Make Room

The alley behind the church was usually well-kept. The small brick building used to be a restaurant, one that held many personal family memories. Good food paired with a warm and inviting atmosphere. One that lingered even when the paint started peeling and a few windows were boarded up. The door had been locked and the building sat in dingy darkness for years.

Kim sat on a tree trunk that had appeared one day, sideways and threatening to roll away. She had wrestled with it, cleaned it, and sat it up properly to be used as a stool. The alley was no longer well kept, only because it fit in with everything else. Just enough trash and uncut weeds for obscurity.

Her foot tapped as if dancing, her hands wrung in her lap. For the past six weeks, her thoughts had been circular. Full of fear. Kim thought she had more faith than that. Had they raided churches yet? She should have stayed better informed, but it was all too horrifying to witness. She had to break it up. Focus on her work during the week, then allow some space on Wednesday to get caught up on the news.

Cecilia had taken the bus yesterday, at six exactly. They had decided that traveling by bus might be safer than a plane but Kim wasn’t sure. The text from this morning told her they had left Alabama, just touching Tennessee. Only a two-hour drive and it was nearing hour four. Kim’s texts had gone unanswered.

Hopefully, the accommodation would suffice. The Pastor’s office had been rearranged. If anyone asked, it was a renovation. The adjoined bathroom was finally fixed. The desk was cleared so Isidro had a place to study. The two chairs became two small futons. If inspected, the room would feel cramped but standard.

Earlier that day, Kim had brought her minifridge and microwave from home, just in case the office door had to be locked. The church had a kitchen that Cecilia knew she was free to use. Some food from the pantry had been set aside for her.

Be ye also ready. But Kim hadn’t expected this. Cecilia’s husband had a green card and a beautifully clean record. A Christian as well. Kim had met him at a Dallas bus stop. His backpack had been one from the college bookstore so she had brought it up. They conversed the entire ride to the campus.

Now, he was gone. No one knew where. He had been coming home from work at the worst time and was apprehended while Cecilia covered Isidro’s eyes, watching from the window. The man who had become one of Kim’s closest friends was unjustifiably contained and nothing could be done about it.

Isidro Quesada Sr. had told his family to call Pastor Kimesh Johnson if they were ever in trouble. The way she called him when she had gotten laid off and her rent was behind or when her car had broken down and he let her borrow his. Their hands were open with generosity for each other and Kim had a terrifying, engulfing feeling she would never see him again.

Her phone dinged and it startled Kim so bad, she dropped it. With a flurry of motion, she bent down to retrieve it and read the text. The bus had broken down and caused a delay. They were in Chattanooga boarding a new bus. Cecilia hadn’t meant to worry Kim but her phone had died. Kim exhaled, her heart slowing to a normal beat.

It would take a couple of hours. She could take a quick break, and come back. As soon as she stood, her phone rang. A custom ringtone, clipped from a song performed by the church’s small choir.

Kim answered, “You guys okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. Don’t worry about us.” Cecilia’s accent was very light, but it gave warmth to every word she spoke. “No, this is something different. I feel horrible and I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

Kim’s brow pinched. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” Cecilia trailed off. Kim heard the soft huff of her sigh. “Before we left, I went to check on the neighbors. They usually leave for work at the same time. Reyna and Lucas, you remember?”

They were a fun-loving couple. Whenever Kim visited her friends, Lucas was always working in the apartment’s communal garden. He would laugh and make jokes, only happy if everyone else laughed with him. Reyna would tell him to ‘be serious for once’ and offer Kim food while complaining about working with her husband. Her bright smile betrayed her feigned frustration.

“I went over and the kids were alone.” Cecilia’s voice had the slightest tremble. “They hadn’t left the house in days because their parents hadn’t been back. They would never do that.”

Laughter and a bright smile faded to darkness in Kim’s mind. Static filled the space where words should have been. Kim looked down at first, then at both sides of the alley. As if she knew a direction to follow.

Finally, she spoke. “I’m so sorry.” It felt pitiful. Her remorse couldn’t bring them back.

“I didn’t want to leave them there so I brought them with me.” The tremble was growing, “I’m sorry. I know it’s unfair. I just didn’t know what else to do. I know the church is small.”

It was. There was no basement or attic that could be fixed up for futons. The dining area had been turned into a nave. The only extra space was already cramped. Barely enough room for the one broken family it had been spruced up for.

“You did exactly what you were supposed to,” Kim said, walking inside, planning ahead. She only had a few members but they were dedicated. “Bring them. We’ll make room.”

Featured Photo by Pavel Danilyuk