Page 32 of Gideon

He lifted his leg, bending it more and more. Then he jumped. First on two legs, then just his right. “My leg is better.”

“That’s what I said to you before. You haven’t been limping all week. Why’d you start now?”

He whirled around to face his dad. “You don’t understand.”

“I guess not.”

“I have to find Eric.” He raced out the door, thundering down the stairs and barreling out the door, bumping into Eric and nearly knocking him to the ground.

“There you are,” Eric said, brushing himself off.

“My leg’s not hurting anymore.”

“I know. Which way should we go?” Eric looked up and down the street.

“What happened to my leg?”

“Well, there was that fight earlier. It was brutal, but you handled yourself well. Although I think I heard you hurt it in combat originally? ”

“I, uh…sort of.”

“Well then, we know what happened to it.”

“You know what I mean. It’s…healed…or something.”

“Good. Then we can take a walk. I say we go left.” He started off, and Gideon let out an incredulous laugh before following. “Who are you?”

“Don’t you remember being introduced to me? I remember you. My name’s Eric Cunningham.” He held out his hand like they were meeting again for the first time.

“Can you stop for a second?”

“You’re upset? You didn’t want your leg to be better?”

“Are you an angel?”

“No.”

“Then what are you?”

“A man. Getting older, I might add.”

“But your face.”

“We should walk. Come on.”

Because Eric was more interested in being cryptic than answering questions, Gideon hoped if he went along with it long enough, he’d get information out of him eventually.

Eric took the lead as they turned several times, and when they turned onto the road the church was on, Gideon looked at him sideways. “You do intend on telling me what’s going on, right?”

“Be patient.” He led Gideon to the front of the church and stopped, leaning back so he could study the cross on the roof. “He gave up everything.”

“Who? Jesus?”

Eric nodded solemnly. “Everything and more.”

“I know.”

“And you’ve given your life to him in return.”

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