nico was right, Aaron thought. He was in South America.

Suddenly Chester stopped speaking, they sang One There Is Who Loves Thee, Norman prayed for a couple of minutes, and then it was all over. Chester and Norman went back to the door, and the garage erupted with the scurry of men folding chairs and stacking them along one wall. Some of the children chased each other around the garage and among the adults, and all the women seemed to start gossiping all at once.

As he was leaving, Chester asked him, Did you enjoy the service?

Yeah, it was cool. Good speeches, but I don’t think I remembered much of them.

Norman laughed.

I liked the stories about South America, Aaron said.

Thank you, Chester said. Where do you live, Aaron?

Manhattan Beach.

Oh, that’s a long distance. We have some friends here tonight from El Segundo. Let me introduce you to them.

Okay.

And Aaron was introduced to the Jacksons – Marcel, Rita, and their children Alexander and Tammy.

Can we have coffee with you on the way home? Marcel suggested.

Of course, Aaron said.

Meet us at Froggy’s Donut House just off the 405.

I know where that is. I’ll meet you there.

And he did. When he pulled into the parking lot, he could see the Jacksons sitting in a booth by the window. He bought himself a donut and milk and joined them.

It was nice to have you in the service tonight, Marcel said.

Thank you. It was nice to be there.

How did you know about the service all the way up in Tarzana?

A good friend of mine told me to go there.

Who was that?

Nico Garza.

I know Nico, Alexander said. He’s funny.

I went to school with Nico, Aaron explained.

Isn’t that lovely, Rita said.

Nico’s a good boy, Marcel said. We miss him since he went to Boston.

Did you like the service? Rita asked.

Yeah. Interesting. It seems like kind of a progressive-thinking group, Aaron commented.

Really? Marcel said. And we think of ourselves as very conservative.

Really? Aaron said. With two gay preachers?

We’re an extremely old religion, Rita explained. We haven’t changed anything from the very beginning.

When was the beginning?

We have no records, Marcel said. We don’t keep records. But we know the Way is from the beginning, you know, in Jesus’ day. It’s the only way that is like Jesus planned.

Really! Aaron was amazed. That’s old. Kind of like a cult, is it?

Oh no, Marcel said. Nothing like a cult at all. We just live the way Jesus taught.

I see.

And we believe in being led by the Holy Spirit, Rita said. In most religions they believe that if they go to church and do what they’re supposed to do, they’re all saved. But we believe in each person having a personal relationship with God.

That’s good, Aaron said. I’ve been wanting to find a Gnostic group to join.

What’s that? Marcel asked.

Alexander laughed. "That sounds nasty!"

Gnostics are people who know spiritual truth, Aaron explained.

I think you’ve found the group, Marcel said.

You should come to our assembly on Thursday night in Torrance, Rita said.

Perhaps he should ask Chester before he does that, Marcel suggested.

Yeah, maybe so, Rita agreed. But you’ll come back next Sunday to Tarzana?

Yeah. Sure.

Aaron called Nico the next night after dinner. I went to gospel service, he told him.

I’m glad. Are you going back again?

Yeah. I guess so. It’s kind of humble, isn’t it, having services in an old garage.

Nico chuckled. The servants have gospel services anywhere they can find a place.

They’re called servants?

"Yeah. Chester’s called a servant," Nico explained. Servants are preachers.

That’s cool.

Before the next Sunday Aaron told his father he was going to a religious service.

Where? his father asked.

In a garage in Tarzana.

Who worships in a garage?

They’re Christians – kind of upper middle-class looking white people with expensive cars and good manners and normal acting kids.

So why the garage?

They’re very humble, and they don’t believe in buildings.

His father laughed. So they go to garages! Do they play Bingo and have garage sales?

I don’t know, Aaron laughed. But they don’t believe in money.

Now, I don’t believe that.

And the preachers are gay.

How do you know?

"They were two men and they said they were companions."

His father thought for a while. What’s the name of this religion?

They just call it the Way.

You better watch what you’re getting yourself into, Aaron. I don’t want to find myself out in the desert somewhere trying to get you out of some weird cult.

Aaron laughed. Don’t worry. Do you remember my friend Nico Garza from high school?

Yeah.

He belongs to this group.

Just be careful.

So Aaron went back two more Sunday evenings. Each time a few more people greeted him before he left, but he declined any more offers for coffee after the services because he expected Trixie would be sitting on his doorstep when he got home.

By the third service he concluded that they very seriously believed people had to have their own relationship with God – just like Nico said. And that was good. Furthermore, that was all his father ever told him was necessary anyway. And they didn’t do anything weird during their services – nothing that would make him feel uncomfortable should he decide to continue to meet with these people.

