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Show Moon - 170 Anne sat at the table, smiling and nodding vaguely, which she did when she didn't know what else to do. She let Alice's preaching sprinkle over her like rain. It was pleasant, really, because Alice seemed happier now that she'd become a Born Again Christian, the old edge gone. Her sister's new directness was refreshing, too. There was no attempt to disguise the pure, greedy evangelism: "Jesus is just waiting for you to ask Him into your life!" She turned the potato she was peeling up to the light to better see the flaws. "He loves you just the way you are! You're forgiven! All you have to do is ask!" The reason Alice must be so happy about this, Anne thought, was that she must have once done something she thought was unforgivable. What have I ever done, Anne wondered, that should need forgiving? Surely the right kind of God would not hold David against her. She stared through the gentle spray of Alice's words and saw David as if he were across the table from her saying, "Am I right? Am I right?" I imagine this with an uprush of gratitude, for I think David gave you some of the things God wanted for you: a momentary confidence in your art and a taste of the Gift of Good Sex. And, well, he also gave you me. Alice was squatting in front of Anne, one hand on her knee, the other still clutching the potato peeler. Out of politeness, Anne did not move her knee away. Her sister's blue eyes looked up at her, imploring, embarrassingly sincere. "I must know that you have let Jesus into your life. Please let Him in. Ask Him right now, with me! Please?" |