Sorta Like a Rock Star(46)
CHAPTER 36
BITING INTO MY
YELLOW–GREEN APPLE—LIPS AND
FINGERS GET STICKY
CHAPTER 37
“Father Chee?”
“Yes, Amber?”
“Do you believe that I was a pretty good person before my mother died?”
“I know it. You still are a good person.”
“So it really doesn’t matter if we are good or not—bad things will still happen to us regardless?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
CHAPTER 38
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW
SPARROW MAKES A NEST OUT OF
WHAT I THREW AWAY
CHAPTER 39
“Father Chee?”
“Yes, Amber?”
“Why didn’t God turn the other cheek when Adam and Eve ate the apple? Why did He have to punish all of mankind for eating a damn apple?”
“It is a metaphor for wanting to know more than what we can handle. God tried to protect us from the consequences of knowledge, but we failed to listen.”
“Do you think I ate some metaphorical apple? Do you think my mother was killed because I pissed God off somehow? Did I fail to listen or something?”
“No. I do not think this. Not at all.”
“Then why was my mother killed?”
“I don’t know.”
CHAPTER 40
HOW MANY PIECES
OF BREAD SEPARATE THESE WORDS:
NEEDY, FINE, WASTEFUL?
CHAPTER 41
“Father Chee?”
“Yes, Amber.”
“Why do you keep coming here every day?”
“Because you are worth visiting.”
“Why?”
“Because you will come through this and be stronger on the other side. You will help people again someday.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes. It is inevitable.”
“So why do you need to come if it’s inevitable?”
“No need. I like visiting Amber Appleton. I want to be here when you are reborn—when you finally come through this and are stronger for it.”
“Is that why bad things happen—to make us stronger?”
“Maybe, but truthfully—I don’t know.”
“I miss my mom. She was a terrible mom, but I miss her. I really do.”
“I also miss my mother.”
“What are your parents like? Are they here in America or in Korea?”
“My parents were very good people. They are both dead now.”
“How did they die?”
“They were murdered.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“You did not ask.”
“How were your parents murdered?”
“Many years ago. In a detention camp.”
“What’s that?”
“It is a prison where people who criticize the North Korean government are taken.”
“What did your parents say about the government?”
“They said that people should be allowed to believe in Jesus and build churches.”
“That’s a crime?”
“It is in North Korea.”
“And they were killed in prison?”
“Yes.”
“Why would JC let them be killed after they stuck up for Him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is that why you became a priest here in America? Because of your parents?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So my parents’ death would mean something.”
“How does your being a priest make your parents’ death mean something?”
“They gave their lives for a good idea. Now I use my life to tell other people the good idea.”
“What’s the good idea?”
“That no matter how much evidence we have to prove that life is meaningless, we should believe that life makes some sort of sense—and that the story of Jesus is a good story, simply because it teaches us that we should be kind to others. That we should do whatever it takes, that we should sing soul music if it makes the lives of others better. That we should try to be good people, and love everyone.”
“Do you love the people who killed your parents?”
“I pray for them, and all like them.”
“But do you love them?”
“I don’t know.”
“You think that I’m going to be like you, don’t you? That’s why you come here every day?”
“I think you are going to be much better than me.”
“Why?”