EXTENSION Short Story Contest - Third Place

Patrick Christ, who won 3rd place in the EXTENSION Short Story Contest, is a 10th grade student at Matoaca High School in Chesterfield, Va. He enjoys various types of music and plays the trumpet and piano. He is involved in Key Club, Latin Club, Marching Band, Drama Club, and the Sacred Heart Church choir in Prince George, Va. He enjoys musical theater, reading, and writing poetry.

The Cardboard City of God

by Patrick Christ

The church bells rang in the Sunday morning mass as Brother Gabriel took his seat. He looked around,"half-empty, as usual," he thought to himself. Brother Gabriel lived in a small village on the outskirts of Columbus. The surrounding area was impoverished, and nearly desolate. However, Gabriel could not stand to see the emptiness in the church. He began to pray. He began "Lord, let me be your voice, and your arms, and your self this day, and allow me to shine your light to others." As he finished, the introductory hymn started, and mass began.

It was one week before Christmas, the time when he was needed most. All the poor, the hungry, and the homeless, needed to be catered to. He intended to go on one of his runs today, to deliver food and small gifts to these families. He returned to his monastery, where other monks were under the same impression, loading up their vehicles with goodies for men and women of all ages. As soon as he loaded his vehicle, he thought to himself, "where to first?"

He thought of many places, but one stuck out to him. It was a "neighborhood" by the old train tracks. Many people had made their home there, and as far as the eye could see, were homely cardboard boxes, the only shelter from a heavy storm. It also allowed a makeshift hideaway from the gunshots that could be heard from sunrise to sunset. This impoverished landscape had earned its nickname by all the locals as "Cardboard Town". Gabriel said a small prayer to the Lord to keep him safe, and to thank Him for the many blessings He had given him. With that, he set out to the notorious Cardboard Town.

He drove down the alleyway that would lead him to the "front" of the town. He pulled up on an empty stretch of land, and parked his car. Almost instantly after he had stepped out, he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey! Gabe!" shouted a man from afar. He had known him ever since joining the monastery. He ran towards Gabriel.

"Why, hello there Pete!" replied Brother Gabriel, "How are things lately?"

"Well, to be honest brother," Pete started solemnly, now embracing him like a long lost relative, "my family has hit hard times. We all have. Nobody wants to come by Cardboard Town anymore. It was just like a fad, but people have moved on. They've forgotten about us. I began to think God had forgotten about us, Brother."

"God would never forget you, dear Pete." Gabriel responded, "He loves you all very much, I am sure of it."

"Brother, you say that, but what proof do you have?" his emotions began to overwhelm him. Tears began to start from his eyes. "We didn't do anything to deserve this fate, we haven't done anything to live on the streets brother, but yet, why does God continue to punish us?"

Brother Gabriel thought about this, and simply responded "It is not something that I can simply tell you, it is something that I need to show you. Come with me. I will show you after you help me give out all this food."

At this, Pete's spirits raised a little, and they began to hand out food to all the people in Cardboard Town. As soon as everyone in Cardboard Town had bright smiles on their faces, and Christmas cheer in their hearts, Gabriel took Peter in his car. He began to drive back to his quaint little church, praying along the way "Lord, put the words into my mouth." Finally they arrived, and he offered Pete to come inside with him.

As Pete entered the chapel, Brother Gabriel started to explain to him what Jesus went through for him. He told him many wonderful things about Jesus. He told him that Jesus had thought that same thing. He had endured all those hardships, and even died, selflessly for us. Pete remained silent throughout the whole story, and finally, when Gabriel had reached the end, Pete looked up, and Gabriel could tell, that he had begun to pray. They stayed there for a long time, simply praying for God's grace, and for thankfulness, and out of joy to the Lord.

Finally, Pete said "Brother, thank you so much for what you have shown, and given me today. I think I understand now what God has been saying, but I've been ignoring. Please, let's go back to Cardboard Town." So they returned outside, and got in the car, and silently and reverently drove back to the train tracks that marked Cardboard Town.

As Pete got out of the car, he hugged Gabriel goodbye, and returned to his loving family, and neighbors. Gabriel rode the entire way back to the monastery silently, and in awe of what the Lord had just done in his life. He prayed a quick thank you, and returned to the monastery, so he could help deliver more Christmas items.

Pete was overwhelmed with God's grace ever since he got back from the chapel. He wanted to share the good news with everyone. Excitedly and joyously, he told everyone who would listen to the story he had just learned about Jesus, and about God, and about himself. He was so happy, and he was filled with the true and wonderful spirit of Christmas. He could not contain himself.

As the week went by, Pete shared his story with more people, and Gabriel delivered more Christmas bounties. They were both excited to be doing what they were doing, and the time seemed to pass so quickly. God's Grace was with them always, and as time goes, his joy made the time flow faster, and suddenly, Christmas was upon them.

Brother Gabriel drove to his church. He thought to himself "Tonight maybe the church will be full, it is Christmas after all." As he walked in, he sat in the second pew from the altar, kneeled, and began to pray the rosary. He became so entranced in his prayers, he did not even notice the commotion of the guests arriving. He prayed for Pete, and prayed for his fellow brothers, and all the other impoverished people he had met on his travels. He prayed so enthusiastically, he did not even realize that the church bells had rung. He stopped praying as mass began to start, wondering to himself "Where was the chiming?"

Before he had time to answer the question, he looked up. He saw a wide array of people. He saw everyone, big and small, black and white, rich and poor. He saw the humble and the haughty, the strong and the weak. He saw many people he had seen along his week's deliveries. He saw the entire cast of cardboard town. Even though it was midnight, Brother Gabriel had never seen the church brighter. It was as if God's Grace were illuminating the very air itself. The only person he didn't see was Pete. He looked around, at all the bright faces, through all of God's joy, and Pete was no where to be seen. He began to be sad, he had thought he had really touched him.

Mass moved on and the congregation sat. Suddenly, Gabriel noticed that he hadn't seen Pete, because he had been kneeling beside him, praying as with the same emotion Gabriel had been earlier. Gabriel's heart was filled with joy. The church was filled to bursting, and God was the focus of it all. He thought to himself, "One person really can make a difference." Looking back on it, Gabriel believed this to be the happiest moment of his life. He never stopped thanking God for it.

January 1st of the very next year, Pete joined the Monastery, hoping to become a deacon at that church. Gabriel's monastery got knowledge of this, and offered to house his whole family. Of course, Peter (as he was now called) refused. He said that he needed to be with his family in God back in Cardboard Town.

Brother Gabriel sat down with the priest of his church one bright Sunday afternoon. He had called Gabriel to a meeting. Gabriel was still rejoicing at the continued participation of all the ones that came to mass, especially those of Cardboard Town. The priest began to speak very solemnly. "We have a problem, Gabriel."

"What is that Father?"

"Who should we hire to expand the church?"

And with a smile erupting on his face, Brother Gabriel knew that God had answered his prayer.