A Lesbian in God's House

by Phenomenon

  Pastor Fillmore

  Reggie Fillmore couldn’t believe the amount of pain that he’d witnessed the night before in Corey. He was so young, barely legal walking around drinking himself into an early grave because of what he thought he was destined to be. Reggie had always wanted a son, especially a cool little dude like Corey. Reggie felt like he could teach him so much and he had every intention of starting as soon as possible.

  The next morning Reggie sprung out of bed with Corey on his mind. He shuffled down the stairs into the kitchen to make his famous hang over remedy. It was nasty but it worked. He grabbed the blender and added lime juice, a tomato, honey, spinach, a few gherkins pickles, a splash of fruit juice, and ginger. It was then followed by a tall glass of water. Reggie felt lucky that Taurus had everything that he needed to prepare it but he knew that if she was anything like her mother, she was always prepared. He grabbed both glassed and made his way up to Corey’s room. He rapped on the door with his foot and made his way in. Corey was still buried under the covers. When he heard Reggie come in, he threw the pillow over his head and retreated further into the blankets.

  “No. No. Young buck, you gotta get up. This is what’s going to teach you not to do that anymore. We have stuff to do today. I need you to show me around with running my errands. Here drink this.” Reggie handed him the glass.

  Corey grabbed the glass with the exposed part of his hand. He stuck his head out from underneath the comforter and pulled it close to his mouth. When he’d gotten a good whiff of the smell, he cringed. “Ugh! Man are you high?! Here take this back. I’m not drinkin’ that. Crazy.” Corey coiled back under the cover. Reggie laughed to himself. He really had always wanted that moment with a son. He stood up and pulled the covers back exposing Corey in his colorful boxers and white t-shirt. “Come on man. Can’t you see I’m hung over? Stop being a bully Pops.” When Reggie heard Corey call him Pops he gushed with pride. He didn’t know whether to run and wake Ginger to tell her or to continue to wake Corey. He opted to run and tell. He threw the covers back over Corey and told him. “You have 30 more minutes and I’ll be back.”

  Corey responded with on his way back to a deep sleep, “Yea 30 minutes and…then…we can go…steal the bunnies.” It made no sense but as long as Reggie left him alone, Corey was satisfied. Reggie flipped flopped his house shoes into their temporary bedroom with a sleeping Ginger. He tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. “What Reggie, I’m tired. I’m not doing that right now.” Reggie frowned and then thought about it. He did usually wake her up for that reason in the morning, so her assumption wasn’t ill placed. He laughed it off and said, “No. I went in to wake Corey up so that we can go outside and he yelled at me but he called me Pops. Pops! Like, dad but Pops! Isn’t that great? He really wants me to be his dad. Isn’t that the best? Baby?”

  Ginger irritated looked at the nearby clock. It was 7:22am. She rolled over and looked at Reggie. “If you wake that boy up again before 9:30am I’m gonna bust your head. Go to sleep crazy Pops.” Reggie hit Ginger with a pillow. “Fine, I’m going to my private room that our daughter set up just for me and you can’t come in there because I’m banning you! You’re banned. Now take that, grumpy old lady.” Reggie danced out of the room, too excited to lie next to his wife.

  Ginger’s last words before he closed the door were, “You better leave Corey alone before he breaks up with you.” She laughed at her husband’s excitement and drifted back to sleep.

  On his way to the office Reggie peaked in on Corey. He was still cocooned under the covers but there was an empty glass next to him. He’d eventually woken up, took Reggie’s advice and drank the mixture, then returned to sleep. Reggie closed the door and was ecstatic. He said under his breath. “My boy!” He punched the air a few times out of pure adrenaline and threw all of his cool away while moon walking into the office and closing the door behind him with a spin.

  Corey

  Corey had to admit that having a dad was kind of cool. Even if he tried to wake him at the butt crack of dawn to hang out, he cared enough to give him a nasty hangover remedy that actually worked. Corey finally climbed out of bed and drank the glass of water. He went down the stairs and began making breakfast. He wanted to say thank you to Fillmore and the rest of the family for putting up with his dramatics the prior evening.

  Fillmore came down the stairs first following the smell of bacon. “Hey there, boy. I see you climbed on out the shell.”

