Fiction - Week 6 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictional and bear no resemblance to any person living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

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                                                                        5

The dozen of us huddled together in St John's Church in Egham. I was standing arm-in-arm with Peter Wilkins, who looked to be the self-appointed leader of this group. Others included a black lady in her forties, and other men and women from different walks of life. We were all bound by a common fear, but amidst this emotion, a sapling of hope had germinated.

We all moved from the main chapel to one of the meeting rooms. This one had a TV, but it was installed for video shows only, as the church had never paid for a TV licence. With communication cut off from the outside world, I suggested returning to my college apartment to bring in some food and a radio. Peter agreed, and I set off.

At my apartment, I collected the radio and gathered the groceries, both my own and the items I took from the Padula's house earlier that day. Like this, everyone in our group will have something to eat, and hunger will be kept at bay, at least for now. However, as I passed a grocery store, it was open for business, and there was no airport-style scanner at the door. At least not yet. I entered and bought more food items, especially tinned food, which keeps much longer than uncooked or unprocessed items. Furthermore, while I was out, someone discovered food in the church kitchen, adding to our stock.

Back at the church, the load I carried in brought cheers from the entire group, which encouraged them to keep on trusting God for his provisions. Once we all settled, having placed the radio in a prominent position, I turned it on for any news updates.

Gaius Caligula ordered the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to be demolished. Last night's catastrophe of so many people vanishing as if suddenly atomised has kept the Arab world locked in fear and submissive to the world leader for protection against a second abduction. Hence, so far, there have been no protests from the Arab world.

Caligula ordered the Dome to be demolished.

There are speculations on Caligula's motive for a Jewish Temple to be built on that site. But does he have a genuine concern for Israel, its history, and the Jews in general? Although, at this stage, most Jews don't see Caligula as their Messiah, as he is a Gentile, and all Jews insist that their Messiah must arise from their own people and nation. There are some, both Jews and non-Jews, who think that the ultimate motive for the Temple to be built is for Caligula himself to stand in it and receive worship as divine. However, the World President strenuously deny this.

But whatever the speculation might be, a barrier now surrounds the octagonal structure, awaiting the bulldozers to raze it to the ground after standing on that specific site since AD 692.

However, not all Arabs have acquiesced. Many are angry. And a delegate has arrived in Moscow for talks of an invasion into Israel. Speculation of a Russian invasion was present in Moscow before the catastrophe, but what some had called the Rapture has set back any thoughts of invading Israel until the dust has settled.

I turned the radio volume down to ask Peter,

I heard a rumour of the Antichrist receiving worship in the Temple of God. Some members of our college Christian Union had mentioned it a few months ago. Do you think there's any truth to all this?

Indeed! Peter exclaimed, as others in the group drew close to hear what the post-graduate had to say. Don't think for a second that Caligula has a benevolent heart. His whole project to rebuild the Jewish Temple is entirely self-motivated. Like the Roman Emperors of old, he too wants worship and above all, deification.

The black member of the group, known only as Emily to the rest of them, said, My son, Richard, was studying ancient Greek and Roman empires at Loughborough University. He attended a Christian Union at his college. Since then, I hadn't heard from him at all. As for his father, he walked out on us to live with his new lover when Richard was ten years old. At college, so he said, he was converted to Christ, and he tried to persuade me to believe too. I was a fool to think that he was merely suffering from trauma caused by our separation. I now believe he was taken up to Heaven with the others.

She broke into fresh tears and wept aloud as Peter approached her in a hug. For several minutes the two were locked in an embrace as she cried copiously. Then she managed to compose herself as she resumed the conversation.

Richard explained about the Roman Empire whenever he arrived home between terms. Its first Emperor, Augustus, I think, brought in the Pax Romana, a lasting peace and freedom from war across the whole of his empire. The inhabitants were so relieved that they wanted to worship a deity. Rather than worship Jupiter or whatever Roman god they had, they decided to worship the emperor himself. He was visible, alive, and conscious. By the time of Nero, emperor worship was already mandatory for every Roman citizen on pain of death.

And now this Gaius Caligula, another in the group, added. Wants to revive this emperor worship. Wow! I can't help but think that this is the old Roman Empire revived.

A young woman in her twenties, standing nearby, known to the others as Jane, made her contribution to the discussion. In my spare time, I too have studied ancient history, especially that related to the Bible. There were four empires - Babylonian, Mede/Persian, Greek, and Roman. All of them had dominion over the Jews and Jerusalem in particular. So I'm not surprised that this Caligula guy has his eyes set on Jerusalem.

