Free My Father's Gift by Mary M Hall-Rayford Page B

out she would be back before they left.  She drove back to the tournament only to discover that Carlos had indeed played out his participation, but his friends were still playing.  While waiting for them, she was introduced to Pastor Thomas by Brandon who was also at the tournament with Reggie.  D’Cerner was not very impressed with the fact that she called herself, “Pastor Covey Thomas” when they were introduced.  She felt that since they were not in church, there was no need for titles.  She introduced herself as D’Cerner Everett and left it at that.  Pastor Thomas inquired as to which she church she attended and what her responsibilities were, if any, and what she did for a living.  D’Cerner responded with her usual graceful aplomb, but she didn’t care for the inquisition.  Brandon mentioned to Pastor Thomas that D’Cerner had written several books and when she indicated an interest, offered to get some from D’Cerner’s car.  D’Cerner gave him her car keys and told him where she was parked.  While waiting for him to return, D’Cerner noticed that Cal had not attempted to approach her or to even speak to her.  She couldn’t help but wonder why, but it didn’t bother her too much since he was refereeing the current match.
    After Brandon returned with the books for Pastor Thomas, D’Cerner found herself a seat on the other side of the gymnasium and patiently waited for the game to end.  While she waited, Pastor Thomas and some others had also decided to find refuge near where she was sitting.  Although Pastor Thomas appeared not to be speaking directly to D’Cerner, she made sure she could hear her conversation with the other people to whom she was talking.  She was apparently quite proud of the fact that none of her members would ever consider marrying anyone in their church because they all believed they were truly brothers and sisters.  She also commented on how people mistake the voice of God with the voice of the devil and get misled into all sorts of tragedies.  From the angle at which she sat and turned her head, it appeared she wanted to make sure that D’Cerner heard her.
    She did.
    Finally, after the game was over, Cal acknowledged D’Cerner’s presence long enough to ask if she had met his pastor.
    “Did you meet my pastor?” he asked.
    “Yes, I did.” 
    “Okay, well I’ll call you later.”
    “I’ll be there.”
      As D’Cerner was leaving the building, she heard the word bondage.   She looked around to see if anyone was talking to her and not finding anyone, just shook her head.  Before she could get out of the door she heard the word again and turned to see Pastor Thomas looking in her direction.
    “She has her members in bondage and the shackles need to be broken.”
    “So what do you want me do?” D’Cerner asked.
    “Help him to see the truth and that he needs balance in his life.”
    “Now how am I supposed to do that when he won’t hear anything negative about his precious pastor and acts as though he doesn’t want to talk to me?”
    ”Patience will win in the end.  Nothing will be accomplished in haste.”
    “Okay, okay.  But you know me.  I’m subject to blow it.”
    D’Cerner left the building, but not before praying a deliverance prayer for everyone in the building all the way out to her car.  After she took Carlos and his friends home, she went back to the Stradus Center, hoping that the contractors would be finished with their work.  They were just replacing the torn out wall when she arrived.  After writing them a check, when they finished, she locked up and went home.
    She didn’t expect Cal to call that night and she was not disappointed.  He called a few nights later and they discussed the outcome of the tournament and what she thought of his pastor.  While talking, they both realized that an inexplicable discomfort had crept into the conversation.  No matter what either of them did to try to eradicate the gloom that seemed