  Corey laughed while flipping pancakes. “Yea, that nasty gook helped me out. What was in that stuff?” Fillmore explained the disgusting mixture and told him that it was an old frat boy recipe that had been handed down from generation to generation. Corey asked. “Are you in a fraternity?” Fillmore gleamed with pride and said, “Oww Oww!” He fixed his hand in an obscure sign and said. “Iota Phi Theta for life son. My daddy was one of the founders of the very first chapter and the fraternity as a whole. It was in 1963 while he attended Morgan State University and that was the same year that I was born. My daddy didn’t even know about me until I was a few months old with my momma’s last name but it was destiny. My daddy started something so great and I’ve been trying to start something just as great ever since. I haven’t quite figured out what I’m going to do to change the world but I’m working on it. His legacy will live forever. I want one that will too.”

  Corey was so into the conversation. He’d had friends that went away to college and pledged Iota and here he was sitting with a founder’s son. “Are you freaking serious man? Your dad helped start the Iota’s. Wait, we need to sit and talk more. Let me finish this breakfast. Cause I’ve been thinking about going to school but I can’t figure out what I really want to do.” Corey said with a spark.

  They both heard shuffling up the stairs. The girls were waking up. Reggie whispered. “Let’s eat and talk about it later. You know how the women folk can be. They’ll take over this whole conversation if we let ‘em.” Corey nodded with a smile and said “Yea.” Even though Corey had no idea what Reggie meant, Pops said it so it had to be true.

  Pastor Fillmore

  After breakfast the two men went off into the day, first to check on the park to see where they would set things up for the festival. Corey was on board to help as much as he could. They figured they’d set up the phone lines inside the club house and make a street that was only for the service workers leading to the front stage.

  While they discussed the festival and how great it was going to be, Fillmore picked Corey’s brain. Corey admitted that the only thing that he enjoyed doing was talking to people. He liked connecting to folks because he felt like he was alone most of his life aside from his sister. He craved male energy so he kept some bad friends around him just to say that he had guy buddies. The work that he did at that time was customer service work from home where he helped people file their insurance claims for their lost cell phones. He told Fillmore that he often talked to sad people and would encourage them to pray about their issues and seek God. He said that he felt like that was a part of his work script even though it wasn’t. Corey felt like it was his calling to encourage people. He wished there was a job for that.

  “You ever thought about preaching?” Fillmore asked.

  “Uh no! I can’t even begin to fake that life.” Corey laughed it off.

  “No, you don’t have to be in the spotlight but you can go to school for Pastoral Counseling and just work behind the scenes encouraging people and the churches pay you for it.” Fillmore encouraged him. “That’s what one of MY degrees is in and I’ve used my degree to teach as well. You can do a lot of talking with a Bachelor ‘s degree in Pastoral Counseling.”

  Corey never knew that was an option. To work behind the scenes would be amazing. He didn’t want the scrutiny that came along with the fame of being a preacher. “So there is this theology school not far from here. It’s not hard to get into because not a lot of people want to go. Maybe we can stop by on the way back to the house.” Corey said with
his back to Reggie. It was good that he didn’t turn around. He would’ve saw Reggie geeking out.

  On the way back to the house they stopped by the divinity school and spoke to one of the enrollment counselors. Fillmore had no idea how serious Corey was until after a 30 minute conversation he’d decided to enroll for the upcoming semester right then and there. They asked for his transcripts and he grabbed his phone and forwarded the digital copy to them while in the office. The additional requirements were over looked when Pastor Fillmore identified himself as Corey’s father and allowed the school to research his credentials on a grand scale by pulling up the website to his large church and learning about whom Fillmore’s father was. They were elated to have a Pan-Hellenic member of a living legacy attend their school. They helped him fill out his financial aid papers, offered him a few scholarships and accepted Corey on the spot. As they walked out of the school with papers and school books in hand, Reggie put his arm around his son’s shoulder. “You know we need to talk about your future with Iota now, because any son of mine has to keep the legacy going. How do you feel about centaurs?” Fillmore asked Corey. “I love centaurs. I’m a Sagittarius!” Corey responded. “I told you boy. It’s destiny!” Fillmore said as they got into the car.