Jane, Peter responded, What you just said, you are right. That is the reason why the Church was removed. For Israel to take centre stage. And just as Israel was centre stage in Biblical times, so there is no surprise that while Israel returns to its former glory, a fierce oppressor is rising too. This is the Tribulation period, a time of testing before their true Messiah returns to set up his Kingdom with his throne in Jerusalem.

Peter continued, Gaius Caligula will not only be Israel's chief enemy and oppressor, but ours too. If he wants universal worship, then anyone who refuses to give allegiance to him but has faith in God through Jesus Christ, he will hate and persecute. This is our time of testing. Listen to me! All of you must refuse the Mark Caligula will impose on all citizens worldwide. Yes, we will starve unless we receive food by a miraculous channel. And some of us might. But in this time of testing, we must prove faithful to the One who was crucified, suffered and died for us. 

When Peter had finished, we all bowed in prayer, mainly in thanksgiving for each other's company, for the food we had, and for our safekeeping in a very uncertain world. Furthermore, we prayed that our faith would be made strong enough to endure what might be coming. After prayer, I went to the kitchen to prepare some food for all of us. Emily then arrived to lend a helping hand.

I regarded all those in the church. Each had suffered a terrible shock. Rivers of tears, mostly of regret for not believing in the first place, but also due to the loss of a loved one, like Emily losing her son Richard. As she helped with the preparation, I regarded her, along with the others. The contrast between these people and my former student friends couldn't be wider than the Grand Canyon! No white shirt and tie among any of them, no arrogance or self-assurance. There was no sense of superiority from holding a degree, having plenty of money, or holding a professional career.

In the church kitchen, I reflected on myself. I grew up in Portsmouth, home of the British Navy. Yet, I never had any desire for a career at sea; I shone at school. Even as a boy, I was interested in Biology, and by the time I took my A Levels, I specialised in Genetics.

I could have gone to Oxford or Cambridge to study Medicine, but I chose Royal Holloway instead. A degree in genetics was available at this branch of the University of London. Of all branches of Biology, I preferred genetic research, a career aligned with the NHS to not only find cures for specific diseases, but also to gain knowledge of genetics to discover how these diseases could be prevented in the first place.

Genetic Research was to be my life's career.

Due to my religious upbringing, although I called myself an atheist, in reality, I was more of an agnostic. I wasn't hostile to religion as Phil Banks was. I was already open to a discussion, as I had with both Steve and Roger. I also had discussions with members of the Christian Union at our University. So, what led me to unbelief as a student?

Mainly this: their belief in Divine Creation versus Darwinian Evolution. One of their most pathetic explanations for discrediting evolution was the one about a tornado turning a scrapyard into a fully functional jet plane. Such an explanation was so pathetic and inane! Hence, I developed an attitude against the Christian faith as something to be teased and mocked rather than outright hostility.

And I watched two of my friends, Steve and Roger, taken up to Heaven while I remained behind. Because of my mocking, my unbelief, and my trust in Darwin's theories, I'm still here. And now I have to face Caligula, the Antichrist, whom God rescued his Church from.

Now, there is no future. My future prospects of a career in genetic research were shattered. I have no idea where I will be going, which direction to take. 

Emily and I eventually carried our dinners into the church meeting room. Everyone looked more hopeful at the sight of food. As we ate, I thought I heard something on the radio. I turned the volume up so all could hear. Gaius Caligula was about to say something...

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 5 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

 All characters are fiction and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

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At my college apartment, Phil Banks and I, George Bolton, sat down with our drinks to watch our new European President take up the podium at Vatican City, an independent mini-state within the city of Rome. The current Pope stood near him, offering his support.

Gaius Caligula was dressed in a Roman toga, as he saw himself as an incarnation of the ancient Roman emperor Caligula, who reigned between 37-41 AD, that is, three and a half years before his assassination. He was strikingly handsome, and at once attracted admiration. His idea of wearing Roman regalia was to avoid the business-suit image worn by all politicians, many of whom had lost the electorate's confidence. A vast crowd was assembled at St Peter's Square in front of the Basilica. 

I must admit, Gaius Caligula was good-looking.

