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Ridge go. You’ll see, it’s awesome,” says Kenny.
    I kick off my shoes in the backseat and dig in for a longer trip than I expected. This place had better be impressive.
    When we finally pull in, I see why they pass on the small church in town and drive out to this thing. The parking lot alone could be for a concert or a movie theater. It’s huge. We ditch his parents and Kenny texts Stan and Arty to meet us in the front of the building. Now that I’m looking around, I see a lot of familiar faces. Tess wasn’t kidding. Even though we’re an hour away from home, everyone is here.
    I walk in with the guys. We head over to the first seats we find open closest to the stage. Yes, I said stage. Not pulpit or platform. There is a microphone, drum set, keyboard, and guitar up there. This church could host a Coldplay concert. I can’t even begin to guess how many seats are in here. Thousands?
    Kenny, Stan, and Arty are talking about the school football team. They are all on it and from what I can tell, they think they’re pretty damn good. They talk about plays and the coach and a whole bunch of other stuff before Arty realizes I’m just sitting there staring at the back of the head in front of me.
    â€œYou play any ball?” asks Arty.
    â€œNo. I’m not really into sports.”
    â€œWhat are you into?”
    â€œI like magic. Games. Comics. Mostly, I like practicing new tricks.”
    â€œCool,” says Kenny. “Maybe you can show us some sometime.”
    â€œYeah, sure. And I’ll definitely make it to some games.”
    Kenny says, “So I’ve seen you around with Tess a bunch. Are you guys together?”
    â€œOh no. Just friends.”
    â€œShe’s cute though,” says Stan.
    â€œNot as cute as her sister,” says Kenny.
    â€œSo true. Angela is smoking,” says Stan.
    â€œAnd if you tell her she’s hot, she might meet you behind the bleachers.”
    â€œSo, you guys can date?” I ask.
    They laugh. “What do you think we are, dude?” asks Kenny.
    â€œI just didn’t know with, you know, your religion and stuff, if you were allowed to date.”
    â€œYeah, man, we can date,” says Stan.
    There is an awkward silence for a minute. I’m trying to think of something to say but nothing comes to mind. Then I remember.
    I say to Kenny, “That’s awesome they chose your pen-pal idea. You know, writing to soldiers?”
    â€œYeah. My brother likes getting letters,” he says. “Especially from girls.”
    â€œMy brother is in Iraq too. He’s coming home in early December though.”
    â€œCool. Mine is coming home in mid-December. Just in time for Christmas.”
    â€œIt’s gonna be my brother’s first time to Colorado. Maybe they could hang or something,” I say.
    A man steps up to the microphone and starts talking. The room immediately goes quiet. Everyone is focused on him.
    The guy starts out decently enough, talking about scripture from some place in the Bible. Arty gives me a book and points me to the page. It’s like opening Moby Dick in the middle. If you haven’t read what comes before, you’re not going to have a clue what’s happening. Not that I’ve read Moby Dick , but my sister has.
    Eventually he gets to the stuff I keep hearing about. How Jesus saves people. How we have a choice. The way he phrases it, it doesn’t sound like we have much of a choice. It’s more like, if you love Jesus, you’re golden. If you don’t, you might as well reserve your spot in the burning hellfire now.
    He says either we can walk around like half-dead people with nothing good inside of us. That is to say, live without devoting our lives to Jesus. Or, we can accept Jesus and be happy.
    I wish I could say I’m making this stuff up, but that’s seriously what he’s saying. That I’m half dead and not worth anything because I