Hullo, I've been working on what I hope to be a novel, and thought I would throw the first (very short) chapter up here to see if there are any impressions about the character and/or style. The story is not called "the church bell", I just needed to call this something:
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The bells struck twelve times: symmetrically sublime.
I drifted to work under a cloudy sky when I felt the bells’ magnetic pull. I looked at my watch: early enough to not struggle. I let the bells direct me up the small pathway, through the large grey doors and into the open room. A red carpet spread out from my feet leading down to a small wooden pulpit. A simple white pot sprouted small orange flowers leaning toward the pulpit. Dark oak pews planted around the room, blending into the congruent-coloured walls at the far end. The dang and dong measured my steps as I cautiously moved down the rows: the wind from the open door screaming you’re not welcome! But the room was empty and I was early. The last dang and dong forced me onto one of the pews, three rows from the front. I examined the small pentagonal stained glass windows at the front and found nothing aesthetically pleasing enough to keep my eyes. Seemingly abstract patterns in pastel colours (the cloudy disposition of the eastern sky did nothing to help their brilliance). A crucifix and a small red cross (fitting for a church in the name of St. George) were the only distinguishable shapes that jumped out at me. I decided rather to turn my gaze inward; pushing my glasses away I rested my hands in my head and remained for some time. Until I heard a noise. I looked up expecting to see someone at the pulpit. Finding no one, I readjusted my glasses and looked around. Standing behind me was a tall man in a grey sports jacket over a cobalt dress-shirt. His hair was light-brown, short and clean. He had a white collar around his neck: I took this to mean that he was the priest.
“I’m sorry – father?” I said.
“Only to my daughter,” he replied with a faint smile and a shake of his head, “Reverend John, or just John.” Do I go shake his hand? I didn’t. He didn’t seem to care much about me. He walked along the rows scanning for garbage. He made his way to the pulpit and shuffled some papers around. I don’t know why I was staring at him. I felt as if I had walked into his house, and invited myself to his couch without so much as a word. I needed to ask him a question, if only to vindicate my right to be there, my purpose for being there.
“So, ah, Reverend, what was your sermon about today?” He studied my goofy smile and wandering gaze. Sure enough John saw right through me: I suppose if you’re going to be a priest, you must be familiar with your nonverbal communications.
“If you wish to ask what it is you want to ask, by all means,” he said, returning to his papers. I should have – but what? I shook my head and shuffled my way out of the room muttering an apology: I was going to be late for work.
I was walking to class one afternoon last autumn when I passed by a young man and woman both dressed in a plain white shirt and black pants. The woman clutched a bible just under her breasts. The man called out to me as I passed:
“Jesus loves you!” to which I responded:
“Probably not. I’m Jewish.” I continued to walk but quickly felt a soft hand on my shoulder. I turned around and almost hit the young man who was standing well within my personal bubble. I backed away.
“It’s okay, you’re cool, it’s cool,” he stammered apologetically. I think he thinks I’m offended. He was too close for my unfocused eyes to keep his stare so I looked at his partner. Her eyes betrayed nothing behind lose strands of dark red hair. She was cute. But I said nothing: I laughed softly and continued on my way. I’m not sure why this memory came back to me as I left the church that Sunday afternoon.