Caligula then began his speech. He spoke in Italian, but the many microphones placed in front of him fed into computers that translated it into the language appropriate to each country around the world. Hence, for example, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, and Australasia heard him speak in English, while in Spain, along with Mexico and the South American continent, they heard him speak in Spanish.

Good morning, Italy and the world. I believe that every one of you who is listening to me can understand my speech in their own language.

I understand your fear of what has occurred last night, the disappearance of millions of people from all walks of life. I can confirm that they were all abducted by an alien intelligence for transportation to their planet to serve as slaves. And another abduction would have soon occurred had I not stepped in to intervene on your behalf. Last night's abduction began when these alien beings discovered and deciphered the code fixed on both the Pioneer 10 and our Pioneer 11 spacecraft.

An agreement was made between them that no more abductions would be made if I kept my side of the bargain. That is, that I'm not only the President of Europe, but of the whole world. My aim is to unite the world under one Government based here in Rome, with one world bank, and I will set up a governor to represent me in each country. I'm happy to say that the King of England has already acquiesced, and so has the American President. All these took place during the night here in Rome, ensuring world peace while you were shaking in your beds at night, or attempting to carry on with your businesses during the day.

My intention is to bring world peace. This means an agreement with Israel for a Temple to be built on the site of the present Dome of the Rock. The Palestinians and the Arabs would never, for a moment, consider having their sacred mosque demolished. But after what happened last night, every Muslim is now terrified, afraid that they will be next to be taken for slavery. Of all the world's religions, Islam remains intact. Hence, they make perfect candidates for the next abduction. Unless they submit to me. Thus, my orders are for the Dome to be demolished to make way for a Jewish Temple of the same architecture as the one built by King Solomon.

This is Gaius Caligula speaking for world peace and happiness.

I watched Phil gaze at the TV screen with amazement. But I instinctively knew that this "alien abduction" of Caligula was a lie. Yet the masses believed him, including Phil. One thing I knew in my heart was that this sudden disappearance of many, including Steve and Roger, was the Lord Jesus Christ catching away his own. And I was stupid! I was so stupid and gullible enough to believe what these academics were saying: that this Jesus is a myth, and Darwin's evolutionary theories held sway in the scientific world. 

I could kick myself! I was angry at the professors of Holloway College of the University of London. I was studying genetics, and Darwin's theories played a big role in my studies and passing exams. Anything to do with biology, and Darwin steps in. 

I then asked Phil, Do you believe in what Caligula said this morning?

Absolutely! Phil answered. I feel much better after his assurance to the world. At least I won't be caught up in slavery, thanks to his intercession.

I then said, I want to visit a church. I want to see if any others now believe in Jesus Christ.

Phil turned to me with a severe look. If you want to pursue a fairy tale, then go ahead. But leave me out. I have full trust in Caligula. He has already allayed my fears, and I believe in him. As for you, go and find a church. But I doubt that you will find your two friends.

Phil arose from the sofa and made for the door, but before reaching it, he turned.

I guess I'm going to miss you, George. After relating to you my childhood, there is no way I could return to the faith. My bedrock is science.

But weren't you studying Politics? I asked.

Indeed, Phil replied. That's why I believe in Gaius Caligula. My studies have shown that I could trust him.

Phil exited my apartment, closing the door behind him.

I sat alone and meditated. Yes, I was a fool not to believe in Jesus, and to mythologise the Bible, the only source of the truth that explains why so many vanished and where they all went.

I made my way to Steve's car, which was parked outside. There was no pride over the car being a high-end Ferrari. Wealth means nothing now. Indeed, there are trillionaires - not many, but the few who are alive; once they die, not a single penny, cent or dime will be taken with them. Life is vanity!

I drove to Egham High Street from the college student apartments. First, I passed the United Church of Egham. But its doors were shut, and there was no one around. Then, after passing a couple of crashed cars that were not yet cleared up, I approached St John the Baptist Church with its clock tower. This was an Anglican Church, and known to some students. Its doors were open, and it looked as if there could be people inside.

I parked the car in the church's car park, crossed the wide lawn, and entered. A group of people were there, some crying, others engaged in prayer. I sat next to a man who looked a little older than myself, his hands over his face and praying fervently. I decided not to disturb him. I looked around. There was not a happy or smiling face in the group of about a dozen people, maybe more.

St John the Baptist Church, Egham.

Eventually, the fellow next to me stopped praying and looked at me, fear etched across his face. He held out his hand, hoping that a friendly gesture from me might ease his fears, even if slightly.

