The Hour Glass
by
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Red stood by the window and looked out. He was pretty sure he hit someone but didn’t know who. It didn’t matter as long as someone got it, he thought. He looked around at his stuff. "I got to clean this dump up so there ain’t no evidence that I was hiding here." He started to put clothes in a duffle bag that he got from the Army/Navy store. When he was finished, he took out the empty gun from his belt. "I should get rid of you; pal, but I can get more shells from that dummy, Sam." He put it back in his belt and picked up the bag. He flipped it up on his shoulder and turned to walk out the door, but there was someone standing in the way. "Leaving without saying goodbye?" Gary said. "I thought you had more class than that." When Red saw him, he dropped his bag and didn’t move. He wasn’t looking at Gary; he was looking at the gun in his hand. He felt his legs grow weak. Fear surrounded him. He knew he didn’t have a chance. Griff was going to kill him. "Please Griff. I was only.....Oh God, please don’t kill me." Red dropped to his knees and covered his face. "That’s good Red. That’s how you did Can-Man." Gary walked slowly up to Red and grabbed him by the hair with one hand and put the pistol up to his nose. "Now you can join him, only you won’t see him, man. You’re going to a different place." Gary pulled back the hammer with his thumb. "This is for Can-Man and Tiffany and Valeria. Goodbye." "Don’t do it Gary." Tony said as he entered the room. "He isn’t worth it." Gary turned around quickly and pointed the gun at Tony. When he did, Red jumped up and shoved Gary toward Tony. The gun went off and hit the wall next to Tony. Red ran to another door and slammed it behind him. He locked it as a bullet crashed through the door. Red ran for a window and climbed out. He ran down the fire escape and disappeared into the alley below. Gary cursed and started to chase him. Tony caught him and grabbed for the gun. "What are you doing, man?" Tony said as he fought Gary for the pistol. "Are you crazy?" Gary pushed away from Tony. "Get out of my way or you’ll get hurt." "No. You can’t do this, man. Let him go." Tony put his hand out for the gun. "LET HIM GO? LET HIM GO?" Gary couldn’t believe his ears. "That guy just killed your girl. He tried to kidnap and kill Tiffany and you want me to let him go. I can’t do that." Gary started to move to the door. Tony grabbed him and spun him around. Gary hit Tony in the face with his right hand. Tony fell back and tripped over Red’s bag. "Stay down. I don’t want to hurt you." "NO WAY" Tony jumped up and ducked under Gary’s punch. He wrapped his arms around him and threw him to the floor. Gary tried to grapple with him but his wrists hurt too much. Finally he gave up. Tony was much too strong even with a cast on. They both lay on the floor trying to catch their breath. "You’re really a piece of work, you know that?" Gary said as he rubbed his wrists. "Yeah, that’s what I hear." Tony leaned back on the duffle bag. "I’m sorry I said those things to you. You’re not responsible for Val. She was....She...." Tears started to come to his eyes.. He tried to wipe them but the pain was coming back. Gary looked at Tony. "I can never tell you how I feel. You have done so much for me. All I ever did for you is cause you pain." Gary started to get up. Tony looked at him and got up too. "Where are you going?" "To finish what I started." Gary said. "Are you stupid or something? What do I have to do to get through to you? You are not going anyplace." Tony got right in his face. "I got to. For Valeria." Gary tried to go around him. Tony pushed him hard against the wall. "How dare you. How dare you say that you’re going to commit murder in Valeria’s name. Of all the things that God has done for you, you still want to throw it away. Don’t you get it?" He walked up to Gary and grabbed him by the collar. "YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS. YOU ARE A NEW CREATION. YOU DO NOT GO OUT AND KILL." Tony pushed him back against the wall. "If anyone has the right to go after Red, it’s me. I will not because that’s not what God wants. WE DO WHAT GOD WANTS. NOT WHAT WE WANT. Gary put his head down. "Well OK. Maybe you’re right, but it’s hard to just do nothing. That’s not how I am used to doing thing." "You think I don’t know that? I pray all the time for God to give me the ability to do the right thing." Tony backed. "Don’t you think I want to kill him too? As Christians, we need each other for support. I need you and you need me. The both of us are going to need James and the girls. The girls are going to need us. They need to see our strength." Tony put out his hand. "Do you see what I mean?" "Yeah, it was like that on the street. We banded together for strength." Gary handed the gun to Tony. "What now?" "We talk to the cops. Let them handle it." Tony put the gun in his belt. "Come on. Let’s go back to the church." "I got to return that gun. I stole it. I hope that Sam didn’t call the cops." Gary gave Tony a sheepish grin. "Sorry."
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About the Book
On the streets of the city, might makes right and only the strong survive. Tiffany is 16 and a rebel. She wants to see for herself if the stories she heard from her father are true. He made them seen so cool. When she meets Griff and the Warriors she finds out that it wasn’t what she expected. Instead of a good time she brings two groups of teenagers together. The youth of Hope Assembly and the Warriors. The Warriors draw their strength from each other and by brute force. Drugs bring money and money brings respect. The youth group of Hope Assembly draws their strength from Jesus, not counting on themselves but trusting Him. Both groups are just as determined but this battle in not about flesh and blood, it’s a spiritual war and the choices that are made have eternal consequences. Tony, a youth leader, and Griff go head to head. The fight is bloody but the price is life or death. In the final struggle between what the streets say and what God says every one must choose. Who will prevail, the might or the right?
About the Author
Gerard Magliano was born and raised on the West side of Chicago. He is a graduate of Holy Trinity High School and when he married, he moved to the far Northwestern suburbs. He had two girls with his wife but his marriage ended up in divorce. About a year later he married again and both he and his new wife found hope in Jesus. He had another daughter and a son and now lives in Tennessee. He is the high teen Sunday school teacher at his church and active in his community. Gerard is a professional truck driver and was a volunteer EMT and firefighter in Illinois and Tennessee. He helps write skits and plays for the drama and youth group and this book is based on a play that was written for the church.