  Chapter 26: God Loves Me Too

  Kenisha

  Over the next few weeks life was hectic but great. Fillmore and Ginger flew back home and left a lot of the promoting within the city to the family, the hired public relations firm, online recruiting efforts, television commercials, newspapers and word of mouth. Many of the pastors and speakers that had come aboard were passionate about reaching out to the forgotten people of God, the people that it was unpopular to love. Sponsors from all over came out to support the cause. Even if they knew that they couldn’t put their logos up because it was contrary to the cause, they still donated money. Shoe companies, furniture companies, liquor companies, hospitals, media groups, even big tobacco companies agreed to hide their affiliation but still donated to the cause because they believed in everyone knowing that they were loved by God. Radio stations donated air time and hotels and real estate companies donated condos to house the performers and speakers during the festival. Restaurants and car dealerships even donated money. It was unheard of to see such a support for the out casted people. Even some of the high schools raised money to donate on behalf of the LGBTQ students that lost their lives to bullying.

  Taurus decided that it was better for Kenisha to not return to work for the factory. Taurus wanted her home plus she made enough money to support them both. Taurus had seniority, a full benefits package that covered same sex partners, skilled training that superseded her peers and a nice cushion in savings. Instead Kenisha was paid for working on the festival as an organizer.

  Corey was attending his first few classes of divinity school and loving every minute of it. Kenisha couldn’t believe it. All Corey seemed to talk about was Pops this and Pops that. They talked on the phone constantly like high school kids. They’d have long conversations about football and basketball and what Corey was learning in school. He even called Fillmore to ask if it was better to use a razor or electric shaver. That turned into an hour conversation.

  Eventually the time had come when Fillmore and Ginger returned. It was two days before the festival and it was all the buzz around town. The police were setting up barricades for the protesters who’d planned to come to inform the people that God indeed did NOT love them. However after the popular Reverend Tony Thomas who was very popular in the city of Chicago, made a call to the mayor’s office, the protestors weren’t allowed in the park at all. They were to be quarantined to the streets that were 7 blocks away from the festival. If they violated the ordinance they would be immediately arrested and charged with hate crimes. Kenisha had hoped this would deter them altogether. When her parents landed they were so excited to see all of the work that Kenisha had put into the festival. In big colorful letters the banner hung high over the park displaying, “God Loves Me Too!”

  Taurus

  The night before the big event Fillmore was on his way to meet up with the other speakers at their hotel for a dinner meeting. He pulled Taurus to the side on his way out the house. “Listen, I want to speak to you for a second.” Fillmore said to her. They went into the office and closed the door and Taurus sat down on the brown leather vintage sofa. Fillmore sat down next to her to tell her the news. “I know we have a lot of things going on tomorrow but I want you to speak to the people.”

  Taurus’ face was contorted with denial. “No you don’t!” She laughed.

  “No listen to what I’m saying. This is a big deal and with the people that we’re trying to reach I wasn’t aware of a lot of things about them. God came to me and told me that you need to speak. It was so clear when He spoke to me Taurus.” Fillmore pushed further.

  Taurus was confused. “Why me? You got Pastor Tony. Minister Knight.”

  Fillmore cut her off quickly. “Because just like there are certain people in the world that would never listen to YOU talk about God because you’re gay. There are some people that won’t listen to me talk about God because I’m not gay. They’ll feel like I can’t understand them but YOU can. And those people still need to be reached tomorrow. They’re mostly what this whole thing is about and if we have them in front of us; if we have their attention, shouldn’t we use every tool that we have to reach them?”

  The term tool really hit home with Taurus. She remembered what God had called her, his hammer. She sat in silence. She was never one to want to get up in front of a large group of people. Taurus was more of a one on one type of woman but this was a place that the hammer was meant to be used. There was going to be a park full of wood waiting to be introduced to Jesus/God the nail.

  “You don’t have to write anything. Just speak from your heart. Think about it.” Fillmore said as he left the room. Taurus sat there for an hour talking to God in private. Laughing with Him and thanking Him for the trials that led up to that moment. Kenisha came in after noticing that Taurus had been missing. She sat on Taurus’ lap and kissed her. “I love you.” Kenisha said. “I love you more and ain’t nothing you could ever do about it.” Taurus responded and kissed her forehead.

