Arms outstretched
The light turns green, and I cross the road with everyone else. I’m doing my long stride today, where I try to give the impression I’m not looking where I’m going. But it also helps me keep pace and about ten metres behind a tall, well-built man. He’s wearing a beautiful blue suit and very nicely shined black shoes. The stacked, good-looking, well-dressed dudes always get it first, don’t they? It makes perfect sense to me. Being large, and looking like a leader, means they’re the biggest threat.
My walk is not working. I can’t keep it up. The Sam thing, his arms out, it’s getting inside my head. Was it a signal? Was Sam Christian and had imitated Jesus? He’d never said anything. The two of us had gone through an experience almost designed to induce spiritualism. Since that day had he been dying, but soon after had converted and now was renewed, reborn, revitalised?
I can’t picture that. If anyone exudes strength, it’s Sam.
James Hannan has published short fiction in Australia, Canada and the UK in publications such as Everyday Fiction, Litro, Styluslit, Literally Stories, Bourbon and Blood, Prole, and MONO fiction. He and his wife share a home on Dja Dja Wurrung country in Victoria, with three children, two cats, one chicken, two dogs, and Merrick, the central bearded dragon. James recommends the Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species.
