Thank God I did.
Thoughts ran through my head as I used my feet to pull Ace away from me. It worked! When I pulled Ace from me, it was strong enough to make him fall on his back only inches away from me. He didn't move at all. I stared at him for a little then came up with the thought that he was just out cold. His fall wasn't hard enough to kill him, so, I thought that he was just knocked out. I turned my face from him and began to run away from the dump. I didn't think to go back to the shack to tell Arturo, Billy, or Grubber. I just wanted away from that terrible place.
As I ran, that little voice in my head began to speak to me again. "Sanford, I'm calling for you. Come to me." I stopped to listen to the voice as it spoke to me. "Where do I find you?" I asked the voice. "I'm right here. Talk to me, and I'll be your resting place." "I can't see you. How can I talk to you if you're not here?" I asked. "I don't need to show myself. Put your faith in Me and I will always be with you. I promise!" "I don't understand." "You don't have to." "How can I trust you?" I asked. "My love for you is more faithful than the morning." My eyes widened. Love me? He loves me? Who is this he? "You love me?" I asked shaking. "But I don't even know you!" The voice spoke to me clearly. As it spoke, I fell on my knees and listened. "Sanford, all your life, you've lived a life of sin and wickedness. You've given into temptation and you've let the ways of the world define you. Living this life will lead to nothingness. But if you believe in Me, I will take care of you. Though it will not be easy, in the end, you will be with Me in paradise. I will bless you and never let you fall to any temptation you can't bear." Hearing all these comments from this voice made me think of who this person was. "Are you God or something?" I asked, wondering. "Yes, Sanford."
The voice sounded convincing to me. I didn't quite understand then, but all I knew was that though I couldn't see him, but, I figured that if I didn't listen, I might regret it later, so I surrendered to him and said "Alright, I'll listen to you. Protect me, God. I believe in You, now, but how will I know if you're really here?" "I will show you, Sanford." "When?" I asked. "Soon," he said. Then I asked him "Why would you want to love and be with me? I'm scum. I bully little kids, raid mini-marts, steal stuff, and vandalize the streets with my friends. Why would you want to pay any attention to me?" I asked. I felt a sudden warm wind around me. "I reach out for you because I love all of those whom I have created. I knew you long before you were born and I've always known all the pain you'd endure, all the places you'd go, everything you'd say or do, and I even know the number of hairs on your head."
"I don't suppose you'll be calling me 'Snake' then, huh?" I asked.
"SNAKE!!!" yelled an all too familiar voice. I turned around and saw a beaten Ace, still carrying the switchblade. I would've started shaking if I hadn't felt that warm air around me. "You've really done it now, Snake! I'm gonna make you wish you were never born!" I backed away, thinking about what he'd do, but then I thought about God and what He'd said. "What about him, God? And Arturo, Big Billy, and Grubber? What will become of them?" "I have a plan for them. Don't worry, Sanford, for I Am in control," said His voice. Suddenly, my back was facing a wall and I began to sink down to the ground. I didn't show any facial expression that told Ace I was afraid. Ace came towards looking as angry as ever. I didn't have anything to fight back with. I started looking up into the night sky and cried out for help, thinking that if I cried for help, God would hear me like He said He would. At first, there was no response, but then, Ace lifted up the switchblade and would have plunged me if it weren't for this great wind that began to blow in Ace's face. The wind was so hard; I had to hold on to my hat as my greasy long hair flew in my face. The wind started shaking some cars that just sat around us. The blustery wind actually began to pull Ace away from me. "Run, Sanford, run!" whispered His voice. While Ace was out of my reach because of the wind, I ran and ran, and ran some more. As the wind begin to die down, I looked back and saw Ace trying his hardest to follow me. When the wind's decreasing flow suddenly stopped, Ace felt the strong current stop which made him fall to his knees. He looked up at me and glared menacingly. "This ain't over, Snake," he said. I didn't say anything to him.
When he got to his feet, the switchblade still in hand, he still kept coming. I backed away quickly, but then witness something I'd never seen before. I saw Ace trip on a crooked piece of the sidewalk. I saw him fall down and roll into the middle of the street. When he fell in the street, I noticed a large 18 wheeler riding towards him. The truck was going so fast, it didn't look as if it couldn't be stopped. The only thing I could do was yell "Watch out, Ace!" Ace heard me and looked to see the truck speeding towards him. Before he could do anything, the truck seriously ran over Ace. The 18 heavy tires crunched his body, much to my disgust. The truck didn't even stop or slowed down. It just kept going. The driver must've thought that he had hit some road kill or something. I scurried to Ace's side and looked at him as he gazed at me. "Snake…you idiot…" he whispered as he reached for me with his fist and gave me one last little punch. As he tried to get up, the 18 wheeler was just too much for him. After all the pain he had put me through, the only thing I could say to him was this simple sentence: "My name is Sanford Ingleberry."
And that was that.