Smoke Break

“God ain't no man.”

“How you figure that?”

“They always show him sittin' on a cloud. If he was a full-bodied man wouldn't he fall right through?”

“Maybe, but jus' cuz that's how they paint him, don't mean that's how he is.”

“Maybe, but it tells ya somethin' – about the ego of man.”

“Don't start.”

“Why not? I ain't got no one else to talk to about this shit.”

“Me included. I don't wanna hear it.”

“Angels.”

“What about 'em?”

“They're always pretty, and always sittin' on clouds too.”

“So what? They ain't people either?”

“They're what people want to be.”

“I told you I don't wanna hear it.”

“What? You got somewhere to be? Might as well settle in. I'm gonna talk your ear off about this shit.”

“What shit, exactly?”

“The shit that proves it's all bullshit.”

“You're bullshit.”

“Maybe, but I ain't pretendin' to be no god or angel.”

“Course not – you ain't pretty enough.”

“God don't have to be pretty. Maybe he should be, though. Come to think of it, why ain't he?”

“He's old.”

“Right, cause he's gotta be all wise and shit.”

“Would folks accept him as god if all he was was pretty?”

“Why the hell not? Seems more interesting to me.”

“Ain't supposed to be interesting.”

“Ain't it? It should be. Maybe you wouldn't be beggin' me all the time to go to church with ya.”

“I don't beg. I just worry about your soul is all.”

“'Is all.' That's all you do – jus' worry about my soul? Seems a pretty big deal to be so damn casual about it.”

“Well, what're ya gonna do. I ain't gonna drag you by the arm.”

“You sure as hell ain't. Why don't you get your god to do it.”

“That's not how it works.”

“What? He break his god-neck fallin' off a cloud?”

“I wish I’d break my neck right now, then the ambulance'd take me away from you and your bullshit.”

“And what makes you so damn sure I’d call an ambulance for you?”

“You wanna go to heaven, don't ya?”

“And that's all it takes?”

“It's a start.”

They finished their cigarettes in silence. Then, stomping it out, one of them said: “So, Ruby's or B-dub's later?”

“Ruby's – I’m feelin' a burger.”