R.E.M.: The Hidden World Read Free Page B

slightly longer. 
    Once inside, she was drawn to the poor condition of its interior.  She had seen it many times.  The seats’ health seemed as poor as the smoker who had previously owned them.  Burn marks combined with stains of different colors, three of which Renee easily identified as coffee, mustard and nail polish. 
    The door was closed by her mother who was reaching through the open window with a request.  “Give me a hug.”  This was not unusual in the slightest as her mother had always been the affectionate one in the family.
    “Wait, you’re not coming with us?”  Renee suddenly felt her heart sink.  She dreaded church enough as it was.  Riding with her father was another level of dread, but doing so without her mom as a buffer made the situation even worse.
    “No, I’m going with the ladies group, remember?”  As she said this, Merlot pointed down the hill to a white van.  Unlike the pick-up, it was brand new.  The women’s group had finally talked the church members into purchasing it with some of the tithes.  They had offered to make it for everyone in the church, but the men stubbornly refused to ride in it.  Instead, they stuck with their ugly old trucks, except for Mr. Garret who was the only one with a legitimate justification.  After all, he had just purchased a brand new Cadillac Escalade.  Who wouldn’t prefer that over a van? 
    “Don’t worry, I told them to park further down the hill so they wouldn’t find out about your spot up there.”  She was trying to sound nice as she pointed back toward the oa k they had just abandoned.  Despite Merlot’s generally good intentions, like all mothers, she had a natural way of embarrassing Renee, and today was no exception.  Right there, in front of her father and the ladies group, she pinched her cheek and said goodbye.
    “Bye mom…”  Renee eked out, humiliated.  Turning toward her father as he started up the worn truck , she couldn't help wondering if Sam Kale would be at church today.  His parents were almost always busy doing something else, but every once in a while they would manage to fit in an hour-long service.  Reverend Johnson had never been happy about their absences, but he knew better than to address them about it.  Mr. Kale had a very short temper and if anyone so much as mentioned his attendance, he would snap at them and refuse to attend church for months. 
    It had been three months exactly since Ms. Baize inquired about his missed services and Renee was expecting to see Sam any day now.  Perhaps today is the day…I hope he’s there…
    The truck was now in full motion, clunking along with an array of questionable , squeaking sounds.  Renee knew she would have her answer about Sam soon enough. 
    Her father glanced at her, slyly, as though he was reading her thoughts.  "I wonder if the Kales will be at service today."
                  "Who knows?"  Dodging her father’s gaze, she looked out the open window to her right.  She was avoiding talking about this; she knew where her father was going.
    "That Sam boy is a sinner, you know."
    "We all are, dad!"  Renee snapped.
    "We were; but we've been forgiven."  As her father made the harsh statement, she caught a glimpse of the questioning gaze he shot her.  He then shifted his focus back to the road. 
    After a few seconds, she finally answered his unspoken question.  "I think he’s been forgiven too."
    "Really? Oh, you silly child."  Her father chuckled with a maniacal sound that made Renee want to leap from the truck.  Placing her hand on the truck’s handle, she contemplated the idea.
    "He doesn’t obey the commandments."
    She spun to face him.  "Oh, and I suppose you always do!?!"  Her face was now red with fury.
    "Yes, as a matter of fact I do, at least when my foolish daughter doesn’t make me late for Sunday service."  His face was stone hard as he maintained his focus on the road, but Renee heard the waver in his