It’s sad, what’s happened. Everyone used to love hearing the reverend preach. He wasn’t so misunderstood then. I watched for years as all his old friends left, a few at a time. Sure, new people would arrive every now and then, but as the numbers dwindled they wouldn’t stick around as long. It’s a shame that there’s hardly no one who’ll give you a chance if you’re not “popular”.

I was the one who benefited from staying. I got to feed him lunch almost every day as he got older and hear about all the hardships he endured over the years without complaining a single time before the congregation. Things myself and most folks never even knew were going on. He didn’t want anyone to be troubled. But he was just like them, with problems all his own.

All the cold, careless people he had to put up with. Those “friends” he thought would be there for him until the end. Everyone endlessly questioning his devotion to his own family, when week after week, for years, he never missed a Sunday. Blaming him for his wife’s suicide and son’s womanizing… Now can you imagine? Heartless. Who wouldn’t be glad, in his shoes, that they left after all? I’d have a mind to tell them all to buzz off, where they still around. Thank the Lord he doesn’t have to look them in the eyes anymore.