Skeletons In My Closet

by Dynah Zale

  Once Garrett built up the courage to turn around, he looked straight into the face of God. God in all His infinite splendor was a huge beautiful mass of light that had no definition. There was no beginning and no end to Him. He had no physical characteristics. He was simply a mountain of light that engulfed the entire space.

  “Oh my God!" Garrett quickly placed his hand over his mouth realizing he used the Lord’s name in vain. "I didn't mean to say that. I meant to say… " He paused and looked up at Kiel. “What I meant to say was?” Garrett searched for the right words to say. "It's God." He trembled. Garrett’s heart thumped hard and fast.

  "Don't fear.” Kiel whispered in his ear. "We can see your heart."

  This was the first time Garrett actually looked down at himself. He panicked when he saw his heart beating right through his chest. His entire body was no longer covered with his mocha colored skin. His body was translucent. He watched in horror as blood pumped through his veins.

  “Don’t be alarmed, like I told you before. You’re still at the in-between point between the spirit world and earth. If you make it into heaven your body will disintegrate and you’ll be completely spirit.”

  Kiel took a step forward. "Father." Kiel knelt before God as a servant. "Garrett Dunn is here to account for his sins."

  "Garrett, are you at peace?" Instead of sounding like a strong disciplinarian God, sounded more like an old friend.

  "Yes, Father." The serene atmosphere helped Garrett be at ease.

  "Then I think it's time." At the sound of His voice a huge closet door swung open and thousands of skeletons came running out; each representing every occurrence of sinful thought, word or deed committed by Garrett throughout his life.

  One by one they stood in military formation directly in front of Garrett; waiting for him to account for the wrong he had done while on earth.

  Garrett’s eyes bulged, and he broke out in a heavy sweat before collapsing to the floor.

  Kiel sighed. He knew that this would happen sooner or later, it always did. It’s usually a shock for humans to see how many sins they have committed in their lifetimes. Kiel revived Garrett and once again he faced his sins. The sight of all those skeletons made him weep.

  “Father, I had no idea I had committed so many sins against you. I’m embarrassed for having this many skeletons to account for,” Garrett explained.

  “Most people believe that once they place that skeleton in the closet, they never have to see it again. That is until they face Me.” God moved around until He stopped at his throne. “Garrett, are you ready to revisit every aspect of your life?” The Father asked.

  “Yes.”

  Kiel tapped Garrett on his shoulder to get his attention. “God knows when you’re lying.”

  “Father, I’m really not ready.” Garrett confessed. “But I realize I have no other choice, but to face my past one final time. I can no longer hide.”

  “The truth always works.” Kiel gave Garrett a nod of approval.

  “We shall begin.” God replied.

  Chapter 3

  A convoy of black Chevy Suburban’s traveled through the tattered streets of Camden passing a number of abandoned houses, playgrounds littered with dirty hypodermic needles and storefronts loitered with drunks and drug dealers. The city of Camden, one of the poorest cities in the country, seemed to slip further into poverty and decay with each passing day, but Garret Dunn planned to change all that when he won the upcoming mayoral election in November.

  With his wife Mecca sitting beside him in the backseat of one of the SUVs, Garrett chatted on his cell phone with Lady Lanier, one of the most influential women in Camden. At eighty years old, this woman was considered the matriarch of the city. Over the span of sixty years she had held several prominent and prestigious positions in public service, including mayor.

  Lady Lanier did a lot to improve the lives of many city residents. She never gave a promise that she didn’t keep. That’s why to this day she maintains the power to persuade the people for whom they should cast their vote for on Election Day.

  Garrett exhaustingly sought after Lady Lanier’s endorsement day and night. If she blessed his campaign with her support that would guarantee a push in the polls and a strong likelihood that he would be the next elected mayor.

  “Yes ma’am and on behalf of me and my family I would like to express my condolences on the death of your great-grandson.”

  He listened to her from the receiving end of his cell phone.

