Word of the day challenge: SECURITY

AI Artwork by CURSEJOURNEY

About 15 years ago I was taking the bus home.

Across the aisle from me in a bench seat ( so we were sitting face to face ) was a clean cut young man- and by clean cut I mean he had a crew cut,  his button up shirt had short sleeves and peeking from the little vee at his neck waste collar of a ribbed necked  white t-shirt.

He wore khakis and beside him was a backpack- I think it was beige, but I do remember it looked brand new.

What he did next, didn’t really surprise me.

The young man took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and then, very softly he began to pray to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When he opened his eyes they looked feverish. He was smiling. He was having a moment of bliss. Then he reached for his back pack and unzipped it.

Do you know that little voice – the one that screams to move, to not say what you were about to say- that voice. The little voice in my head doesn’t sound pleasant , but that’s probably good because when I hear it I listen and it hasn’t failed me.  It has kept me safe and secure through many a narrow scrapes.

I got up, my eyes never left his face and I headed to the front of the bus and every single hair on the back of my neck and arms was standing straight up.

When I turned around he was looking down into his backpack and then he fished out a granola bar.

He looked right at me and smiled.

I tapped the side of my nose and pointed at him.

He unwrapped his granola bar and I watched him scan one face after another and when he came back to me he chewed his bar slowly and then he reached down and zipped his backpack back up.

That weird young man was praying- and for what I don’t know. Maybe he was just really into granola bars.

Maybe.