Title: Shivering Jesus
Featuring: Hoyt Williams
Date: The Lords Year of 10
Location: Chicago
Jesus steps off the Greyhound bus where the click of his cowboy boots is muffled by the snow covering the concrete in the midst of a hard hitting Chicago Blizzard.
From Heavens pure bliss
To The Cold Gray Winter Sky
Jesus Christ Is Back
His mangy brown beard becomes covered with flawless white flakes of snow. He watches through the plums of his own breath as family’s get hugged by those waiting and they all step into these strange vehicles Jesus has only heard of, and seen from a distance. Technology is magic to Jesus as it’s made by man, and not his father. It’s been a long time since Jesus has breathed air, let alone arctic cold air. It hurts him, but yet it feels so right to him. So Alive. So Real. So Now.
Time ticks by and the bus pulls away as do the families and all that’s left is a shivering Jesus, standing in a desert of depressing; yet peaceful - whiteness. A blasé picture of the second coming of Christ -- in the year of who cares. Jesus is wearing boots, blue jeans, a leather jacket, a t-shirt, and a Harley Davidson bandana. Hoyt recommended the outfit to reduce suspicion. He was worried Jesus may come off looking like a terrorist in the fear fueled environment the world has become, or perhaps always was; only now with the internet.
True peace with ones inner voice can only be found in the harshest of coldness. When you have to stand and wait as the wind blows hard against you, while your skin burns as if it’s on fire confusing all your senses, and your body just wants to be left alone until suddenly you find yourself alone man-to-man with nothing but that little voice inside your head. He invites you in and takes you to small cabin with a fireplace. Its real to both mind and body only occasionally being shattered by the bursts of wind so cold the mind glitches for a moment and the body convulses with shiver, until the wind stops and your mind takes you back to the cabin and is the only tool left for survival.
The concept of free thought and a second voice in the head was something Jesus really had a hard time with his first time around. Jesus kept trying to escape the cabin, not understanding it’s his mind trying to save him. The white started to become specks of black as Jesus’ shivering turned into convolutions as his core temperature began to plummet.
Just before critical mass a Gold Hummer pulls up damn near hitting Jesus in the process. The door opens as out steps Jesus’ younger brother Hoyt Williams.
“Sorry I was late but the McRib is back for a limited time and there was a line in the drive thru. Throw your bags in the back and let’s roll.”
Jesus warms up as the heater blows hot saying nothing as he absorbs the machine he’s in. A far cry from the donkey he rode in on all those years ago, B.C.
“Facebook is blowing up since the news was spread that you were return,” Hoyt says.
“Is that some sort of a disease,” ponders Christ.
“we’ll yes it is a disease as is all uncontrolled information and thought. But its also fun and very addicting. “
“I must try this addiction you speak so highly of,” says Jesus playing with the heating controls.
“It’s not a good thing.”
“Then why can’t you stop? “
“Because it takes away the pain of living,” sighed Hoyt as he turned on the radio.
“Let’s Have a Toast” by Kanye West booms out of the speakers frightening Jesus. Music has changed dramatically since the last time Jesus graced Earth and the noise was more magic he didn’t fully understand. Heaven can see all but its more about seeing the soul and spirituality then it is about material possession and advancement. Without the eyes of man television or a football game is nothing more then colorful patterns that produce emotions. It’s the emotional impact the Gods see. Just as the human has no idea that in the eyes of an ant humanity is nothing more than clouds that occasionally cause stomp storms.
“How’s dad,” Hoyt asked.
“Grumpy, things have not been good since people gave up on him.”
After the few words the car went silent as the road traveled on, slowly yet sturdy in the blizzard ruined night. Finally they pulled into Hoyt’s apartment garage.
“I have a bed in my bedroom. Since you’re used to sleeping on straw I think the couch will be a nice treat. Plus you can catch up on Jersey Shore.”
“That will do but I really want to talk about a game plan to beat the devil,” Jesus spoke.
“Yea but I just took some sleeping pills and the winter wind depresses me to sleep. We’re going to talk to talk tomorrow.”
“But I suspect if we don’t talk now there won’t be a tomorrow as all this feels very thin,” Jesus worried.
“I know what you are saying, but I’m tired and don’t feel like talking so it will have to be tomorrow if at all.”
“Fuck it I’m tired too,” swore Jesus.
Good night
=HW=
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