A Song Of Redemption

by Todd Kirby

of his fries, he said, “Can we just go ride?  You know, down by the river or someplace?”

  Ratchet smiled an uneasy smile.  “Yeah... sure kid.  Whatever you want.” he said.  Then he got some cash out of his wallet and laid it on the table.

  As the two got up and started for the door, Jeremy yelled out, “Thanks Jimmy, the burger was great!”

  Jimmy waved from behind the bar and yelled back, “Glad you liked it kid. Good to see you back.”

  Jeremy and Ratchet mounted up and started their engines.  “You lead, kid.” Ratchet said.  And with that, the two took off down the road.  Jeremy wasn’t sure where he wanted to go, but he wanted to ride.  The fresh air and sunshine always made him feel alive.  When he rode, Jeremy could think about whatever he wanted, or nothing at all.  As they rode down by the river, he remembered why it was one of his favorite places to ride.  On one side were thick, low-lying trees waving in the breeze, like fans on race day, cheering on their favorite driver.  On the other side was the river, flowing as free as Jeremy felt inside.  He pulled over at a campsite beside the river and turned off his bike.

  Jeremy walked over to the river’s edge and picked up a few flat rocks.  One by one, he started skipping them along the river.  Ratchet came up beside him and said, “What’s on your mind, kid?”

  “Tell me about Christians.” said Jeremy.

  Ratchet started to laugh, expecting a much more serious response.  “What about Christians?” he said.

  “I once told you that you seem to know a lot about Christians for someone who isn’t one,” Jeremy said frankly, ”and you told me that conversation was for another time.  Well, it’s another time now.”

  Ratchet looked down at the ground and put his hands on his hips.  “Yeah,” he said, “I guess it’s time.”  Ratchet picked up some flat rocks and began skipping them beside Jeremy.  “I guess it all started back when Mr. and Mrs. Berry were bikers…”

  “Wait, what?” Jeremy interrupted. “Mrs. Berry was a biker?”

  “Yeah,” said Ratchet, “Didn’t you ever see her tattoos?”

  “No,” Jeremy replied with surprise, “I never saw her tattoos.”

  “Yeah, she tried to keep them covered up once she left the riders.” Ratchet continued.  “Anyway, back when they were riders, Elizabeth… I mean, Mrs. Berry… got convicted of something or other about being a biker, and she wanted to have a ‘normal’ life.  So she started going to church, and got involved with the children's choir.  By the time I came around, Hank had stopped riding with the gang as well, and was just working on bikes to earn a living.  Hank found out that it’s dangerous when you’re involved in the biker life but don’t have a gang.”

  “So what happened?” Jeremy prompted.

  Ratchet went on, “We always thought that the guy who killed Hank was a biker from another gang.  He probably wasn’t much older than me, trying to earn his way into a gang by pulling off his first job or something.”

  “The guy with the Aces-and-eights tattoo?” Jeremy asked.

  “Yep.” Ratchet affirmed.  “Anyway, ever since then, it seems like Christians keep walking into my life from time to time to make their presence known.  First it was Mrs. Berry, then in high school it was Janet Wilcox, then Officer Murphy.  It’s almost like God was... chasing me.”

  “So did you ever try going to church or anything?” said Jeremy.

  “Nah. I mean, I’ve been to church…” Ratchet replied, “but not regular or anything.  They all say the same things, you know?  We’re all sinners.  Jesus died for sinners.  We should live for Jesus.  I don’t know, kid, I’ve been living a long time without Jesus, and I’m doing just fine.”

  After a brief pause, Jeremy said, “I’m glad you told me all that, because it feels like God’s chasing me too.”

  “I figured as much.” said Ratchet.  “Listen kid, you’re old enough to make your own decisions, but everybody I know who’s walked away from biker life has gotten in a bad way.”

  “Except Mrs. Berry.” Jeremy corrected.

  “Except Mrs. Berry.” Ratchet agreed. “But you don’t know what all she went through either.  She lost all of her friends, her husband was killed and her own son wanted nothing to do with her.”

  “And yet, she seemed to think it was worth it.” Jeremy countered.

  “Jeremy,” Ratchet said with a sigh, “you cannot be a biker and be a Christian, do you understand that?  We do things that Christians aren’t allowed to do.  You can’t ride the fence, eventually you’ll have to choose one lifestyle or the other.”

