The Vanishings Read Online Free PDF Page A

church were long and loud and enthusiastic. People were happy and joyful. He was as happy as anyone when his parents finally realized they would not find their kind of church in their new neighborhood.
    So Lionel had the best of both worlds. He lived in a safe place, went to good schools, learned to work and earn and save but also had whatever he really needed, and he got to go back “home” for church twice a week. Every Sunday, his family stayed with relatives between the morning and evening services.
    One week while staying with his grand-parents, Lionel got to spend a lot of time with Uncle André. Lionel rode along while André picked something up at the store. When André came out, Lionel was surprised to seehim followed closely and quickly by two other men about André’s age. Obviously not noticing Lionel at first, one of them said to André, “You hear what I’m saying? You get us that money by Friday or you disappear.”
    André immediately smiled and slapped hands with them, nervously introducing them to “my big sister’s little boy.” Lionel shook hands with them, but he was scared. He pretended not to have heard, but those guys had clearly just threatened Uncle André. As they drove back to the neighborhood, Lionel asked him about it.
    â€œThem?” André said. “Oh, they’re just friends. They were havin’ fun with me.”
    â€œIt didn’t sound like it,” Lionel said. “I don’t like them. They scare me.”
    André pulled to the curb, several blocks from his parents’ home. He took a deep breath and told Lionel, “You’re right. They’re bad guys. I borrowed some money from them for a deal that went bad, and I don’t know how I’m ever gonna pay them back. I’ll figure out somethin’, or I’ll just have to hide out for a while.”
    â€œAren’t you scared?” Lionel said.
    â€œâ€™Course I am. But that’s my life, Lionel. That’s why it’s good you’re a Christian and bein’ raised by my sister. She’ll keep you on the straight and narrow path.”
    â€œUh-huh,” Lionel said.
    â€œWhat’s that mean?” Uncle André said. “You in trouble already?”
    â€œNo, but I was just wondering. I mean, you’re a Christian too, aren’t you?”
    Uncle André looked surprised. “Me? Do I seem like a Christian to you?”
    â€œWhen you’re not, um, I mean—”
    â€œWhen I’m not gettin’ in trouble, you mean?”
    â€œYeah.”
    André chuckled, but he looked sad. “You’ve seen me come back to the Lord lots of times, huh?”
    Lionel nodded.
    â€œI’m gonna tell you the truth about that, Nephew, but you can’t be tellin’ anyone, you hear?”
    Lionel nodded again.
    â€œI mean, I don’t even want you tellin’ your mama. Now listen, those people care about me, I know they do. And I need a place to crash and people to help me get back on my feet now and then. And when I get myself cleaned up and try to start over, I’m serious about it. But the truth is, I tell ’em whatever they want to hear so they’ll take me back. If they knew I was serious about surviving but not serious about God, I’d have nobody.”
    Lionel sat stunned. “So, you’re not really a Christian then?”
    André sighed as if he hated to admit it. “No, I’m not. Truth is, I don’t believe God would forgive somebody like me. I just keep messing up. And every time I go straight, I know I’m gonna mess up again.”
    â€œBut doesn’t God forgive you every time?”
    â€œI don’t ever feel forgiven. My family forgives me, but that’s because they believe I’m either tryin’ or I’m sick.”
    â€œBut my mom says that’s how God forgives people. He uses the people who love them to show them his