Sleestak Sunday: A Revelation Purge

On Saturday, June 3rd, 2012 the image of the holy father Salshess appeared on the curbside wall on South Main Street in the middle of downtown Folksburg, PA.  At first, no one noticed.  South Main Street is the heart of the other side of the tracks.  It wasn't until one of the initiates, a Henry William, doing his weekly pilgrimage to hand out fliers to those stuck in the poverty of mind and body, found the amazing image.  He fell to his knees and wept. 

No long after a balding red haired man known around town as Gummy, attempted to rob Henry thinking him another drunk.  Gummy stumbled closer and squinted his eyes.  The meth haze still had its tendrils around his senses.  He blinked and reached down to Henry's back pocket hoping to find at least five bucks.  He yanked the wallet out with a wet coughing laugh.  He couldn't see the numbers, but there were three paper monies within.  He thought of what to buy.  Maybe even Samantha would let him in if he had money.  Then he caught a glimpse of a flash or a glint of something.  His blurry eyes caught the image of Salshess and his lungs refused to take air.

Gummy grabbed a street sign to balance himself as he struggled to breath.  Pressure built in his stomach.  The pain was almost unbearable.  He wanted to scream, but no air would leave or enter.  His body trembled violently as the pain rose from his stomach into his chest.  His father died of a heart attack in front of him when he was eight years old.  The scene flashed in front of him sixteen times.  Each time his mind's eye got closer to his father's bulging eyes and red face.

When the pain rose to his throat Gummy was on the verge of passing out.  Then the release erupted from his mouth.  Foul green toxins sprayed onto the sidewalk.  Tumors, blacken bits of tissue and hardened pustuals floated in the foul pool.

When Gummy finally took a breath and opened his eyes, he could see.  He could hear.  And he could feel his mind work like it had never had before.  His entire memory became assessable to him.  That first breath was cool and welcoming.  The stress his body felt a moment before left him.  And there on the wall, miraculously upon the stone, was Salshess.

When Henry rose and saw the red haired man standing there staring at the image he offered the man a steady hand.  "What is your name brother?" 

Gummy blinked and shook his head.  The words came to him clear and without obstacle.  His name had been lost for years behind different nicknames.  He never cared what he was called as long as there was a rock, bag, line or bottle with it.  Now it seemed a pleasure to say it.  A pleasure to be recognized for himself.  "Keith."  He smiled. "Keith.  My father named me after his father."