Hanging with the Hallelujah People

Arriving at the hall on the night of the banquet, we pushed past thick, glass doors as Robert and Anna led the way through a carpeted foyer with elegant chandeliers overhead. I followed with Rachael, her arm threaded through mine. At a check-in place, a hostess took our coats and on we went, weaving our way through crowds of people, hundreds of them, until we entered a spacious dining area where dozens of banquet tables were covered in fine cloth, as white as the glittering lights overhead.

Standing in a sea of churchgoers, I was introduced to people on my right and people on my left, all sincere-looking folks.

Rachael turned to a couple and said, “Mike and Maria, this is my boyfriend John.” They smiled. “Nice to meet you, John. Welcome to the banquet.”

I gave them a mysterious smile and just said, “Thank you.”

No one seemed to notice how I was dressed, and if they did they didn’t show it. I had come in solid dark clothes—black as a crow—so that the power of demons could protect me from anything that was there.

Once inside the grand ballroom, we were led to our assigned table. Around us, people who had not seen each other in awhile hugged, kissed, and smiled. It was the craziest thing I ever saw. What a bunch of nuts! I couldn’t understand why people were God-blessing each other. No one was sneezing.

Near our table, Rachael turned to a young lady. “Hi, Marisa, this is John.”

When I went to shake hands with her, the girl said, “I know you from somewhere. I’ve seen you before. I know I know you.”

“Well, I don’t know you,” I said, trying to be polite.

She was stunned and amazed, and she kept repeating, “No, I know you . . . I know you,” as I walked away and took my seat.

At the head of the ballroom, a live band played. They were all skilled musicians with great voices, but their lyrics had to do with holy living, loving thy neighbor, and the Bible—things that made me uncomfortable.

One of the men on the platform, a tall, nice-looking guy wearing a cream-colored suit,

appeared to be the leader of the group. And when he lifted his voice to the instruments playing behind him, some people rose from their seats, marched to the front, and danced like fools. It was so stupid I wanted to laugh. They must be drunk, I thought. But there was no liquor anywhere in sight.

With every guitar strum, tambourine rattle, and hum of the synthesizer, something began happening to me. I was being subdued by something greater than all the demons I had ever known. How could this be? I was one of the highest-ranked warlocks in voodoo, possessed by unspeakable powers. Nothing could shake me. But there I was, little by little, moment by moment, being drawn to the music’s message. Responding to wholesome, rhythmic beats.

When the singing paused for a break, dozens of large, aluminum containers were placed over flaming canisters on a train of tables against the wall opposite the stage. I had never seen so much food in all my life. This was truly a banquet. Tables were called out by number, and soon I was in a long line of people with Rachael ahead of me and Anna and Robert behind me. That was when I panicked.

Standing before us in line was a woman I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was from the same occult inner-circle I was in. Only now, she was no longer part of the occult. Where had she been, and why hadn’t I seen her anymore at the cult meetings? She had been missing for five years. She was one of my enemies for having left the religion. As soon as this woman turned my way, I hid behind Rachael. But my six-foot-two frame was difficult to conceal no matter what crowd I was in.

She greeted me. “Hello, John. How are you?”

I greeted her back. “I’m fine.” I sensed the confrontation between good and evil on the line.

I turned to Rachael and whispered, “This woman knows I’m a devil worshipper because she came out of the same religious inner-circle that I’m involved in. I’m afraid she’s going to blow my cover by telling your parents.”

“Don’t worry,” Rachael said. “She won’t say anything. I know her, and she’s a good woman.”

We got our food and walked back to our table. With everyone eating, I relaxed some. I had just dodged a bullet. But for how long would I be able to play hide-and-seek and get away with it? How long would my luck last? It didn’t last very long, because unknown to me, in the distance of the ballroom, another set of eyes fell upon me. This time it was a man, someone else who had departed from the religion five years ago as well.

This person dragged Rachael’s dad straight to the men’s room. “Do you have any idea who your daughter is dating?”

“Yeah, that’s John,” Robert said. “He’s a nice guy.”

“No, he’s not!” the man said. “He is one of the biggest devil worshippers in New York City. He’s into espiritismo, Santeria, and Palo. The reason I know that is because my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ set me free from that occult, which they call the religion. John was my buddy at one time, but not anymore. Now he’s crazy and dangerous. Everyone knows about him. I’m surprised you don’t. If I were you, I’d keep Rachael away from him.”

Robert was shocked and didn’t know what to say, but he came back to the table as if nothing had happened.

The day after the banquet, Rachael and her parents got into it at their home. “Your relationship with John ends now!” her mother demanded.

“But why?” Rachael asked.

“Because he’s involved in witchcraft.”

crazy.”

“John isn’t going to hurt me.”

“What if he hurts Sarah?” Robert said. “He loves Sarah.”

“How can you be sure?” Anna asked with anguish. “Everyone who knows him says he’s

And it was true. No one from my neighborhood wanted problems with me. They had heard

what Santeros could do when crossed. Casting spells was only the beginning.

Rachael stormed out of the house, ignoring her parents’ warning, went to a pay phone, and called me frantically. “My parents know all about you and asked me not to see you anymore! But I refused to stop seeing you.”

“Rachael, everything will be okay,” I said, trying to soothe her.

We continued to date. I took her to restaurants, art shows, and plays. But not to bars or nightclubs. I had stopped doing that with her. But what I didn’t stop doing was practicing the religious duties in espiritismo, because if I did the same demons I worshipped would turn against me.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 743