After school, Arnold and Gerald walked home together.
"You okay, man? You've been acting strange in the past month. You've been hiding something from me I don't know about."
"I know, Gerald. I'm just waiting for the right time to spill the beans."
"You're saying your grandparents don't know this either?"
"Right. Grandma and Grandpa will know sooner or later. I made a new friend or two over the weekend."
"Is that Laura person Rhonda mentioned that friend?"
Arnold nodded.
"We just met Sunday, so I really don't know her very well."
"Where did you meet her?" Gerald asked.
"That answer will come later."
"You're really something," Gerald said.
Arnold said nothing more. Gerald was staying over for supper since he and Arnold planned to do homework together.
That night at supper, Arnold was acting religious and he suggested the boarding tenants and Gerald join him in prayer.
"Shortman, we don't pray at suppertime. That's for religious people," Grandpa said.
"I know, Grandpa, but I wanted to do something different for a change."
Oscar looked at Arnold before everyone closed their eyes for grace.
"Are you sure you're feeling all right, Arnold?" Oscar asked.
He didn't notice Arnold's change in religion, either until today.
"Yes, I am all right," Arnold answered.
"Can't we skip this part and start the meal? I do agree with Oscar you're acting awfully strange about this whole religion thing," Gerald said.
Arnold didn't answer. He watched as the boarding tenants and his grandparents and friend closed their eyes.
"Father, we thank You for this delicious meal Grandma made. We are blessed to have the boarding house and friends and hope to have You with us in near future for problems. Thank You for letting Gerald stay for supper. Please pray for Helga, Phoebe, Sid, Stinky, Rhonda, Mr. Simmons and the rest of PS 118. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
"That was sweet, Shortman. Now we can eat!" Grandpa said.
Everyone began passing the meal around. Gerald kept giving Arnold a strange look. Arnold was used to the look since he'd seen it a dozen times in the past. When everyone finished eating several minutes later, Grandma and Suzy took the dirty dishes and washed them in the kitchen. Then Gerald followed Arnold up to his bedroom.
"Where's that book we heard about earlier today from Eugene?" Gerald asked once Arnold closed the door behind them.
"Not so loud, Gerald. Why do you want to see a Bible for?"
"Just wanted to double – check for proof."
Arnold shook his head as he opened his backpack and took out his friend's copy of the Holy Bible.
"You must be out of your mind. Are you sure you're not sick or anything?" Gerald asked.
"Do I sound like it? Of course not, Gerald. Keep this between us for now until I'm ready to tell the others."
"What's that secret?"
"I'm going to give this back to a friend this Friday. I'll look for my own copy."
The song he'd heard yesterday at Church popped up in his head. He hummed a few lyrics. Gerald could tell Arnold wasn't his normal self. He shook his head as he watched Arnold handed him the Bible.
"This is so nuts, man!" Gerald said as he opened the book.
Arnold didn't say anything as Gerald flipped through the Bible.
"Proverbs, Isiah, Exodus, Timothy 1 and 2, Judges, Psalm, Song of Songs, Ruth. Dang, there's a lot in here nobody understands."
Arnold knew it was so true what his friend just said.
"It's good practice for somebody to be interested in starting a relationship with the Creator if you're not religious," Arnold said.
"Don't tell me you're one of those," Gerald said.
"I still can't tell you that yet, Gerald. It's a good thought you had there. Maybe you might want to give it a shot."
"My parents don't own any type of Bibles in my house. They just aren't interested, that's all. I don't want to act funny around my family if I ever did try that."
"Maybe you'll change your mind one day."
"No thank you, Arnold. My mind's made up."
The two best friends studied for an hour or so. When Gerald stood up to get ready to leave, he gave a stretch or two. Arnold walked his best friend downstairs to the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Gerald said as Arnold opened the door for him.
"See ya," Arnold said as Gerald walked away.