Sedrick said a small prayer as he stuck the key into the ignition. "Come on, start. Please start." Sedrick was not a religious man so the prayer was more to himself than to God. The car sputtered a couple of times then died. He pumped the gas a few times then turned the key again. The car started up with the usual clunks and clanks of a twenty year old engine.

After driving the ten miles to the Brotherhood of United Bathlic Monks monastery where he grew up after his parents died he pulled his Zephyr into one of the few parking spots in the small parking lot behind the monastery and got out. After walking a few steps Sedrick turned and looked at his car. "She's not a bad car, we've been through a lot together; even been to Hell and back. Hell, Michigan that is." Sedrick chuckled to himself as he thought of that small town in Michigan and his discovery of it while at a conference he attended with the High Priest of the Bathlic Brotherhood in the next town over. He turned and headed to the back door of the old building that was his home not so long ago.

"Sedrick, welcome my boy, your just in time, there about to start serving." The High Priest said as he took Sedrick's hand and shook it for all it was worth.

"It's good to see you to old man." Sedrick said smiling broadly. The Priest lead Sedrick to the cafeteria where he took his place in line to help serve. The Priest left to take care of some other chores.

"How's life in middle school Sedrick?" Nissum asked as she took her place beside him.

"Not bad." he said, "parent/teacher conferences are a pain though, every parent thinks their child can do no wrong, so it is a shock to their system when I inform them other wise. That usually gets an argument started. It has been a stressful week, but all in all not bad."

The homeless people of the community started filtering in so Sedrick went to work filling bowls of soup and bread while passing them out as the ragged souls filed by. Each one thanking him for his generosity. Sedrick payed no attention to them as he continued to fix the food.

After everyone had gone through the line hand no one else was coming Sedrick stood back and watched the ragtag array of people eat their meal. One of the ladies there reminded him of Lucy, a girl he knew in grade school, when she dropped her tray. Lucy was just like her, clumsy. He often wondered how they could live in filth. Sedrick knew he was fortunate to be where he was, but could not help wonder about those who had nothing. It was then that Sedrick was jarred back into reality by an old man who did not look like he had a bath in weeks, tugged on his coat sleeve.

"I'm sorry. I guess I zoned out for a minute, I'll fix your plate." Sedrick thought about someone who ignored him when he was hungry at a café two weeks ago when he went to Seattle to pick up some supplies for the monastery.

"What happened to your face?" The old man said leaning forward.

"What's it to you!" Sedrick said a little annoyed at the intrusion of his past.

"Oh nothing, but I know who you are and I was wondering if you would like to find the people who killed your parents and gave you that lovely beauty mark across your face."

"How do you know about that?!" Sedrick growled angrily because of the painful memories that were being brought to the surface against his will.

"I was the one those idiots were gunning for. Those morons shot up the wrong house, I lived next door."

Sedrick starred at the man in disbelief for a moment before grabbing the man by his shirt collar and dragging him to the kitchen storage room behind the cafeteria.

" Alright," Sedrick said as he let the man go. "Tell me what you've heard."

"Only that all of them are dead but one and he has been living in Seattle for the last several years, I don't know exactly where, but he is there."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because it has been on my conscience for many years and I can't stand it any longer. I had to make it right and the only way I knew to do that was to come clean and tell you. I'm sorry it had to happen to you."

"Yeah, but it did."

Sedrick sat down on a crate next to the wall. After thinking for a minute he looked up at the man. "Seattle huh? Then that is where I am headed."
Sedrick3True1Lucy1MuseIntro