the minister's sermon
on the parable of the Prodigal Son
was meant to create a force field
to hold back young parishoners
from a future of long haired rebellion
>
yea, the minister preached,
the brothers and sisters
standing in hallways
shouting at parents
(who shouted back)
telling them about
wanting so much
to be in control
>
control over
eating drinking smoking
believing in God
going to college
going to war
leaving hometown
for another country
if necessary
>
they are prodigal
they are wrong
and one day they will come home
beg for forgiveness
from God and man
get a haircut
wear sensible clothes
find a good job
>
I sat through the sermon
at the age of ten
wanting the church service
to end soon
so we could go to the drugstore
>
all through the closing hymn,
I thought of buying a small Coke
from the vending machine
near the candy counter
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