The Veil Read Free Page B

what he said. The smell of his Obsession cologne was taking her away deep into his beautiful gray eyes. She looked at his ebony skin and perfect smile and thought she would go anywhere with him. That night she had plans to go to the club, but she wanted to get to know him.
    He walked her down Georgia Avenue to her dorm and prayed for her before he left. He later called her and invited her to church the following Sunday. When he arrived to pick her up, she didn’t tell him she had just gotten in from the club. She had a little too much to drink and her head was pounding. The loud noise in the church was making her feel worse. She wanted to stay with him all day, but not with her hangover. After church, she made an excuse not to go to eat with him. Without complaint, he took her back to her dorm.
    She was delighted when she found out he was from Atlanta too. He was so positive and involved with different organizations at the school, unlike some of the guys she grew up with. He was a volunteer at Loaves and Fishes, a local soup kitchen in Washington, and seemed to keep busy and stayed focused. She liked him so much she let him believe he convinced her she would go to hell if she pledged a sorority or a “secret society” as he called it. She never told him she didn’t pledge because she didn’t have the money.
    Her lips curved slightly upward thinking about how they would go out and he always made it a point to get her back to the dorm by eleven. He didn’t know that when he left, she would change her clothes and meet her friends to go to the club. She liked him but he was a square. He talked about God and his career all the time. She stayed with him because he was so fine and dependable.
    He talked a lot, and although she found some of the things he was saying hard to believe, she stayed anyway. No one else was knocking on her door for a date. Besides, he was a free ride home to Atlanta. Somehow she became attached to him, although something inside of her was telling her to stay away from him. Against her better judgment, she stayed with him even when she began to realize they had little in common.
    The day he took her to his home church in Atlanta was life changing. Bishop Moore stood to preach. She had never heard preaching like that before. It was so different from the preaching she heard in the church she grew up in. His message was more life application than repetitive statements. She held on to every word. There was something about him that drew her to the altar that day. Not only did she get saved, she joined the church. She was later baptized there and now she sat, waiting to preach her first sermon.
    She heard the choir finishing their second song. She stood and walked to the podium. It was time.
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    â€œDaughter, where did you learn to preach like that?” Bishop yelled over the noise at the restaurant.
    â€œI guess it was all those years of sitting in the Pentecostal church growing up, and your teaching of homiletics and hermeneutics.”
    The private room in the restaurant was filled with Kingdom Faith people. When they got together, they were loud. There was a feeling of family, with everyone happy and joking with each other. First Lady Moore complimented Misha’s mother on her hat, and they were deep in discussion about shopping.
    â€œWell now that you’re a minister, we can really put you to work in the church. You ready?” Bishop asked Misha.
    â€œWell, Bishop, I guess I’m as ready as I can be. I’ll have to talk with Roger first.”
    â€œAnything we should know about? Should I get out my formal white robe? You know, the one I use for weddings?”
    â€œBishop, don’t start. Let Mimi enjoy this day first,” Roger quickly chimed in. Everybody at the table began laughing loudly as Roger wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow.
    Misha looked over at her grandmother frowning at Roger. “Grandma, are you all