The harmonic sounds emanating from "The People's Church" could be heard from the other end of the block on Kipper street. "The People's Church" had just been built a year ago and the freshly polished brass bells on top of the church gave it a nice touch. For being the third Sunday morning in January, the African American church rejoiced like it was Easter Sunday. Even if Tony decided to come to church today (which he never did) he may have a tough time finding a place to sit because all of the pews were full.
The folksy audience in the crowd swayed back and forth holding their hands up to the heavens as sounds from the choir grew louder. Tony wouldn't dare come to the church anyways because he couldn't stand to be around his ex- girlfriend Keisha. It bothered him that she got full custody of their 6 month old son Clarence and the child support he was paying bore a hole deep within his long gangster pockets. He was already two weeks behind in his child support payments. Tony had thought about merking the broad that hardly ever let him see his son but he couldn't. Deep down he knew he'd make a lousy father and Keisha was proving to be a good mother.
The crowd grew quiet as Keisha stepped down from amidst the choir and stepped up to the mike. She looked absolutely beautiful even though her long navy blue gown matched the others in the choir. Her athletic figure made her prominent amongst the others.
The piano softly warmed up as she got ready to sing her favorite song "His eye is on the Sparrow". Keisha scrutinized the crowd until she finally spotted her grandmother winking at her and nodding her head.
The piano got a little louder and faster and it was soon her time to start the song. All eyes were on her but she was not in the least bit nervous and knew she would not flub because she knew the song since she was 15.
Keisha had a few more seconds before it was time to open her mouth and she quickly thought about Tony. What was that loser doing right about now? Probably still sleeping and all hung over at his apartment.
Keisha quickly relinquished the thought and opened her mouth starting off the song right on key. The crowd became enthralled and hung onto her every word. She was the best singer of the group and it felt good to be the star. She made a point of shifting her gaze like a lighthouse giving every member of the audience a chance to make eye contact and see her pretty face. Some of the members were teary eyed but she was already used to this. Keisha gave a grandiose performance as usual then quickly took her seat back within the choir. People were still staring at her after she sat down.
A well dressed man in a jet black suit approached the podium holding a thick leather Bible. He was the pastor of the church and excited to get started. Pastor Brimba laid his Bible on the podium and leaned towards the mike to greet the church. A few deacons sitting on a pew behind him pulled on their pant legs showing off their checkered socks and freshly polished wing tipped shoes.
While the pastor spoke Keisha shifted her gaze beyond the nave of the church and towards the vestibule. Her moment of fame was over and she always had a bad habit of daydreaming throughout the service. She squinted her eyes trying to see beyond the glass panel of the entrance doors and saw what looked like a badged emblem on somebody's arm wearing a dark blue shirt. Then it dawned on her. The police! The nosy pigs were here so something must be happening. Before she could even fully assimilate the situation she felt a tap on the shoulder from behind. It startled her and almost made her jump in her seat.
A female red headed officer in uniform wearing too much perfume whispered something into her ear that would change her life forever. The flat chested officer lent out a hand and the two of them slinked out towards the back exit. The words "There's been an emergency. You need to come now." buzzed around in Keisha's mind like a swarm of bees as she followed the officer out into the corridor.
When they reached the hallway there was a handful of uniforms talking to a teenage girl weeping tears all over her new flowery Sunday dress. The weeping girl's name was Tabitha and she was only 16 years old standing 5ft. 4" and sporting a French braid that almost touched the tip of her butt.
Officers clustered around her with pens and note pads hanging onto her every word. Keisha felt her heart tremor like a 9.0 earthquake as she wended towards the devastated girl. Tabitha was in charge of the church nursery and this could not be good news.
"What's going on? What happened to Clarence?" Demanded Keisha hoisting her lanky arms onto her hips. Tabitha tried to pull herself together and accepted a handkerchief from one of the friendly officers.
"A man came in wearing a ski mask. I tried to stop him but he flashed a piece. He just took Clarence and ran!" She pouted burying her innocent face into her hands and weeping like a baby.
Keisha saw her world crash down like a wrecking ball being smashed into the side of an old abandoned building. This couldn't be happening, no, not her. She had dedicated her life to Jesus and did good in the community. Her 6 month old baby Clarence was the light of her world. Nobody could take him away from her. Not even God.
Keisha was too distraught to cry. Her only instincts were to run away and search for her 6 month old baby herself at any cost. Keisha ran down the hall screaming at the top of her lungs and quickly tripped over her high heels. As she laid on the ground in the fetal position screaming officers rushed to her rescue. Then it finally dawned on her.
Tony.
Tony had to be behind all of this.