Free Good to Me by LaTonya Mason Page A

guaranteed to chase away the lonelies.”
    “Maybe I will.”
    He went back to his desk after checking on the other workers. He knew exactly what Brother Lee was talking about. He condemned
     himself for prescribing the fellowship as a cure-all for loneliness. He had been leading the fellowship for two years and
     still had to deal with the aching in his heart to be loved.
Yes
, he scoffed,
Jesus is all I need
.
But it sure wouldn’t hurt to know love on this side of heaven
. He opened the quality assurance paperwork on his desk, and, like Brother Lee, began to pore over his work.
    Later that evening, Joseph went to the chapel for Bible study. He liked the evangelist who was coming in to teach tonight.
     Evangelist Wilhimena Graves was an older woman he could tell knew what she was talking about. He sat at the piano as usual
     to open up with one or two hymns. He played “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms of Jesus,” as the group of twenty men sang along.
     Instead of playing another hymn, he began playing the chords to a song he felt that God helped him to compose. He closed his
     eyes when he saw the looks of confusion upon the men’s faces. There used to be a time when he would’ve been too shy or scared
     to sing in front of a group of people. In fact, he knew that he couldn’t sing, but he kept practicing, training his voice,
     and asking God for the gift of singing. He opened his mouth to see how well he had fared.
    I know in Whom I’ve believed
    I know Whose grace I’ve received
    Oh, oh Lord, thank You for blessing me.
    I know Whose words I’ve confessed
    And I know that I shall be blessed
    Oh, oh Lord, thank You for loving me.
    Now-ow, Lord. Hon-or Your Word.
    Keep me in Your will
    I promise to stand still.
    Oh, oh Lord, thank You for blessing me.
    When he opened his eyes, he saw the men standing with their arms outstretched toward heaven. Tears were streaming down their
     faces. Again, he realized that God had answered another prayer. Evangelist Graves walked over to him and took the microphone.
    “Brother, stand up,” she admonished him. She turned to the crowd. “Y’all stretch your hands toward this brother. He is anointed.”
     The men did as she said. She turned back to him and said, “Brother, God says He has heard every one of your requests. And
     just like He answered you tonight, He is going to answer you concerning your release from this place.” The young man lifted
     his hands to receive her utterances. “Mark my word,” she continued. “Your days here are numbered.”
    After the services, Joseph went back to his room encouraged.

Chapter 7
    “GOOD MONDAY MORNING, IESHA,” Charity greeted. “How long have you been here?”
    “Hey. I got here around eight thirty. I just came on in after I dropped the kids off at school.”
    “Is everything all right at home? Because the sister I grew up with doesn’t show up anywhere early.”
    “Well, this is the new me. Since our talk at Momma’s yesterday, I decided that I don’t have to prove nothing to anyone anymore—except
     to myself. So, I’m turning over a new leaf.”
    Charity hugged her. “Praise God. Does this mean you’ll be going to church on Sundays?”
    “Slow down, evangelist Holyfield, don’t sling me into the ring just yet. I’mma do one thing at a time. And today, I just wanna
     learn how to do my job and be good at it.”
    Charity looked away. “Well, that’s a good start.”
    “Don’t look so sad. I’mma get back to church real soon. I’ll probably come to yours because y’all got more men in your church
     than they do at daddy’s church.”
    Iesha was the only one laughing. “Cherry, you all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine.” She forced a smile. “Just thinking of the best way to start the day here. Let me go and put my things down
     and—”
    “Hm-uhm. You lying. Did you talk to Emmitt and find out who that girl was he was with? Or if that’s his baby?”
    “No, I’m not even thinking about Emmitt,