AASC Short Story

Crime Doesn't Pay!

by Megan Nel

   Kendall pulled the car into the church parking lot and immediately Jordan felt

even more uneasy than before.

    “You didn’t tell me we’re tagging a church.”

    “Well we are. Do you have a problem with that?” asked Kendall.

    Jordan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He really wanted to be on Kendall’s

good side.

    “No, I don’t.” He lied.

    “Good then you can carry the paint.”

    A few minutes into spray painting Jordan heard something. It was footsteps!

They were going to get caught!

    “Someone’s coming!” Jordan whispered frantically to Kendall.

    “What! Let’s get out of here!” Kendall practically shouted.

    The boys piled the paint into the black backpack. The footsteps came closer and

a man called out,

    “Hey! Is someone there?”

   Kendall took off running back to the car, leaving Jordan with the paint. He quickly

hid it behind one of the bushes and ran after Kendall.

   “Stop!” the man yelled after them.

   Kendall ignored him and jumped into the car, started the engine, and began to

drive away. Jordan reached the car just as Kendall pulled away. When they were a

safe distance from the church Jordan furiously turned to look at Kendall.

   “You were going to leave me!” Jordan spat.

   “No, I was just uh... turning the car round to come get you.” Kendall said

nervously.

   “You’re lying!” Jordan declared. He crossed his arms and looked out of the

window.

   “Well, maybe if you’d kept a better lookout we could have reached the car earlier,

and I wouldn’t have lost my paint!” Kendall snapped.

   Jordan turned to face Kendall again.

   “If I hadn’t heard the footsteps we’d both had been caught for sure.”

   They drove in silence for a few tense minutes when Kendall stopped the car and

told Jordan to get out.

   “This isn’t even my block!” Jordan complained.

   “Well then, I suggest you start walking. You have a lot of ground to cover.” He

paused then smiled cruelly.

   “Oh, and don’t bother hanging out with me again, you’re far too boring for my

taste.” With that he drove off.

   Twenty minutes later Jordan arrived back home. He unlocked the door and

quietly headed upstairs. He went to his room and fell onto his unmade bed.

How could Kendall just dump him like this? He had promised that if Jordan

helped with this ‘paint job’ as he had called it, Jordan will be allowed into the ‘cool

kids’ group. Jordan knew there was no way Kendall would allow him in now; Kendall

had made that very clear. If only...

   Thinking these thoughts he drifted off to restless sleep.

   Jordan and his family arrived at church the next day. The same church he had

vandalized with Kendall the night before. Everyone around them was talking about

the ‘horrid’ thing that someone did to the building the previous evening. Jordan saw a

few people glance over at him and felt as though they knew he was responsible for

this.

   His mother turned to him and asked if he was okay.

   “Yes...Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?” Jordan answered quickly.

   His mother frowned slightly, then said. “You just look somewhat pale.”

   “I guess I’m just a little tired.” That wasn’t a complete lie, he hadn’t rested last

night.

   The music began and everyone started singing; that is, everyone except Jordan.

   One of the elders went to the front and gave the announcements; the vandalism was

mentioned, of course.

   Pastor John took his place at the pulpit, prayed, and then began his sermon.

   “Please open your Bibles to Proverbs 1.” The sound of rustling pages filled the

building. Pastor John began to read.

   At first Jordan wasn’t paying attention to the sermon, but he soon found himself

unable to think of anything but what Pastor John was saying. This sermon seemed to

be aimed straight at him.

   Pastor John was explaining about how godless friends will lead you down the

path of eternal destruction. Jordan knew he was going down that road. He sat with

tears in his eyes as the sermon finished.

   When the service ended, Jordan searched for Pastor John. He found him talking

to Mr. Bower, the man who had almost caught him the previous evening.

   “May I please talk to you?” Jordan asked.

   “Certainly!” Pastor John replied. He led them to his office in the back. Pastor

John told Jordan to take a seat.

   “What’s wrong Jordan?” He asked the crying boy.

   “I’m so sorry, sir.” Jordan said and cried harder.

   “However so?” Pastor John asked.

   Jordan spent the next few minutes explaining his story through sniffs and tears.

By the time he finished Pastor John was next to him and patting his back

reassuringly. Jordan apologized over and over again.

   “Jordan, what you did was wrong. But I’m very proud of you for admitting your

mistake.” Pastor John said returning to his seat.

   “I would like to repair the damage I’ve done.” Jordan said. “But I don’t have

enough money to pay for paint. I’m willing to do anything to help.”

   Pastor John thought for a moment then said, “I may have a solution to that

problem. We’ll supply the paint for you, then you can paint it for us. If you’ll mow the

lawn and help with cleaning up you can pay us back in just a few months. How does

that sound?”

   Jordan sat up straight and answered. “I’ll be more than willing to help with that.”

   Pastor John stood up and said. “You should also apologize to Mr. Bower though;

you gave him quite a big fright.”

   “I will.” Jordan promised. He exited through the door and searched for Mr. Bower.