Jonathots Daily Blog
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Randall changed his mind.
He came into the office on Monday morning, apologized for the legal maneuvering and explained that he was interested in being part of the project.
Matthew was suspicious. Perhaps Randall was just trying slip into the inner workings to find out if there was any money in play–to gain further ammunition for the court battle.
Matthew always hated himself for being cynical, regretting it even more when he was right.
Randall apparently sensed Matthew’s skepticism. “I suppose you wonder if I was visited by three ghosts, who spooked me into joining the club.”
Matthew said, “Well, I wouldn’t call you Ebenezer Scrooge, but you certainly might have attended one of his seminars.”
Randall laughed. “I was trying to explain it to Landy last night. She was pissed off at me. But you see, I’ve spent my life watching opportunities come my way, and analyzing them so much that they seem to run away from me in terror and leap into the lap of friendlier faces.”
Matthew got quiet, allowing Randall some space.
Randall continued, “I thought about it. Here’s an old man who dies who wants to give 250 million dollars to take an old religious icon who is known for loving and giving, and make the dude popular again. I thought to myself, what in the hell is wrong with that? Sure, I wish it wasn’t religious, or tied to some church, but when you need a cure, you don’t ask where the medicine comes from, right?”
Matthew just nodded his head.
About that time, Jo-Jay walked into the room and said, “I feel the same way. At least, I think so. I don’t want to miss out on something. I feel like I missed drugs and rock and roll. I never protested against anything. I missed civil rights. Gay rights. All rights. And by the way–what is heavy metal anyway?”
“It’s when you stack up a lot of light metal,” Matthew answered, chuckling at his own joke.
Randall added, “It was worse for me. I even missed Barry Manilow. My parents were very strict. It wasn’t all religion–part of it was our culture. But I wasn’t allowed to do much but study, go to school and attend church.”
Matthew sighed. “So you’re a church boy…”
Randall shook his head. “No–I went to church but I was never a church boy. I used the hour in church to quietly express my hatred for the Divine. While others sang praises, in my mind I asked God questions and then laughed at Him when He failed to come up with an answer.”
Jo-Jay stared in disbelief.
“So you want to do this because…?”Matthew posed.
Randall shook his head. “I don’t know. I know there are no answers in politics. Most of the law is mumbo-jumbo. Education just makes people smart-asses. There’s gotta be something else. I really don’t think it’s Jesus, but maybe we could at least get people to think.”
“Or maybe,” said Jo-Jay, “we just advertise the church and they end up ripping off more money from poor folks and spreading the message of doom and gloom.”
Matthew shook his head. “You know how sometimes the more you think about something, the better it sounds? I gotta tell you–the more I think about this the more it seems like a gigantic turd factory.”
“So you’re quitting?” Randall asked, surprised.
“Well, actually, I never started,” responded Matthew. “I just said I would check it out.”
“And here I came along to go on the magic carpet ride and Aladdin’s folding up shop.” said Jo-Jay.
Matthew squinted his face. “I would be Aladdin?”
Randall inquired, “And the magic carpet ride would be what?”
Jo-Jay laughed. “You guys are definitely over-educated, under-informed and without any natural feeling.”
“Part of me thinks I should say thank you,” Randall said.
There was a knock at the door. Matthew opened it to find a large man dressed in bib overalls and a plaid shirt, with a huge head of hair combed straight back. He reached out a big paw for greeting. Matthew placed his little hand into the acreage, shook it, and asked, “May I help you?”
The big, burly country boy responded. “Yes. My name is Prophet Morgan. I’m here to help you make my man Jesus, popular.”
All at once, Jo-Jay broke out in tears, which for some reason stimulated Randall to do the same, causing the recently arrived Prophet Morgan to sprout his own waterworks.
Matthew stared at the three of them in disbelief. “What in the hell is going on?”
Jo-Jay cleared her throat and managed a little smile. “I don’t know. But it’s neat shit.”
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