  He responded, “My staff and I are well aware of the increase of bullying in the elementary schools and we are in the process of formulating an action plan to prevent the kind of tragedy that beset your great-grandson from happening to other young children.” Something Lady Lanier said caught Garrett off-guard. “You would like to know what these plans are in regards to fixing the problem.” Sawyer, Garrett’s campaign manager, frantically waved his arms and mouthed the word ‘NO’ from the front passenger seat. “Uh ma’am I would love to discuss this with you further, but we just pulled up to church.” He laughed heartily and threw his head back against the headrest. “Yes, I do love the Lord. Well, Lady Lanier, you have a good day and I will have my campaign manager call to arrange a time for us to meet. God Bless.” He politely pressed the end button to disconnect the call.

  “That was a close call,” Sawyer said as he wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. “That old woman is tough.”

  “She’s more than tough, every time I’m around her I feel like a kid sitting in the principal’s office. She peers down on me through those bifocals,” he pushed his black wire rim glasses to the bridge of his nose, “I feel like I’m being examined underneath this huge magnifying glass.”

  “That’s your mind playing tricks on you.” Sawyer laughed it off.

  “Perhaps she’s trying to discern what type of man you really are.” Mecca added. “It’s important to know if you’re being led by the Spirit,” Mecca twisted her perfectly painted pink lips, rolled her eyes and her gaze landed on Sawyer. “Or by Satan.”

  Sawyer pulled at his collar. His skin turned brighter than a beet. Sawyer Wasserman was well aware of how much Mecca loathed him. It was apparent form the moment they met. Mecca peered at him suspiciously like a criminal that couldn’t be trusted.

  Her feelings for him weren’t surprising. The truth was that most people wanted nothing to do with Sawyer. In the world of politics he was a very despised man. Most people hated him and very few trusted him like Garrett did. Sawyer Wasserman didn’t have any friends, only business associates and those relationships depended on what Sawyer could do for them. A lot of people used him, but he allowed it just to have somebody to talk to. That loneliness pushed Sawyer to live his life as a fast talking, manipulator whose only passion was making money.

  Garrett rubbed his hands together. “I know she’s going to put her support behind me. I can feel it. That woman genuinely likes me. She’s told me on numerous occasions how she thinks I’m the best representative of a family man.” He lovingly rubbed Mecca’s hand.

  “That’s a great point.” Sawyer added. “You are the American dream. You have a beautiful wife,” Sawyer’s obvious attempt to win Mecca over had no effect on her. She ignored him by looking out the window.

  “And two gorgeous children,” Sawyer added. He nodded his head towards the two Dunn children strapped in behind their parents. “But the kind of school reform she’s pushing for is nearly impossible.”

  Curiosity got the best of Mecca. “What exactly does she want?” She had to know what was going on.

  “She’s been lobbying for laws that will prosecute children, parents and school officials for ignoring any kind of school bullying, harassment or intimidation.” Sawyer replied. “She’s been a huge activist for change in the schools, but the current administration refuses to address the issue.”

  “But for her it’s personal.” Garrett cleaned his glasses. “Her grandson was found dead at the bottom of a pool. Apparently, he tie
d a huge boulder around his neck and threw it into the deep end of the city pool. He drowned.” That description left everyone in the vehicle silent; until Sawyer broke the mood.

  “I wonder what the kid did to make those kids pick on him.”

  Mecca rolled her eyes and snapped her head with attitude. “Don’t blame the victim. Mecca was upset and argued to defend this kid. “This was not that child’s fault!”

  “Mecca, I understand why you would feel this way, but it’s obvious this kid was an easy mark. He was too soft to endure a bit of teasing, name calling and jokes. So in the end he took the easy way out.”

  Mecca couldn’t believe Sawyer was so uncouth that he would say such things about a child. She whipped her head in her husband’s direction. “Do you agree with him?” Mecca asked.

  Garrett fidgeted around with his seat belt. He was going to pretend he was too preoccupied with the seat belt to pay attention to their conversation, but he knew Mecca wouldn’t fall for that trick. He took a deep breath before answering. “I can’t be as harsh as Sawyer, but it’s obvious this kid was weak. City kids cannot afford to be weak mentally or physically.”

