How to Save Your Soul for Two Bucks

[Joey Delgado]

The guy approached me as I was leaving the liquor store with my cigarettes, a mini bottle of Wild Turkey, and a six pack of off-brand condoms; the single man's brown bag survival kit.

He was wearing a soiled t-shirt with a fast food logo printed on it, soiled sweatpants with a college logo printed on them, and worn sneakers, loose, untied, almost falling off every time he took a step toward me, like they desperately wanted to stay behind and leave this man to his treadmilling, endless quest to nowhere.

 

He handed me a CD tucked neatly in a paper sleeve and told me to let Jesus save my soul.

 

Melodies from Heaven-The Gospel of St. John in 155 Songs was printed on the sleeve in water-smudged, runny letters, probably etched on to the paper by some yellowing inkjet relic.

 

I gave him two bucks to spare myself a sermon and grabbed the CD out of his twitchy fingers, throwing it in the glove box of my car, the guy's toothless grin shrinking in my rearview mirror.

 

And so there it sits, waiting in my glovebox, the key to my salvation bought for a fraction the cost of condoms (which remain laughably untouched, by the way) and cigarettes (long since smoked), waiting for the day I finally take it out and give it a listen.  

 

 

[Jenni Marie]

the single man's brown bag survival kit...

love this and your ending

[Jadie Jones]

Splendid. I love the way you wove the elements together, using the two men as foils and as mirrors. Well done.

[Teresa]

Fantastic.  Love this.  He who needs the most saving tries to save others...  It's classic.  It's still sad.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

You're too nice.  I would have said, "Save yourself."

[Wendy]

155 songs? You will need more than a day to give it a listen! :) Nice story.

[Gloria Watts]

Maybe listen for a while, smoke a cigarette and dream on about the condoms - thanks for sharing. Gloria

[Sandra Davies]

I'd never have taken it in the first place ... handing over two bucks or no.   Entertaining tale though Joey.

[Stephen Torelli]

An echo of city life. Great post, Joey.

[Angela]

I couldn't stand knowing it was there and not listening.  How do you do it??

[Joey Delgado]

Haha. You're probably right, Ron.