  Jeremy dropped the rest of the rocks he had in his hands.  “I know.” he said.  “You can still make that decision too, you know.”

  “I’m too old to change.” said Ratchet.  “Listen, if you’re done trying to convert me, Charlotte and the other girls have a party planned for you tonight.  You gonna be up for it?”

  “Sure.” Jeremy said with a smile, “I’m always up for a party with the ladies.”

  And the two friends hopped back on their bikes and started them up.  As they rode back to Jimmy’s bar, it started getting dark.  By the time they arrived, the neon signs from the bar lit up the night like some Nashville honky tonk.  This was the part of being a biker that Jeremy liked, hanging out with his friends, partying, and making time with the ladies.  What was so wrong with that?

  As Jeremy and his friends partied late into the night, thoughts of Christians and Christianity drew further from his mind.  He didn’t worry about what was wrong or right, or what anybody else would think about his actions.  He just enjoyed his time with his friends… until morning.

  When Jeremy woke up, he felt awful.  His mouth was dry and he had a screaming headache.  Was that blood on his forearm?  What happened there?  Jeremy had no idea, but at some point last night he must have gashed his arm on something.  Speaking of ‘what happened there’, he heard a light snoring. Looking in the bed next to him he saw Charlotte, evidently asleep or passed out.  A hangover was generally a small price to pay for a night of debauchery, but what Jeremy was feeling wasn’t just a hangover, it was remorse.  First night out of jail, and Jeremy was already growing disenchanted with biker life.

  In the weeks that followed, Jeremy got back into the swing of things at the shop.  Working on bikes always made him feel useful, and now was no different.  About a month after Jeremy got out of jail, he was riding past a bookstore and he noticed that they had comic books.  As a smile crept across his lips, Jeremy parked his bike and went in the store.  After buying the latest issue of Green Lantern, he sat down at a table and read through it, thinking how Mac would have loved it.  At that point, he knew what he needed to do.  Jeremy got back on his bike and rode down to the jail.

  When he pulled up in the parking lot, Jeremy got a sinking feeling in his stomach.  It had only been a month since he was locked up on the inside.  Nonetheless, Jeremy was resolved to do this.  He walked up to the front desk and asked to visit one of the inmates.

  “Bonds?  What are you doing here?” said the guard.  “I thought you got out over a month ago.”

  “I did.” Jeremy confirmed.  “I wanted to give something to Mac, can I see him?”

  “Well,” said the guard, “I suppose so, but you know I’ve gotta search you for contraband before I let you in.”

  “I know.” said Jeremy.

  After the guard searched Jeremy and was confident he had nothing inappropriate on him, the guard agreed to take the comic to Mac.  He set it on the inside of the glass and Jeremy heard the familiar call “Visitor!”  As Mac came to the window, he saw the comic and smiled.  Picking up the phone on the inside, Mac motioned for Jeremy to do the same.

  When Jeremy picked up the phone, he heard Mac say, “Hey Bonds, what are you doing here?”  Looking at the comic, he finished, “Is this for me?”

  “Yeah, man.” said Jeremy.  “I was passing by a bookstore, and when I saw it I thought of you.”

  Mac said, “Aw thank
s man, but the church lady got me this issue last week.  I’ve already read it.”

  “Oh.” Jeremy said, somewhat disappointed.  “Well… I just thought…”

  “Have you read it?” Mac asked.

  “Yeah,” Jeremy responded, “I really liked it.”

  “When the whole lantern corps was caught up in that fight, I didn’t think they were gonna make it back in time.”

  “I know, right?” said Jeremy.  “And that freaky alien chick, she was just creepy.”

  “Aw man, best villain ever…” Mac said with a smile.

  Suddenly Jeremy was inspired again.  It wasn’t just the comic book that Mac enjoyed, it was the personal connection.  Nobody else would talk about Green Lantern with Mac, but Jeremy would.  As the two discussed the current issue in depth, including what might happen in the next issue, Jeremy got a familiar feeling.  It was the same feeling he got the first time he gave Mac a comic book - the feeling that he was helping someone.  The feeling that he was making life a little more tolerable for another human being who could really use a boost.

  Jeremy lost track of time, but when the two had discussed about