But during the fourth gathering a couple of different things happened. First of all, Chester’s preaching got really scary. He talked a lot about Satan trying to keep people from doing the right things. It was a really powerful message, and he thought a variation of the message might scare his students into behaving better in the classroom.

And then, when they were singing the last song, Chester asked for people to stand up if they wanted to make a commitment to God. Aaron was fascinated, because it seemed like the whole congregation had taken on an attitude of great anticipation. And while they were singing, three people stood up and everyone else kept on singing. People strained their necks, looking all around, and occasionally nodding to each other.

Then Chester announced that there would be no more services in that garage, and everyone got up to leave. With the clatter of folding chairs being put away came a burst of emotion from most in the crowd. A few old ladies had hankies out blowing their noses, and a couple of macho looking middle-aged men were crying. A lot of people were hugging. Few people had time for Aaron, so he shook a few hands and left.

I wonder what happens now, Aaron thought on the way home. I’ll have to call Nico and find out.

Chapter 3

Clay and Nancy Shipman took advantage of the long Presidents’ Day weekend to have a visit with Nancy’s cousin, Yvonne and her husband Garth Schmidt in Santa Rosa. Clay and Nancy’s son, Dennis, was nine and an only child, and he loved playing with his three cous ins there.

Both couples were uneasy – they could feel it. There was a conversation they all knew they were going to have, but Clay and Nancy had decided it was not going to be them who brought it up. It was Garth who finally mentioned it, after they’d come home from Sunday fellowship.

So this Chen guy, Garth began. What are you going to do for him?

Clay smiled. I knew you’d get to that.

Of course, Garth said. You’ve got all of us on edge. We’ve been reading about you almost every day in the newspaper. What’s going on?

Clay was a criminal defense lawyer and he’d just taken on a client, Lee Chen, who was accused of multiple homicides – and it had become a topic on the national news. Chen was portrayed in the media as a dangerous international underworld gangster who trafficked in everything from drugs to diamonds to slaves. It was a shock to Clay the day the soft spoken Chinese lady came into his law office in Santa Monica and asked him to defend her husband on the murder charges.

As soon as Chen was arrested several prominent political figures in Los Angeles had curiously taken it upon themselves to publicly disassociate themselves from Chen. That in itself would not create a national news story, but when it turned out that Clay was going to subpoena all of them to testify in the upcoming trial, it captured the attention of the national media. It was the first time Clay had worked on a case that had attracted such attention, and it was causing a great stir among his friends in the Way. In fact, most Way friends hadn’t even realized that he was an attorney.

Lee Chen needs someone to defend him, so I’m doing my job, Clay smiled.

But my goodness, Garth said, scratching his head. The publicity? Do you want that?

Actually I’m not so much worried about that as Nancy is.

And I don’t need it, Nancy said. I just worry that some gangster’s going to knock him off, or Dennis or I.

Yvonne looked at her sympathetically. You poor girl! What’s going on anyway?

Everywhere I go I feel people are watching me, Nancy said. It’s like a permanent Halloween haunted house experience, except that no one has jumped out at me yet.

Nancy gets all worried, Clay said. But I’m going to have him acquitted.

How? Garth asked. How many people did he kill?

I’m not sure he killed anyone, Clay said.

I’m sure that’s what he told you.

I didn’t ask him? Clay said.

What do you mean?

I didn’t have to ask him. I’m aware of all the evidence against him.

Then how can you be so sure?

I don’t have to be so sure. My job is to make sure he’s convicted beyond a reasonable doubt on the evidence presented against him.

Which means?

I’m there to make sure the prosecutor adequately proves his guilt. I don’t think they can, and I’m not allowed to present evidence against him if the prosecutor can’t do it satisfactorily. There’s a little problem with some blood samples. One person appears to have had a blood preservative in his blood as he was found bleeding to death.

Oh! How would that get there?

That’s the question? Clay said. It’s simple – you collect some blood somewhere, add some preservative to it, and then deposit it where you want it to be found.

I don’t get it? Who does that?

A corrupt police officer comes first to mind. So I will need to see that that question gets answered.

Garth chuckled. So you sit in your office and think of all these things to get someone off?

"Actually I have to go looking for these things. That’s when the real criminals begin to get nervous."

That’s what scares the life out of me, Nancy said. Someone else might come after him.

I don’t blame you, Yvonne said. I couldn’t stand that.

And you really think you can get this guy off the hook? Garth asked.

I’m hopeful. The media doesn’t know what his defense is going to be. I’m saving that for the trial. In the meantime I’m learning how to play cat and mouse with the media.

So the prosecution in L.A. loses another case in court! Garth mocked.

Ain’t that fun? Clay asked.

If you like it, Garth said. I like my job a lot better. I go to work in the morning and come home at five o’clock and no one wants to know anything about anything I’m doing.