I'm Peter Wilkins.

George Bolton. I'm one of the students at Royal Holloway, just down the road. I said, introducing myself.

I live here in Egham. Peter said. I attend Westminster College of Theology in Cambridge. It has just closed for the summer, and I have only been back home here a couple of days when - you know.

Yes, I know. I answered. If you are studying theology, how come you are still here?

Knowledge on its own is not faith. I could learn so much as to fill a library, and still remain in unbelief. Now, I believe. If only I believed before the Rapture. The Gospel then was simple. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures. That is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. If you believed in that before the catastrophe, you would have been saved, there and then. Now, it's too late. I'm not in the Body of Christ. Instead, in this time period, known as the Tribulation, if I endure to the end, then I will be saved. I'm a guest at the Wedding rather than part of his body.

I then asked, If the former Church was the Body of Christ, and you are merely a guest, then who is the Bride?

That's a good question! Peter replied. The Bride of Christ is Israel redeemed. Paul says in Romans that towards the end of human history, all Israel will be saved. In Old Testament prophecy, there are several occasions where God refers to himself as Israel's husband.

With God, everything seems to come in threes! I exclaimed, surprised at my own statement. The Body of Christ, which was the Church, is now in Heaven. Then the Bride of Christ, redeemed Israel, and the guests, us Gentiles who believed, as you say? During this time, you called the Tribulation?

That's right! Peter exclaimed.

Peter stood up and bid me to stand up as well. He rested his hand on each of my shoulders. 

George - is that your name - George?

Yes, it's George. I replied.

We are facing times of severe testing. Peter said, We must endure to the end and resist the Great Temptation. That is, the Mark of the Beast.

Can you explain? I asked.

Gaius Caligula is the Beast, the Antichrist according to the Bible. Peter answered. The day will come, perhaps pretty soon, that Caligula will demand absolute loyalty. He will proclaim himself as God, and the Messiah the Jews were waiting for. He will insist on a mark placed on our forehead or right hand. Every food store, every doctor's surgery, every hospital, every clinic, and every public institution will have an airport scanner erected at the entrance. Anyone without the mark will sound the alarm and be turned away. He wouldn't be allowed to buy or sell, or seek treatment.

Then we will starve to death! I cried.

Absolutely! That's why receiving the Mark for your own survival is called the Great Temptation, or the Hour of Testing. If you decide to take the Mark to eat and survive, any hope of salvation will go. You will be destined for damnation without any chance to turn back. In the present time, there is no assurance of salvation in the same way the Body of Christ enjoyed.

But is there any hope of being saved? I asked.

If you believe the Gospel and refuse the Mark, then there is hope for salvation. However, Caligula will pursue those who refuse the Mark, and will give them the final choice. If he still refuses, he will be executed, whether beheaded, poisoned, burned alive, or face a firing squad. Such a soul will then receive special honour in Heaven.

Then, I noticed that many in the group had been listening to our conversation. They approached us, their faces streaked with tears, and thanked us, especially Peter, for the much-needed encouragement. We all gathered tightly together and prayed. Then we decided that we should stick together and not separate, but give each other support during these testing times.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 4 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

This is a continuation from Week 3.

All characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

I wrote the original 34 years ago, and this version is modified and updated. However, the original 1992 version ended with the line, "I fell into a troubled, haunting sleep." From there, the rest of the story, that is, from Chapter 4 onwards, is original, that is, presently thought up and written here.

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I was alone in the empty home of the Padula family, watching their TV left on when the family suddenly vanished, leaving their clothing behind. The house was filled with smoke from the iron left on its wooden ironing board when I entered through the front door. Seeing that the iron was still powered and had smouldered into its chipboard base, blackening it, I disconnected its power source and opened the windows to waft the smoke out.

On the floor, next to the utility, was a pile of female clothing, and on the sofa, a pile of male clothing. Hence, it was easy to imagine a married couple before their disappearance. He was relaxing on the sofa, watching television, while she was engaged in ironing a shirt. Meanwhile, their son, Roger, was dining with the three of us at a Windsor restaurant when both he and Steve vanished, as if their bodies had atomised, leaving their clothing undisturbed.

On the television, whatever programme was on air was interrupted by the BBC Emergency News, with reporter Mike Taylor giving the rundown on how this global catastrophe affected the population, and who was involved.

