Love In A Desperate Hour

"Did you enjoy your meal son?" I asked Anthony Breezely as I sat in the white room with him.

"Yes Pastor..it was alright." he said softly.

"They gave you everything you wanted? I mean, the Steak, the Baked Potato and all?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah...Yeah all of that." he said as he held his head down.

In all of the activity and rushing after dinner, I had forgotten to bring my bible..
but lucky for me, there was a bible on hand...It always amazed me that there was always a bible available in a death house. I guess this would be the best place for one..

We read a few scriptures and we talked about life....and of course , death...and then Anthony turned to me and smiled a sweet smile...a smile that reminded me that he was still very young...Only twenty three....It hadn't been long since he had been a child.

"Pastor...I know this is a funny time to remember something like this....but I remember a day when , well when my mom and dad were married...before she started marrying a guy every year...when the three of us went to Atlantic City...
My dad and I rode on every ride at the Steel Peir...and My mom and I ate popcorn ,hot dogs and cotton candy...and the three of us ran along the beach all
day...until the sun went down and we were exhausted! Wow...that was one of the greatest days of my life." He said.

"It sounds like a great memory son...and if I were you...I'd take that memory with you." I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder!

"Pastor?" he asked , with tears welling in his eyes..

"Yes, son." I said.

"Do you think Jesus will forgive me?" he asked.

"Did you ask him to?" I said.

"Everyday since I been locked up....." he said. "Ya think he heard me?"

"I know he did and to answer your first question...yes...he forgave you ...He forgave you before you was born....That's why he died on that cross...for everything you and I was gonna do." I said.

"Breezely! It's time!" said the guard. It was a quarter to twelve....It was time..

"Thank you Pastor...Thanks for coming.....and when you get back to Philly, if you see Kevin....Tell him that I'm sorry and that I hold no ill will towards him."
he said.

"I will son...Take care." I said.

The Prison Chaplain read the 23"rd Psalm as they walked down the hall to the little green room where the injection chamber was-

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:He leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

I sat in the room behind the glass panel....Rita Gordon was there...Her hair was back in the bun and she had her glasses back on...There was the D.A. who prosecuted him and another man, probably a cop...Other than that, we were the only witnesses.

"Do you have any last words to say?" asked a guard as they strapped Anthony to the table and injected three needles into him.. He indicated that he didn't..

The process began.....The first chemical that entered his body put him to sleep....the second chemical relaxed all of his muscles...and the third chemical effectively stopped his heart....At 12:02 am...Anthony Breezely, Serial Killer...was pronounced dead.

Rita was silent when we drove back to the motel...As was I....When I pulled up at the motel, I finally spoke-

"Did it feel like you thought it would?" I asked.

"No..it didn't...I thought I would feel good seeing him get his...but I really didn't feel any different..I felt cold." she said as she got out of my car and put the key in her door.

I parked my car and got a Coke out of the vending machine and went on into my room. I sat on the bed and flicked on the Television...There was nothing much on, so I flicked it off...I turned on the radio....For once there wasn't a Temptations song on....It was Gerald Levert -"Baby I'm Ready"...I smiled...then I heard a knock on the door. Who would be at my door this time of night I wondered?

It was Rita..She had her hair down, shoulder length and wasn't wearing her glasses..

"Pastor, I can't sleep...I don't want to be in that room alone tonight." she said.

She was wearing a long Night gown...with as it turned out...a white baby doll and matching bikini panties under it. I stuttered-

"Are, Are, Are...uh....Are you - sh-sure you want to just- uh, er. sleep?" I asked.
Rita and I made passionate, hot sweaty love six or seven times that night.... I lost count..You would never look at her and think she was that passionate...by the time we finished the last time...I was nearly out of breath... I passed out....When I woke up the next morning, still spent...Rita was gone....I looked out the window and her car was gone...I showered and dressed and walked down two doors to her room...It appeared she had checked out...I felt cheap!

When I got back to my room, I found a note, it read:

"Dear Pastor John....Sorry I had to leave like this, but you were sleeping so peacefully,I just didn't have the heart to wake you up. I want to thank you for making me feel beautiful.. and like a woman for the first time in a long time....It was beautiful...I hope when you get back to Philly you'll look me up....perhaps we can go out or something...Thank you again. "

Rita

I smiled...I looked at my watch...My goodness ,it was ten o'clock.....The sun was coming up and for the first time in a long time...I actually had something to look forward to.

(For DBH)