Suits

“I told my boyfriend that while I was praying, God spoke to me and told me that He has been preparing me for the work to come and that it was now time to meet my team. My boyfriend was thrilled with the thought that I was praying and got a message from the Lord, but when I told him I was to come across town to meet a boy I didn’t know and that I had to come alone, he lost his enthusiasm.

“I thought maybe I lost my mind when God told me to park over there and walk into an alley, even more so when I saw those guys dealing drugs when I got there. I was trying to leave when you three came out of nowhere with your kung-fu superman act.

“How did you do all that!?”

She said all of that quickly, at a whisper, and didn’t appear to take any breaths.

“Can we continue this discussion after we get down from here?” Kimberly asked.

“I am starving,” Mo said, rubbing his stomach.

I said, “Good idea. What’s your name?”

“I’m Arya. Arya Stewart,” she said, reaching out her hand to shake.

We all shook hands, then Kimberly moved toward the edge of the roof and looked around.

“Coast is clear,” she said, and jumped out of sight.

“How do I get down?” Arya asked.

“I’ll take you. Go ahead, Mo,” I replied.

Mo jumped down.

“Ummm,” I looked at Arya. “I’m not sure how to do this. How did Kimberly get you up here?”

“She just hugged me and jumped.”

I said, “Okay… ummm, how about you hop on my back? Good thing you’re short.”

She swung her purse over her shoulder, wrapped her arms around my neck and hopped on my back. I walked to the edge and looked around. Mo and Kimberly were looking around then waved me down, so I jumped.

“You okay?” I asked.

“That went better than I imagined… although I had my eyes closed,” Arya said.

We walked back around the front of the building and ducked into the Pizza Hut. We took our usual booth in the back.

“So, how do you know it was *God* talking to you?” asked Kimberly in her usual snarky-about-religion way.

“Well… because who else answers prayers while you’re praying to God?”

Mo giggled.

“Hush, Mo,” Kimberly sneered playfully.

“What exactly did God say he was preparing you *for*?” I asked.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve felt… ‘different’ all my life. I don’t see things like other people do. I don’t care about the things that other people care about. I just want to do whatever God wants me to do.”

“So do I,” Mo chimed in.

“Me too,” I said.

“I just want to do whats right,”  Kimberly said.

“Oh… you’re not a Christian?” Arya asked Kimberly.

“No, but I do believe in aliens.” Kimberly giggled.

“I am not a Christian either — I am Muslim,” said Mo.

“And what about you, JET?” asked Arya.

“I believe God isn’t from earth, so Kimberly is right — in a way.
I believe in the God of Israel; my father is Jewish, and we practice Judaism — in a way.
My mother is Christian and believes Jesus is the Jewish messiah, and we practice Christianity — in a way.
I also believe Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a prophet of the same God of Judaism, Christianity , and Islam, so I practice Islam — in a way.
I don’t follow all the customs of any religion, but I follow those of all of these while believing what we most often call ‘God’ is technically an alien.”

We all looked at each other, then broke out laughing.

“You’re a mess!” Arya said, laughing.

“I know, I know… and the best part is that we are sitting here together because although we all have different backgrounds, we have been brought together by the same voice.”

“So what are your superpowers, Arya?” Mo asked.

Arya looked embarrassed. “I don’t think I have any ‘superpowers’,” she said, quoting in the air with her fingers. “And all three of you… can you do something other than jump?”

“We’re still discovering. We can do most physical things better and our senses are heightened. We’re still working on controlling it all, but I’ve been at it longer than they have.”

Arya asked, “So you’re the leader?”

“I never thought of it that way, but it seems that way,” I replied, as Mo and Kimberly nodded in agreement.

“Why did God tell you to look for me specifically?” I asked Arya.

“Ohhhhh! In all the excitement I completely forgot. I am supposed to show you my lab and your suits.”

“Suits?” Kimberly, Mo, and I asked together.

Mo got excited. “Ohhh boy! Do we get capes, spiderwebs that shoot, gadgets like Batman, or are we like Tony Stark in full…”

“Slow down, caped crusader,” Kimberly interrupted. “Let her talk.”

“You’ll have to see it. Can we go now? My car is on the other end, and you can follow me.”