As I sat, Taylor's report concluded, and the picture switched to the main newsroom.

The global disaster has badly affected transport. There have been at least two airline crashes and a collision between two trains. On the roads, there are huge snarl-ups caused by abandoned cars, especially on trunk roads leading into cities and large towns.

Here is a report from Guy Jenkins, from outside the National Department of Transport Office.

Again, the picture changed to another smartly-dressed reporter standing in front of a traffic pile-up in what is otherwise a busy district of London.

Yes, two passenger aeroplanes smashed back to earth as a result of what we believe to be the sudden disappearance of both the captain and the co-pilot. The first was of Flight 0787, New York to Los Angeles, which fell out of the sky over Arizona, just south of the Grand Canyon National Park. There are no survivors. The second airline disaster was Flight 5467, Seoul to Hong Kong, which dived into the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea. Survivors of this disaster are now being rescued from the plane, still afloat, by order of the Korean government.

Although those rescued are injured or merely dazed, all testify to the vanishing of the crew and a large proportion of passengers. If already suspected that those who vanished were all Christians, then this could be the consequence of the world's largest church, which is in Seoul.

Then, other airlines report the sudden vanishing of either the captain or the co-pilot, and the plane was brought under control by the remaining cabin crew member. Up to thirty airlines around the world had a cabin crew member disappear whilst mid-flight. The 32 reported incidents may seem many, but consider that around the globe, there are up to 14,000 flights at any time. The catastrophe, so far, has only affected 0.23% of all flights at that instant.

Back at home, two trains collided on a notorious line between Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge stations when one of the trains passed through a red signal. A few were injured, but the good news is that there were no fatalities.

The roads everywhere are in sheer confusion. Roads are blocked by driverless cars, and there were a large number of accidents, many fatal. Most of these accidents are on motorways, dual carriageways, and trunk roads. Many other roads up and down the country are virtually impassible, especially in built-up areas. We strongly recommend not driving tonight or tomorrow, but remain at home.

This is Guy Jenkins outside the Transport Office in London.

I felt tears rolling down my cheeks as the television blurted out more and more horrors. I felt particularly for the Arizona air disaster, and for the first time since I left junior school, my lips formed a plea: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...

After I finished praying, the TV then announced, We now turn to Professor Hicks of Oxford University for his verdict on tonight's catastrophe. The TV continued with its non-stop broadcast.

Professor, what do you make of all this?

The newsroom switched to the Oxford studio where a bearded man took to the air.

This, of course, is a mystery. Scientists around the world have already been contacted by us for their opinions. Since the disappearance of many seems to have a supernatural element, theories which all academics would have pushed aside as comic-book nonsense have been reconsidered. One suggested a time-warp, although that doesn't explain why only some, and not all, have disappeared. A few academics think it's some kind of cosmic energy. Another thinks it's caused by a virus or bug, and even another suggests the theories of Erich von Daniken, that is, an alien space invasion. 

This idea of a space invasion has terrified others even more than the original catastrophe. The thought of being transported to another planet as slaves has already brought further fear among the remaining population. Who would be next? For instance, could these hostile aliens have captured the Pioneer 10 plaque, which was launched in 1972 and, by 2026, will have gone beyond the Solar System? Could such an alien starship capture our spaceship and the plaque deciphered? Or, more likely, Pioneer 11, launched a year later in 1973, recently overtook Pioneer 10 and is reaching into outer space faster than the original.

The Pioneer 10 leaves the Solar System.

Both Pioneer spaceships carry identical plaques featuring our Earth, our position in our solar system, and who we are. It would take a civilisation so advanced that interstellar space travel is to them a short walk to a corner shop. For them to seize one of our Pioneers, decipher the code, then snatch us as slaves, may be the cause of this sudden vanishing of many, especially of babies and young children.

The theory behind von Daniken's books, especially "Chariot of the Gods?" does seem to make sense in the way only selected people vanished and not everyone, as if directed by some unknown cosmic intelligence. Although the academic world, for many decades, has said that they have no time to discuss what they believe to be nonsense, some of our orthodox scientists now look at these theories as a distinct possibility.

I have heard enough. Dr Hicks is an eminent physicist who has lectured at our college, and with whom I sat whenever he appeared. A UFO invasion? Is that what he's suggesting? If even he couldn't come up with anything more rational, who else could? Yet his point is that "Selection under cosmic intelligences" did make some sort of sense. The verses I read in the Bible upstairs certainly confirmed that it was the Lord himself who had called his people home.

