Page 2 - February Winner 2017

Base

Jon Moray

For Shane, it was one of those days, in the middle of one of those weeks, at the
end of one of those months, during one of those years… and it was only May. His
downward spiral of misfortune included a job demotion, a diabetes diagnosis, and
constant hounding from collection agencies over medical bills.

Lately, it seemed as if the world greeted him with honking horns, derogatory
gestures, stoned faced demeanors, and a revolving door of humanity that needlessly
tossed him out of the way.

Shane labored through the work morning after battling another loud, sleepless
night filled with a flurry of expletives between angry neighbors at two o’clock in the
morning outside of his apartment.

Nearing the noon hour, he ventured out under the warm sun to find a place to
enjoy his lunch. He found an elm tree shaded, park bench, two blocks from his place of
employment and across the street from an elementary school.

While unwrapping the aluminum foil from his egg salad sandwich, Shane noticed
a group of kids playing Tag behind a chain link fence enclosure. He sympathized with the
anxiety of some of them trying to get back to base, as their youthful screams brought
back boyhood memories. Four of them reached the concrete stoop oasis safely,
expressing satisfied relief in their own animated way.

To find a base, if only for a short while, would do me a lot of good. Shane
wrestled with that sentiment, as the blaring city sounds and a blur of pedestrians
stomping by compounded his depression. With appetite lost, he wrapped up the
half-eaten sandwich, and sunk his head in his hands.

Suddenly, a church bell tolled off in the distance. Great, now I am being
bombarded spiritually, Shane reasoned, until memories of his mother’s visits of solemn
prayer in church quieted his thoughts. As the echoing bells continued, he was overcome
with the warm, childhood recollection of watching her spend tender moments of peace,
talking to God, and allowing the church’s calming ambiance to comfort her. She told him
God was everywhere, but it was there where she felt Him closest.

Shane shot up and walked lively toward the direction of the bells. His walk
turned into a jog and then into a run as he neared the red, brick veneered, Victorian
styled church. He hurriedly scaled the steps up and pulled the brass, cylinder-shaped