  Mecca was shocked to hear her husband speak this way. “It sounds like you’re not going to address this problem seriously.”

  “I would, but it’s been kind of hard when the school superintendent won’t comment on the situation because he’s scared of losing his job, the mayor won’t say anything because he’s scared the state will come in and take control of the city’s government like they did in the past. So the entire issue has been swept under the rug.” Garrett complained. “In this kind of situation nobody wins. A kid is dead and the boys responsible were sent away to a boys’ home until their eighteenth birthdays with high probability that they will be back in the system within a year of being released.”

  “Another product of their environment.” Mecca sounded remorseful. “I can’t imagine enduring that much pain that I would consider killing myself. I wonder if he knew Jesus.”

  “Well Garrett, you don’t have to worry, because no matter what happens I’m going to make sure it’s you she endorses on Election Day.” Mecca couldn’t believe Sawyer was still talking. A headache was starting to form just from the sound of his voice.

  “I’ll vote for you on election day daddy.” Garrett’s five-year-old daughter, Imani hollered. Garrett turned around and stared at his two children. Imani, the oldest, was a natural at being daddy’s girl. She was sassy, intelligent and loved to be the center of everybody’s attention; especially her father’s. Imani batted her big brown eyes before turning her attention back to her Barbie doll. On Sundays, Mecca allowed Imani to wear her hair out. Long, black, curly tresses hung down her back and framed her face.

  To the right of Imani, ‘Lil Garrett, her baby brother slept soundly in his car seat. Tiny beads of perspiration dotted his caramel colored forehead. He snored lightly. His curly unmanageable hair stood recklessly all over his head. He looked so peaceful; the complete opposite of his earlier behavior. That’s when he woke up being a terror; picking fights and being mean to everybody in the house. He refused to get his hair combed and ran from his mother. Then he playfully poured a bowl of cereal over his head. Frustrated, Mecca gave up. Garrett took over and after he struggled to dress him again, he forced the boy into the SUV. The only way to keep him still was to strap him down. He cried loudly for twenty minutes until he finally fell asleep. Garrett sighed at his rambunctious son. It was so hard to keep his son in line; but he wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.

  The SUV came to a stop in front of New Directions Non-Denominational Church. Garrett peeped out the windows expecting to see reporters and photographers awaiting his arrival. “Sawyer, did you forget to call the papers and let them know where I would be this morning?”

  “Naw, I’m sorry I should have mentioned this earlier. I decided to save the photo op for later this afternoon at the hospital. I thought that if the cameras caught you visiting the sick it could make you look more compassionate for those in need.”

  “That was a good idea” Garrett save him a high five.

  “That’s why you pay me the big bucks. . . to make you look good.” Sawyer boasted.

  “I told you he was good.” Garrett winked at Mecca before jumping out to greet stragglers who were also off to a late start that morning.

  “He looks great.” Sawyer patted himself on the back.

  Mecca turned to see what Sawyer was referring to. She too had to admit the personal trainer Sawyer hired was doing wonders with her husband’s body. Garrett was never a big man, but now she could see broad shoulders. Instead of a slight protruding gut, he now had a well-defined waistline. Garrett’s tailor made cream colored suit flowed with every turn he made. Garrett came from a long line of men in public service. If he won this upcoming election he would be the youngest in his family to ever become mayor. At the ripe old age of twenty-nine he would join the prestigious ranks of his father who was a judge, and great grandfather who held the position of superintendent of the “colored” schools in Louisiana for over 35 years. His uncle was the current police chief in Saint Anne’s parish in Louisiana, and his first cousin was running for president of the city council.

  When Garrett finished speaking with that last potential voter he turned to find his entire family waiting impatiently for him. Imani tapped her black patent leather shoes against the pavement before releasing an exhausting sigh, “Daddy, I’m ready to go.”

  Garrett reached out for her hand. Together they climbed the church steps followed by Mecca carrying ‘Lil Garrett in her arms.