The Pioneer 10 plaque carries clues to its origin.

I rose, turned off the TV, and left Roger Padula's house after closing all the windows and closing the door behind me. I drove carefully to my college apartment. Then I fell into a haunting, troubled sleep.

                                                                        4

I felt bleary when I woke up the following morning. I made myself a cup of tea, yet I felt the air throb with some expectation. The world outside seemed to have calmed, but I sensed a universal fear. Supposing Dr Hicks was right. A cosmic force snatching away people to relocate them to another place, even another dimension.

But I couldn't help reading Padula's Bible last night. Damn it! I could have taken it with me. The family would never return to claim it. It is as good as mine. But those verses, the snatching away. But not by aliens. And not for slavery. Rather, they were snatched to Heaven to be with the Lord forever, according to those verses. I once talked with Steve. He once told me what his friend Roger said to him. The Rapture! That is what it was. I had Steve's car parked outside. I still had the keys to Padula's house. It shouldn't be difficult to drive the short journey to pick up that Bible and bring it back here for studying. I took a shower, had breakfast, and turned on the TV. News of last night's catastrophe was ongoing, with one reporter after another telling us how bad things are, and when a second snatch will happen, and who else will be taken for slavery on a faraway planet.

I turned off the TV. If these reporters can't come up with the truth - that the Rapture had occurred - then I'm wasting time and electricity listening. It seemed that all who were left behind were being sucked into a strong delusion. A lie that is festering terror. There is not a scrap of comfort in those TV reports.

I left my apartment, taking Padula's front door keys, and made for the car. I had to drive past several abandoned cars as I approached the house, although there were signs of a clear-up already beginning.

Inside Padula's house, I ran upstairs and picked up the Bible from the bedside cabinet. Back downstairs, I collected the unused groceries from the fridge and the larder before any of it went off. I had a hunch that food would get progressively more difficult to get as the weeks ahead rolled.

Sometime after arriving back at my college apartment, there was a knock on the door. Fearing who it could be, I approached cautiously and answered. Outside stood Phil Banks. He looked contrite, and he apologised for being so antagonistic the night before. Like me, he swapped his shirt and tie for a crew-neck T-shirt.

Please come in. I said.

As Phil walked in and sat on the sofa, I offered him a hot drink, which he gladly accepted.

Tell me, Phil, why are you so hostile towards religion or anything spiritual? I asked.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic. Phil answered. My mother's older brother was very strict with my upbringing. He ruled over our family with an iron fist. With me as a boy, it was church every Sunday. Often, on a Saturday, I had to confess to a priest. One week, I forgot to confess, and when my uncle found out that I took Communion one Sunday without first confessing, he smacked me hard across the face. The slap was loud and painful. 

Also, when I was little, I had an older sister. She was so kind and helpful. She was compassionate and always looked out for me, her little brother. Often, we played together. Whenever she laughed, I felt assured. Those were the times I felt happy.

Then, during her late teenage years, she developed brain cancer. I was by her bedside, along with our parents. When she passed away, I cried and cried all day.

I then asked, Didn't you get any comfort from your parents, or from the church?

Mum and Dad did their best, as they grieved for their daughter. Phil answered. But Mum's brother was as hard-hearted as a rock. Worse than a Pharisee. He insisted that her soul went to Purgatory. When I asked was was that, he explained that Purgatory was a temporary Hell where she would be purged of her sins before entering Heaven.

Phil continued, I then asked him if she would suffer pain there. He confirmed that the pain would be so intense that she would scream. Then he said that it would only be temporary, maybe a few hours, but more likely several years, maybe decades.

That was when Dad lost his cool and threatened his brother-in-law. He ordered him out of our house and told him not to attend her funeral. We never saw him again, but by that time, my heart hardened against all religion, especially Christianity. Mt grief for my sister, Elaine, continues to this day, along with the rage I feel for my uncle. I could never forgive him, nor the Church either.

Could we have the TV on and listen to any news updates? Phil then asked. I wasn't sure about hearing more of what I had heard already, but I turned on the TV in case this would distract Phil from his memories.

The news update. Gaius Caligula was thrust onto the podium at the Vatican City in Rome. Cameras and microphones were everywhere, and it seemed that the whole world was looking to him for leadership, assurance, and guidance.

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To be continued.