  Kenisha

  Dressed to the nine’s just like her mother, Kenisha and Ginger made their way to the park. The guys had gone ahead with Taurus allowing the ladies to tend to their appearance for a little longer. No one knew exactly what to expect. Kenisha wondered if she’d ordered too many port-a-potties. As their town car driver drove closer and closer to the park, there were crowds and crowds of people from street to street. News cameras with their antennas high in the sky were strategically placed. The vendors that had been approved to work the event selling food, water and soft drinks were booming and busy well before the kick off time.

  From afar it looked like a crowd of ants. It was impossible to count the number of people. Some with family members, children, blind people with walking sticks and guide dogs, young people in Gothic dressed styles, tons of gay rainbows and flags. They were young, old, black, white, and everything in between. The police were struggling to direct the traffic and there were even people holding homemade signs that said “God Loves Me Too. Just Accept It!”

  When they finally made it to the private street leading to the stage they saw Taurus looking just as amazed as they were. They stepped out of the car and the onlookers cheered. They yelled “Thank you for this day!” and “You guys rock!” Kenisha ran into Taurus’ arms. “Look at this baby! Look at this!” Taurus was at a loss for words. They never expected such a turn out. They knew that there had to be a lot of out of towners mixed in with the residents. Taurus grabbed her mother’s hand and her wife’s hand and began walking toward the stage. Security made sure to keep the private street clear so the walk was less hazardous. Kenisha, Taurus and Ginger stepped on the stage with the elegance of the most dignified first ladies. They approached a sitting Fillmore and to the left of him was h
is son Corey, with the chic debonair style of the most sophisticated gentlemen of God. Kenisha hardly recognized him. He stood to greet them and hugged them tightly. This was their moment.

  The crowd cheered as they saw the last speakers make their way to their seats on the stage knowing that the festival was about to get started. Kenisha was shocked to see a lot of ministers and preachers that were outwardly prejudice and didn’t even allow anyone that looked gay to attend their church and they were in the crowd close to the stage trying to see if they could speak to the people. Kenisha saw one of those preachers talking to Fillmore briefly. She stood and walked over to them and said to the minister, “This is a festival about God’s love. I’ve attended your church sir and there is no love in it. Please back up from the stage before I tell the people who and how you really are. Thank you.” Kenisha smiled at her dad and returned to her seat. She looked at Taurus and asked, “Are you ready to be the hammer, my love?”

  Taurus gave a nervous smile and replied. “I’ll be the head.”

  Kenisha finished the quote with. “I’ll be the handle.”

  Pastor Fillmore

  Fillmore stepped up to the mic and before he could speak he heard God speak to him. He said. “Welcome to your Iota my son! This legacy belongs to you. Your father is proud.”

  Fillmore was filled with so much emotion as he looked out over the sea of people that couldn’t even fit into the huge park. In the most melodic voice that anyone had ever heard, he sang the opening line of the chorus to Sam Cooke’s most famous song. “It’s been a longggggg, long time coming, but I knowwwww a change gone come.” The crown went wild. They cheered and before he said anything more, the people were in tears. They’d come a long way to hear that God loved them and they needed to know it just to survive one more day. So Fillmore continued. “Yes lawd. I want to first thank all of you for coming out to accept your destiny cause like I told my son Corey; do ya’ll see my handsome son sitting back here? Go’on and say hello to ladies, boy.” Fillmore joked. Corey stood up and gave a brief wave to the people and the girls and even some of the guys cheered for how cute he was. “I’m just jiving.” Fillmore continued. “But I’ve been telling him how important destiny is and it’s nothing that we can do about it because God has His plans and they are so much higher than ours on the totem pole. So it was destiny for you guys to be here and we’re going to make the most of this time together. We’re going to make some decisions today that will change the rest of our lives, alright. So I’m gonna pray with you and turn the stage over to my two beautiful daughters who just recently married a few months back and we’re gonna get this praise party poppin’. Is that alright with you all?” The crowd applauded and eventually bowed their heads in prayer.