  Before going in Garrett looked back, “Hey Sawyer, I thought you said you were going to come in with us this Sunday.”

  “No, sir I’ll wait for you out here. I’ve always done my praying on Election Day.” He chuckled at his own lame sense of humor never looking up as he punched buttons on his blackberry.

  Once inside, Imani’s Sunday school teacher offered to take the children to the nursery. Then Mecca and Garrett were escorted to their normal seats in the exclusive but very private balcony seats.

  These seats were the most prominent and visible seats in the whole church. The church paid top dollar to make sure that members of these reserved balcony seats were very well cared for. Each Sunday, Mecca and Garrett sat on pews stuffed with imported swan feathers straight from Switzerland. For their convenience they had immediate access to a small refrigerator full of Perrier mineral water from the south of France, hot freshly brewed Blue Mountain Coffee flown in from Jamaica and fresh baked croissants served on silver plated platter trays.

  Mecca still couldn’t believe that these kinds of amenities were worth the twenty five thousand dollar donation they made. She would have been just as happy sitting in ‘the coach’ section of the church.

  Once seated the worship leader called for the scripture reading. Garrett flipped through the pages searching through the different books of the bible. Discouraged, he set the bible down next to him. “I believe they do this on purpose.”

  “What?”

  “They pick the smallest, least read books to read scripture from just to see me search through the bible, like I don’t know what I’m doing?”

  Mecca pulled out her well-worn and well-read bible and instantaneously flipped straight to the book of Titus. She pointed out the verse to him. “Just remember you may be able to fool the congregation and the voters, but you can’t fool God.”

  The congregation read in unison. Mecca stood close enough to Garrett to feel the buzz from his blackberry going off.

  Garrett answered it. “Hello”

  Mecca felt her body temperature shoot up several degrees. She tried to act as normal as possible, but Garrett’s behavior infuriated her. It was upsetting to know her husband refused to give two full hours to the Lord without interruptions.

  “This is a business call.” He whispered into Mecca’s ear. “I’m sorry I have to take this.” He kissed her on the cheek
before leaving the balcony.

  Mecca shifted in her seat and tried to focus her attention on the church announcements, but Garrett’s behavior gnawed away at her conscience. The longer she sat, the angrier she got. Unable to withstand it any longer Mecca got up to find out where he had gone.

  “Yes Lady Lanier you don’t know how much I appreciate this and I look forward to working with you in the near future.” Mecca found Garrett out on the church steps finishing up his call.

  Garrett released a triumphant yell, “I got it! I got her endorsement.”

  Sawyer jumped up and clicked his heels in the air. Then he scurried up those steps faster than a church mouse. “With her support this means there will be a lot of financial support coming your way.” He placed his arms around Garrett’s shoulders. “Now I can order some billboards and some television ads.”

  Mecca cleared her throat. Noticing her for the first time, the two men stopped talking

  “Umm, Church isn’t over.” Her tone was dry; a sure indicator that she disapproved.

  “Oh.” Garrett grabbed both of Mecca’s hands. “Honey, I just got the best news.”

  Mecca held up her hand to stop him, “I heard. Lady Lanier gave you her blessing.”

  “Yes!” As a congratulatory victory he proudly pumped his fist in the air, stopping only when he saw the frown on his wife’s face. “I’m sorry. Let’s go back inside and finish giving God the glory.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” she replied.

  Garrett held open the door. When Mecca walked over the threshold Garrett whispered loudly to Sawyer, “Make sure you call the papers.”

  Already on the phone, Sawyer gave Garrett a thumbs’ up and smiled.

  The Holy Ghost must have wrapped Garret in an abundance of joy because the moment he heard the church stomping their feet, he miraculously transformed into a God fearing saint. He lifted up his hands in praise, started clapping and singing loudly. Luckily for him, this is one of the few gospel songs that he knew all the words to. Instead of returning to his seat Garrett walked out in front of the congregation and grabbed a microphone from a nearby stand.