The Retreat by Dijorn Moss Page B

distraction,” the employee replied.
    This pastor sucked in so much air that Will thought he was about to sock this dude, which would have been pretty cool.
    â€œLord have mercy, I guess we are going to have to figure out a way to work things out,” Pastor Dawkins replied.
    â€œThank you, Pastor, for your understanding. We’ll make sure that you will still have a pleasant stay.”
    The pastor shook the guy’s hand and rubbed his own head after the man left.
    â€œBoy, the devil is working overtime, but he won’t get the glory. This weekend was ordained by God,” Chauncey declared.
    â€œYou’re right about that,” the pastor said, and then turned toward Will. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Pastor Dawkins.” The pastor held out his fist.
    Will smiled and bumped the pastor’s fist back. “Will.”
    â€œWelcome to the Men’s Retreat. How do you know Deacon McClendon?”
    â€œHe had a little car trouble last night. I had to help him out.”
    Will chuckled at the inside joke, but Chauncey did not. Will found last night’s events both strange and hysterical.
    â€œWell, I’ll see you at tonight’s events.” The pastor moved swiftly away, like he was in a hurry or something.
    A few moments later, Chauncey turned to Will. “Let us go and get freshened up for the afternoon sessions. This way, Will,” Chauncey said as Will followed him along the boardwalk back toward the cabins. Chauncey opened the door and Will immediately noticed something that was insignificant to him before. There were four beds, which meant that Will could expect to share this room with two more Jesus freaks.
    Â 
    Jamal felt like he had been to a party and finally got the joke being passed around. Sadly, the joke was about him. Jamal had been convinced that he was the father of Jamir.
    He disregarded his father’s comments as the opinion of a player who refused to let people get caught up, but Quincy’s words penetrated Jamal’s security wall and brought everything crashing down.
    Now in the midst of an already tough decision, Jamal had to come to grips with reality. The reality was that he was seriously considering putting his career on hold for a child who was not his own. Jamal feared that so much attention on what to do about Jamir could cause him to miss the real message God was trying to convey to him.
    His train of thought led him on such a journey into self-reflection. He was only conscious of the fact that he and Quincy arrived at their destination when the car came to a stop and Quincy’s car door slammed.
    Quincy ascended some cobblestone steps, and Jamal wrestled with the thought that he no longer wanted to be at the Men’s Retreat. He’d come to the Retreat with a sea of questions and he got his answer. He was a fool, now he had to figure out what to do, and the Men’s Retreat did not seem like the place. The door closed and snapped him out of his consciousness.
    â€œI just registered and got our room keys,” Quincy said. Jamal did not even look at Quincy. “Listen, man, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s tough enough being a single parent, but I don’t understand you putting your life on hold for a kid who’s not even yours.”
    Quincy’s words had done enough damage. Jamal barely paid attention to what Quincy said. Instead, he observed a tree a few yards ahead. The branch had money green leaves on it. The wind tossed the leaves to and fro as they cascaded down to the ground. Jamal felt very vulnerable at this point. However, he did not want Quincy to think that his words shattered Jamal’s confidence, so Jamal took in a fist full of air and exhaled a deep sigh as he leaned his head back against the headrest.
    â€œI’m tired,” Jamal said.
    â€œCome on, let’s get to our rooms. Maybe you can get a power nap in before the first session,” Quincy