A renewing | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A renewing | Previous Challenge Entry
By Paul Brown
08/26/14
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Twenty-six years had passed him by, like a flash in a pan. The one chance he got to leave home, he grabbed with both hands. It had been a dark night, the evening he decided to fly the coup.

It seemed as though things had started to go right for him; he had found work as a general Assistant in Somerfields Supermarket and love seemed to be on the cards.

The fifteen year gap of not talking to his mother was in the process of being re-captured and then everything tumbled down on top of him. His mother broke the news that she had a heart condition.

“I’m coming up to be with you,” he told her on the phone.

“No, it doesn’t matter,” she responded.

The National Express made a stop in Bristol, Gary never returned to the bus; instead he travelled the area to discover the bustling city. On the first night, it was just him and his rucksack; and an empty box outside a closed-down shop.

With flickering tired eyes he noticed other homeless people making their way to a blue-building, he followed them inside. A slim coloured lady with a gracious smile was handing out plates of full breakfast;

“Morning Tilly,” one of the guys said taking his seat.

Gary sat all alone. After dishing out the free grub, Tilly sat opposite Gary and started chatting to him. It was only when people began sitting around the same table that Tilly got up and continued her work.

That morning he was taken to the Salvation Army Hostel, The attendant handed him a key to one of the many rooms. Elated, he made himself a cup of tea before investigating the rest of the building.

Later that evening after getting drunk, he helped a fallen girl up, he fell on top of her, himself. Three months passed, it wasn’t until the police were banging his door down that the memory was bought to light.

“We are arresting you for indecent assault,” the tall black haired policeman said grabbing his arm.

“Where’s Jeremy Beadle?” Gary responded.

That night his confidence became shot, he felt as if God had given up on him. He was given cigarettes while being interviewed. In the prison cell he began talking to God naturally, asking why this was happening, but he sensed no answer.

Until now Gary had always felt God in his life, his grandmother had made certain of that, knowing the guidance of the Supreme Being in his young life would be needed, and through all the hurt and misery of growing up he often sensed the hand of God touch and carry him through the dark times in his short life.

He slept on the cold, hard bench all that evening. The next day he was to appear in court,

“Send him down, three and a half years,” the judge responded with folded arms.

It was during the beginning period of his new secluded life, his relationship with God started to grow, the minister, a tall, thin grey-haired man showed him the ins and outs to his new given job for the coming months.

Father Amos explained how he would be in by 8am on most mornings and so the Chapel would have to be in pristine condition the night before. The chapel Gary learnt was also on loan to the Quakers; this meant he got more time out of his cell.

Gary took into account this would be the closet he’d get to being a free man while being under lock and key, for the next 18 months. Other inmates ceased their intimidating ways, the top-dog of the cat. C prison, Craig Stoner aka muscles, not just for keeping the block in an organised fashion although the officers managed that, but for always pumping weights either outside his cell or in the association ground befriended him.

As the days progressed Gary sensed a renewing, a purpose for being where he had been placed but in his mind, he knew he wasn’t guilty of the crime he’d been sent down for, but accepted the punishment on the day of court, noticing she had a worse disability than he did.

On becoming a listener to other inmates and hearing the woes they had endured, Gazza as he became known amongst other criminals on his landing understood that even though his painful journey had ceased, others were carrying around burdens of their own. (Galatians 6:5)

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