I love my job, Clay said.

Is he lying? Yvonne asked Nancy.

No, he’s not, Nancy said. He sleeps at night too – when he finally gets to go to bed.

Is this trial going to be televised, Garth asked.

I believe so.

I’m going to buy a television just to watch it, Garth vowed.

Oh no you’re not, Yvonne responded.

Oh yes I am, Garth said. Don’t worry, I’ll hide it from the servants. I just want to see what this guy can do for the likes of Chen. He shook his head in disbelief. I don’t believe you.

Clay laughed.

What do all the Way friends in L.A. think of this? Yvonne asked.

No one says a word to us, Nancy said. "Mona and Diane are itching to ask, I can tell, but so far all they’ve asked is Why did the servants allow Clay to be an attorney in the first place? I just told them he didn’t ask the servants’ permission, and they looked at me like I had three heads."

Everyone laughed.

What could anyone say anyway? Clay asked. There’s no rule against being an attorney.

True, Garth chuckled. But I’ll bet they’re all praying you never get identified as a member of the Way. You know how they hate publicity.

Except when someone writes something complimentary about the Way, Yvonne countered. And then they make sure everyone in the state gets to read it.

So what else is new in L.A.? Yvonne asked.

Three people confessed in Chester Rose’s gospel services, Nancy announced.

How exciting! Yvonne said. Anyone we know?

Danny and Samantha Prince. Samantha used to be Samantha Kavannah. They’re expecting in the summer, and the parents of both of them were unbelievably emotional and happy about this. They’ve waited so long for them to confess.

I’ve heard of them, Garth said.

Who was the third person?

Leon Fraga, Clay said. Do you know him?

He’s an older man, isn’t he?

Yes, Nancy said. But he was divorced and remarried and wasn’t allowed to participate with us for years. He finally divorced his wife and confessed again.

It was quite an emotional service, Clay emphasized.

And there’s a new young man who came to gospel services in Tarzana too, Nancy said. Apparently he went to high school with Nico Garza and decided he wants to find out more about the Way.

How nice! Yvonne said.

Someone said he’s Jewish, Clay said.

Really!

He’s kind of a beach bum – with kind of longish frizzy hair, Nancy said. Someone said he’s a teacher.

Dennis thinks he looks like Einstein, Clay said.

It’s the hair, Nancy laughed.

He comes to services with worn jeans and a sweat shirt, Clay explained. All the old ladies go tut tut tut.

The young girls all love him, Nancy said. They buzz all around him after the services until he gets in his car and leaves. It’s really funny! One of the boys got quite upset with them making such a fuss over him. I guess he thought the girls should have been paying more attention to him.

They laughed.

There’s nothing like a new boy in the Way to get all the girls excited, Yvonne commented. Remember how it was when we were young, Nancy?

Don’t mention it, Nancy blushed.

Clay laughed. I used to love to go to retreats and watch the aggressive girls trying not to make it look so obvious.

Remember Valerie Swan? Yvonne asked.

Oh, that one, Garth said. She chased anything with pants on.

She especially chased Garth, Yvonne said.

Oh stop! Garth said.

One year she chased Garth three times around the meeting tent at retreat in west Texas, Yvonne said. You should’ve seen Garth trying to get away from her without actually running. I’ll never forget it.

I looked for places to hide but there weren’t any, Garth said. I finally had to go into the men’s dorm to get her off my trail.

Everyone laughed.

Back to Chen, Garth said. What do we tell people when they ask us about this?

Will they ask? Clay wondered.

Oh, yes, Yvonne said. My phone’s going to start ringing as soon as you drive out of town tomorrow. We have a couple of gossips in this town, you know.

Tell them I’m planning to get him acquitted, Clay said.

And nothing more, Garth suggested.

Yeah. Tell them I wouldn’t talk about it.

Got it, Yvonne agreed.

Chapter 4

It was more than two weeks after the last gospel service in Tarzana that Aaron got another call from Chester Rose. And then Nico calle d to chat.

Chester called me, Aaron said.

Good.

He’s having gospel services in Inglewood on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Will I go to all three?

You can go to as many as you want.

It’s too late to go tonight. I guess I’ll go tomorrow night.

I’m glad to hear that.

I was going to ask you how you become a member of this religion.

You have to confess, Nico said.

What do I confess to?

It’s not what it sounds like. That’s just the word we use for when a person becomes a member. He usually just stands up in a service when he’s invited to become a member.

I think that’s what happened at the last service I was at in Tarzana, Aaron said. Three people stood up while everyone was singing.

I’m sure that’s what it was.

And that’s all there is to it?

Basically, yes. You can talk to Chester and ask him about confessing. I’m sure he’ll do a better job of explaining it than me.

