The Gensville Incident 2
After taking communion with the new pastor, the Kinkcade family feels some changes coming on, body and mind.
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The Kinkcade family approaches. First, Sheldon approaches. The jocky young man pauses as he reaches for the bread, his eyes turning toward Pastor Oz, locking gaze upon one another.
“Something bothering you, my son?” asks the faith leader.
Sheldon blinks and shakes his head. “No, sir. I just… I had a strange feeling, is all.”
“It’ll pass if you let the communion take you where you need.”
“Right. Thanks, sir.”
He takes the bread, dips it, and stuffs it into his mouth, turning away and walking, shuddering.
Next is Mama, who reaches out for the bread only to pause momentarily, hesitating. There’s a spark in her—something that fills her with uncertainty and maybe dread? It’s a feeling she hasn’t felt before. Still, she quickly takes it, dunks it, and leaves, holding the bread out in front of her momentarily, her hand cupping the dripping thing before she finally takes it.
Next is Sandy. As she approaches, she takes the bread with no problem, but when she dunks it, Father Oz says, “You have some trouble, miss?”
She pauses, just about to dunk, and looks him in the eye. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not quite sure about something. Was it the sermon?”
“It was… atypical,” she responds.
“Many have said that about me,” he responds, nodding. “But you strike me as atypical as well.”
She takes the bread and ponders a moment. “Shouldn’t we not hold up the line so much?”
“It is of no consequence. The others won’t even notice, I assure you.”
Not thinking much about it, Sandy takes the bread and wine, and she speaks up. “Well, this town could use a bit of a wake-up call. There are so many backward-thinkers here.”
“I agree,” says the preacher. “There needs to be a new way.”
She nods and leaves, chewing thoughtfully.
Finally comes Papa, who approaches the man and shakes his head. “I don’t know what you think you’re doin’ talking about that stuff,” he says, “But you’re the preacher, and I’m just a parishioner.”
“My dear friend,” Pastor Oz says, touching Papa’s arm. “We are all the same in the end. Do not forget that you and I are on the same level.”
Chills run up Papa’s arm, but not the kind of fear. He gasps, feeling the agitation, no, the arousal, going down to his loins. Is it because of what the preacher said? Or how he said it? Or could it simply be that touch that awakens something in Papa? Either way, he swipes the bread fast and stomps away, hanging his head low in shame, hoping no one could see him, especially that boner that somehow got its way to him in the church of all places!
All is well and good at the closing moments of the ceremony. As the final words of benediction are said, Papa stands up immediately and puts on his hat. “Alright, folks. It’s time to hit the old dusty trail.”
Mama frowns. “We’re not going to chit-chat?”
“No,” Papa says, a stern growl in his voice. “We’re going home.”
Sheldon and Shelly look at each other. It’s that voice again. There’s gonna be a family talk.
It doesn’t happen in the car, nor does it happen at the fast-food joint where they get their food, but as soon as they breach the entryway, Papa tosses off his hat and stomps on inside, pacing through the living room. “What do you think about the new preacher?” he asks.
“He seems like a lovely young man,” says Mama, her voice a little gravely. She coughs, and it returns to normal. “Plus, no one ever talks about Lot’s Daughters like that.”
Sheldon pipes in, adjusting his shirt. It’s tight on him, and he tries to tug the thing down, keeping it away from his soft but flat tummy.
Sandy remains quiet, sitting in the corner, crossing her arms over her chest. With a gruff huff, she shrugs.
Papa runs a hand through his hair, doing it a few times. “Man could make a move with any lady ‘round these parts, but he chooses to be a pastor. Woulda thunk it?”
Mama coughs, raising her hand, her voice a bit more hoarse. “Oh my stars, I think I’m comin’ down with something. Excuse me.”
Mama picks herself up and heads to the bathroom. There, she washes her face off and even gargles some warm salt water to help her throat. “Oh lord, I hope I’m not coming down with something,” she laments, spitting out the water and gripping the sink. She lifts her head and stares at herself, only to frown. Rubbing her hand over her chin, she can feel some stubble over her chin and lip.
“Oh, Gradman warned me about this happenin’ with menopause,” she says, lamenting.”
Sandy gulps, finding herself agitated. She stands up and passes by the two men, stomping off.
“W-where are you going?” Squeaks papa.
“My room,” she grunts. I’m fuckin’ tired.”
Sheldon raises a hand to his mouth, making a dramatic motion and a long, languid yawn. “Awwwh, yes, I think I, too, should take a nap.
Papa nodded. “Guess it’s that sort of day. Gonna get under the covers and get nice and warm. Hehe… that’d be so nice.”
And so the Kinkcade family all find themselves heading to sit down or lie in bed and drift off to dreamland, but what they will discover upon awakening shall be stranger than any dream.
All except Sandy find themselves easily able to sleep, for the eldest daughter of the Kinkcade clan can’t shake the feeling that something is off. No matter what the pastor said, there was a problem with his feelings, even if it felt right at the time. After a time tossing and turning, she gets up from her sleep and pulls out her phone. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she types in his name and begins to scroll.