Jon and Ken grabbed a roll of sod and carried it to the edge of the house. Ken picked up the heavy rake and started raking right in front of the roll. As he worked backward, Jon slowly unrolled it. Brad walked over to the pallet and he and Billy picked up the next roll.
By the time they made it to the edge of the property, the wind had increased a good twenty miles per hour. Debris flew around them and big, heavy raindrops had started to fall. Ken gestured toward the house. “You go on in,” he said. “Billy and I got this last one.”
Brad followed Jon onto the porch where they watched as Billy efficiently raked the ground as Ken unrolled the sod behind him. Brad rubbed his forearm, noticing the dirt smear in the sweat. “That’s harder work than I remember.”
“Too busy wearing ties,” Jon smirked.
“Yeah.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what’s going on, brother?”
Jon raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you seem a little on-edge. Almost hostile, but not quite.”
Jon pursed his lips and nodded, then looked up at the sky. “Tell you the truth, Brad, inside, I kinda feel like that sky looks.”
Brad followed his gaze and saw the dark clouds high in the sky, and lighter colored clouds moving fast with the wind. Trees shook and bent and twisted with the force of the gale. Thunder rumbled a little louder than the last time. As Brad watched, a sudden bolt of lightning lit up the sky, momentarily leaving an imprint on his vision when he blinked.
“Do you have some idea what it is you’re seeking?”
Jon walked along the porch, stopping to look in the window. Manufacturer labels and construction dust clung to the glass. Brad couldn’t tell if he looked into the living room or if he stared at his own reflection. “Meaning, I think. Every year, we go to these places where people live in such horrible conditions, in pain, in need….” His voice trailed off and he rubbed the back of his neck. When he looked at Brad, his eyes were as stormy as the sky. “I just don’t understand what’s going on with the world. How can God be so removed from it?”
Brad opened his mouth to offer encouragement, but Jon held up a hand and stopped him before he could start. “I don’t need platitudes, brother. I already know everything you can possibly say to me. It doesn’t chill what’s going on in my heart and mind. What I saw….” He let out a breath. “I just need to work it out myself.”
Brad swallowed and nodded. “How can I help? What can I do?”
Jon shook his head. “Nothing. But, thanks. I mean it.” He lifted his chin in Brad’s direction. “Now, give. What’s going on with you and Valerie?”
“Nothing.”
Like a shark, Jon smelled blood in the water. “Aw, come on, now. Saw you finally went on that second date with her after prom. Only took about twenty years. Good for you. I take it you proposed. I hear spring weddings are nice. Now, I give good toasts, so obviously I’ll be your best man. Ken would make an adorable ring bearer.”
He didn’t think he needed to burden Jon with his own inner turmoil. So, he said, “The date was great, but there’s nothing going on. I think what I wanted in high school doesn’t exist anymore.”
Jon stared at him for a long time before he said, “Well, no kidding, Brad. I imagine a lot has changed inside both of you since high school.”
“More than I can talk about now.” He looked at his watch. “Did you get my email about our mission trip this year?”
“Yes, sir, boss man. When the big boss man personally sends us little peons an email, we read them right away.” Jon grinned at his own wit. “Has Ken weighed in?”
Brad had researched possible projects for them to do on their annual birthday trip and found three options. An earthquake in Alaska changed his original plans, though, and he’d sent that information to his brothers with the suggestion of possibly going there.
“Ken would rather go to the panhandle of Florida. So much rebuilding needed after last year’s hurricane.”
“Yeah. And because Florida’s a day’s drive but Alaska would require a flight.”
Brad nodded. “I know that. You know that. I don’t know if he knows that.”
With a booming laugh, Jon slapped Brad on the shoulder. “Let’s give him a break this year and head down to Florida. We’ll even let him drive.”
Brad couldn’t help but smile. “Fair enough.” He looked at his watch. “I need to head home before I get caught too much in this storm.” He held his hand out and Jon immediately took it. “See you, brother.”
“Yeah. I’m going to hang out with Ken. Probably sleep here tonight.”
He blew a sharp whistle toward Ken as he walked to his truck, pulling the keys out of his jeans pocket. Ken looked up and yelled, “Thanks! See you at church!”
Instead of fighting the wind with his voice, he just gave him a thumbs up and fought to get his door open. As he backed out of the yard, he saw Billy run to his truck and Ken dash to the porch seconds before the sky opened up and a hard rain fell, almost blinding him through his windshield.
Valerie rang the doorbell andstepped back, waiting. Within seconds, Philip opened the door. “Well,” he exclaimed, stepping back and opening the door wider, “aren’t you a sight for this old man’s sore eyes?”