So Aaron went to the Wednesday evening service. It was being held in a shabby vacant store with bars on the windows and gang graffiti on the walls. He wasn’t sure he wanted to park his car and leave it in such a neighborhood, but he decided to try it at least once. If anything, this location made the garage in Tarzana look luxurious.

What surprised him even more was that the congregation didn’t look like Inglewood. Most of the congregants were the same middle class white people he’d seen in Tarzana. There were no blacks at all, a half dozen Latinos, and two Asians. Norman wasn’t with Chester that night, so Chester got to tell a couple more stories about South America than usual. More people than ever shook Aaron’s hand before leaving, and Chester stopped him at the door.

I’m glad to see you coming again.

Nico told me to ask you about confessing, Aaron said. Did I say that correctly?

Yes, you did, Chester smiled. Have you felt moved to do that?

Yeah. I got kind of an urge to be spiritual.

That’s good, Chester assured him. I’ll see that you get your chance to do that. Will you be coming back on Sunday evening?

Oh yes. But I’m worried that I don’t understand much about the Way, Aaron said.

We don’t require you to know much, Chester explained. We’re interested in finding people who want to have a personal relationship with God, and are willing to follow Jesus’ example.

I think I could do that.

I’m sure you can. Anyway, God has provided us with the Holy Spirit, which will teach us everything we really need to know. We’re not left alone in this world to wonder what’s right. We’re all taught by the Holy Spirit.

I like that idea. My stepfather doesn’t believe in the Holy Spirit, but I’ll try it. I think I’ll confess the next time you ask.

If that’s your conviction, Chester smiled more widely and thanked him again for coming.

Their brief conversation had backed up a line behind Aaron, and as he was going outside he turned to the man behind him and apologized for holding everyone up.

No problem, the man said. Did I hear you asking about confessing?

Yes. I’m going to confess the first chance I get now.

I’m glad to hear that. My name’s Clay, the man said, and extended his hand.

I’m Aaron.

And this is my wife Nancy, and my son Dennis.

Hi.

Can I give you my business card? Clay asked. I hope we’ll get to see more of you.

Certainly, Aaron agreed. I’m sorry I don’t have a card of my own.

We live in Santa Monica. It’s nice meeting you.

"It’s nice meeting you too. I live in Manhattan Beach. By the way, why do you call it confessing and a conviction? Does that really mean the same thing as joining this religion?"

Yes, it does.

"But confessing. I’m not sure I understand the significance of the word."

All it means is that a person is repentant of past errors and intends to live his life better in the future.

Oh, I see. That makes sense, I guess. I was afraid I’d have to tell all the crimes I’ve committed.

Nancy and Clay laughed. Dennis was staring at Aaron with wide eyes.

How old are you? Aaron asked.

I’m nine and three quarters, Dennis replied.

Aaron laughed. What grade are you in?

I’m in the fourth grade.

Good for you. I’m a teacher, you know?

Cool.

But I’m a high school teacher.

You look like Albert Einstein, Dennis said.

Really?

Yeah.

Thursday was the day Aaron’s grandmother, Sadie, came to clean the house and cook dinner. As usual, Grandpa Sam came with her and devoured several newspapers while Sadie cleaned and cooked. Aaron and his father, Moses, were waiting with Sam in the living room for dinner to be called.

I’m going to confess, Aaron announced.

Sam peeked over the top on his newspaper but said nothing.

What have you done now? Moses asked.

Nothing, Aaron teased. That’s what it’s called when you join the Way.

Are you sure about this?

Certain.

What way, Sonny? Sam asked.

It’s a religion, Aaron explained.

Oh. Sam shook his head and retreated behind his newspaper again.

What do they want from you? Moses asked.

As far as I can tell all they do is have services to inspire people.

So this confession – what are you going to confess to?

Nothing, Aaron said. You don’t even say a word. All you do is stand up in a service while everyone sings.

Moses laughed. Sounds a lot easier than a Catholic confession.

You want to come with me on Sunday evening?

No, I can’t. Hakim and I are going to dinner with some friends. Maybe some other time.

Okay. And I can assure you, I’m not going to do anything you don’t approve of. I’m sure it’s not something far out, if Nico’s any example.

I trust you.

I know.

There are Gnostics in all religions, you know, Moses explained.

Sam peered over his newspaper again, then apparently decided not to interfere in the discussion, and hid again.

Aaron didn’t reply.

You have to remember that religions all start out right, but the people who don’t know who they are, what they’ve become, and where they’re going, tie themselves to some literature and then no longer see past what they’re reading. Be free from that, son.

I know. I have to tell you something Nico told me in high school about being free. And he recounted the conversation he’d remembered the night of his abrupt awakening.

He has good insight, Moses said. "Undoubtedly there’ll be people who’ll be telling you