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kid no more than eight. Shocked, he said to the kid, “Excuse me?”
    “No sleeping in church. That’s what my grammaw be saying.” Just then an older lady called up from a few seats back.
    “Boy, get your tail over here. Leave that man alone.”
    Nate felt compelled to interject. Though he didn’t feel like being bothered with the kid, he said, “Ma’am, he’s fine.” Then he turned back to the boy. “So what’s your name?”
    The kid stared at Nate and replied, “Man, why you all up in my business?” Just that quick the kid turned and walked back to the rear of the bus to go irritate someone else.
    Nate’s face turned into a scowl and he made a mental note to stick his foot up the little boy’s ass the first chance he got. He couldn’t believe how awful these kids had gotten today.
     
    The church was a renovated grocery store. There was still a sign out front that said Winn-Dixie and there was evidence of construction all over the grounds. Larry explained that the congregation had only been in this location for two months. His brother, Reverend Lloyd Lawson, had purchased the building for their congregation. He explained how Lloyd’s church was doing really well. So well, in fact, that they had been able to build a church from the ground up near 7th Street in northeast D.C.
    The space was adequate for now but wouldn’t be large enough for long if the congregation continued to grow at its present rate of almost thirty new members a month. Still, it was a step up from the gymnasium and folding chairs at the high school where they had held their services prior to moving here.
     
    “Amen.” The church erupted. Every one of the four hundred people in attendance was stomping, shouting, and singing and the choir was just getting warmed up. The service hadn’t even started yet. The organ was humming as Larry led Nate and Janette to their seats three rows from the altar and headed off.
    After a few moments the organ faded out and only the voices of the choir echoed. There was angelic harmony as they began to sing “He Is My Rock.” Two teenage boys came out. One lit candles and the other tested the microphone. Suddenly the church grew silent as everyone stood. Nate’s mouth dropped open when he saw what happened next.
    Larry walked out from the back door with a full minister’s robe on. A second man, who was even larger than he was, followed and took a seat behind the pulpit as Larry addressed the church. “Good morning.”
    “Good morning,” everyone said in unison.
    “So blessed are we in this day that God has made. So blessed are we to be here today.”
    “Amen” came from all over the church.
    Larry surprised Nate as he took command of his congregation. They had been working out for a month and Larry had never once mentioned that he was the pastor. Nate began thinking back, trying to recount each conversation that they’d shared. He was hoping that he hadn’t insulted Larry at any point with vulgarities. In his favor was the fact that he hadn’t had much to brag about the entire time he was in Charlotte. He had been a one-woman man.
    It was clear that Janette was impressed that Nate was friends with a pastor. She had no idea that it was just as much of a shock to Nate. After about ten minutes Larry announced that he was going to hand the pulpit over to his brother. “This man is responsible for getting us into this building, and for buying the bus that I have been using to get so many of you here. He is more than just a pillar of our community, his community. He is someone who is worthy of the title reverend, but most importantly, folks”—the congregation’s applause made it hard for him to finish. He yelled into the microphone—“Most importantly, he is my big brother. Welcome him with love…. All the way here from the nation’s capital, Reverend Lloyd Lawson.” The congregation was standing and clapping as Reverend Lawson took the podium. He waved his hand above the crowd and a