A Street Conversation

“No one’s home,” said an elderly woman standing on the porch next door. “She left early this morning with a suitcase, so she must have been going out of town. Robert and his chum left a little while ago. They should be in school at this time of day.”

Michael said a short prayer of thanks for busybodies. “Did you see which way they went?”

The woman nodded. “To your right, likely for the square at the end of the block. Do I know you? You sound familiar but my eyesight isn’t the best.”

-       From Dancing Prophet  

Photograph by Cristian Newman via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Reality Sinks In

I try to remember when the reality of what had happened to us finally sunk in. I had a glimpse when I saw thousands camped out at the hospital, praying for Mike’s survival. And on the plane to London, I saw the looks of deference as we walked through the cabin to greet passengers. But I knew for sure when we walked into the terminal at Heathrow, with the archbishop and the prime minister waiting for us, almost surrounded by television, flash cameras, and mobiles held high to get a shot of the new royal family.

Us.

- Sarah Kent-Hughes, Dancing King

Photo: British Airways plane at Heathrow Airport.

A meeting at the dorm lobby

As Michael entered the dorm lobby with his bike and backpack, the housemaster stopped him. “Mr. Kent, you’ve got a visitor. She’s been waiting a good two hours.”

It was Sarah Hughes.

She stood, clutching a large artist portfolio. He stood still, gripping the bike, as she walked to him.

“I came to tell you how sorry I am,” she said. “After my outburst yesterday, I felt terrible and tried to apologize, but you were gone. I said terrible things, and there was no excuse. If you can’t forgive me, I understand. I just want to die. I felt so badly I couldn’t sleep last night—” Tears rolled down her cheeks. A few students stopped to watch, and the housemaster was definitely captivated.

“Would you like a coffee?” Michael said.

-  From Dancing Priest 

Photograph by Milan Popovic via Unsplash. Used with permission.

"He will not let go."

Canon Martin Land powered on his mobile, punching in a number he knew by heart.

“It’s Land,” he said. “I was watching the press conference.”

“I saw it as well.”

“The king’s involved,” Land said. “He could use this to further his reform cause.”

“You don’t know Michael. He will not use something like this. But if he thinks there is something bigger here, something worse than one boy at a London church, he will not let go.”

- From Dancing Prophet 

Photograph by Nikola Knezevic via Unsplash. Used with permission.

"It's about who you are, who you are as a person"

“Josh,” Zena said, “there’s something in Michael that speaks to you, and I suspect speaks deeply. He thinks the world of you, but it’s about who you are. He’s grateful for what you’ve done and what you can do, but it’s more about you as a person. He likes you, Josh. You’re not used to having someone who simply likes you as a friend.” She paused. “And you may have to ask yourself what your new faith means in the context of government politics.”

     - From Dancing King 

Photograph by Dominik Vanyi via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Joining the Family

That evening at dinner, Michael raised the issue. “We have a sixth family, Jason.”

“Yes?” he said, his eyes hopeful but wary.

“Sarah, why don’t you tell him?” Michael said.

“I’ll tell him,” said Jim. “It’s us. We want you to live with use.”

Jason looked at the three of them. “Are you doing this because no one else will?”

“No,” said Michael, “we’re doing this because it took God this long to make us open our eyes and see the obvious. You’re already part of our family. We want you to stay part of our family, if you’re willing to have us.”

     - From A Light Shining 

Photograph by Warren Wong via Unsplash. Used with permission.

From "Dancing Priest"

“This young man was more than just David’s roommate, wasn’t he?” Gran said.

Sarah nodded.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I love him Gran. I love him and I can’t love him. He has this enormous faith in God. He’ll be ordained a minister when he returns from the Olympics and then he goes to Africa.”

“Is it the religion, Sarah?” Grand said.

Sarah nodded again. “I just don’t have it. It just doesn’t work for me. But it’s everything about him.”

     - From Dancing Priest 

Photograph by Brooke Cagle via Unsplash. Used with permission.

From "Dancing Prophet"

“I’ve been going ‘round to churches,” Michael said, “talking about reformation. It was something I felt called to do, even before we left San Francisco. It was as if God was telling me that the reformation of the church was imperative. Now I wonder if I misheard what I thought God was saying. What if He was telling me to help people prepare, not for a reformation, but for the destruction and re-creation? He knew what was happening. He knew the evil that had to be stopped.”

- from Dancing Prophet https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Prophet-Book-Priest/dp/194971800X/ref=sr_1_1 

Photograph by Linnea Sandbakk via Unsplash. Used with permission.