Girl on the Outside | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Girl on the Outside | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanon Hinkel
10/17/07
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She likes the back row. The seats aren’t any different back here, she just likes it. There is an air vent right above her head. It kicks on every few minutes and she can feel the breeze. It’s nice even though she has to push a stray hair from her eyes ever so often. The restroom is just outside the doors to her left, in case she needs to leave for any reason. It’s going to be handshake time in a minute. She hates that part.

The congregation sure is joyful today. Everyone is singing around her. She should join in. She slipped in quite inconspicuously today, so she might could sing a bit this morning. She sees the words on the big screen. Hard to make them out this far back. She could turn around and look behind her; the words are also on the big screen above her head. Guess that’s for the choir. Yes, she figures the choir is using that screen. Something to think about.

The singing stops. Brother Tom approaches the altar. She likes Brother Tom. She can’t figure out how he remembers everyone’s names. He knew her name from the first time he met her. Never asked her to repeat it or anything. It’s time for folks to shake hands. She decides it’s time to slip out to the restroom. Better go before anyone approaches her.

The restrooms are nice at this church. Better than most. She’ll take more time than necessary so she doesn’t risk going back in too early. Folks sure are joyful around here. Everybody seems to know everybody. What’s up with that? She’s used to going in to a service, listening a while, and leaving without incident. Nothing wrong with speaking to the preacher, giving him a handshake on the way out. But strangers coming up as if they’re long lost relatives is just, well, awkward to say the least.

There. Time should be up. She exits the restroom and peers through the glass sanctuary doors. Yes, everyone’s back at their seats. The coast is clear. She goes back to her seat. Her seat in the back. The choir’s singing now. It’s so nice.

Hopefully she can listen and then leave like she did the week before and the week before that. She might even avoid Brother Tom today. He seems interested in introducing her to folks, and she doesn’t want that.

But Brother Tom did remember her name…

And there’s just something about this church…

But he’s the only one who remembers her. Has anyone else noticed her? Has anyone else reached out to her? She comes here every week.

And sits in the back.

On the back row, by the doors.

Under the big screen.

The screen that the choir uses to sing the Lord’s praises and welcome His people to His house.

Has anyone seen her? Besides Brother Tom? She wonders to herself as the choir sings on.

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