The Prodigal Son
The Long Way Home
by
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Page 37
It had been about six months since Tony arrived in Malibu, California.
“This hippie generation is really what’s happening,” he’d said excitedly when he got the bus from Clarksville. The flower children were everywhere. Then, there were the California girls free for the taking. They were party animals. After a few days, he had made some friends. Then the parties began. The next several months had been one long party with lots of beer, girls, wine, and pot. . Now, he found himself on a beach in Malibu, friendless and penniless. Walking aimlessly, Tony turned the corner of Main Street and Malibu Beach Drive. He caught a glimpse of something in a plate-glass window. .
“Who’s that?" Tony asked as he squinted to bring the image into view. The image slowly came into focus. The face was smudged with dirt and sand. The hair was long, stringy, and tangled. The beard was straggly and matted. The image wore a faded, blue tank top with holes and faded jeans that were long overdue for a cleaning. The person Tony was looking at was a total mess from his head to his tattered sandals. “Hey man,” Tony said. “You look familiar. What’s your name?” .
The fuzzy image in the window spoke back. .
“Don’t you recognize me?” The image replied. “It’s me, Tony!” .
“Tony?” Tony shouted. “That’s my name.” .
“Yeah, I know. Look closer, man,” said the reflection. .
Tony peered intently into the plate glass window, not paying any attention to the looks he was getting from the people eating inside the restaurant. .
Slowly, he came to himself. Thoughts flooded his mind. Even though his hair was matted and he had not shaved in months, he now recognized the figure. The image was now clear. It’s me, Tony thought. .
“Just look at what you have done to us! We don’t have any money, no place to live, and nothing to eat. Where is everybody, Tony? Where are all our friends?” the image cried. “What have you done to us?” .
Shaking a finger and pointing at the nonexistent image in the window, Tony started to answer. But he was interrupted by a voice shouting from the door of the restaurant. .
Smells of fresh-brewed coffee, bacon, and eggs filled Tony’s nostrils as the shouts became more insistent. Tony’s head tilted slightly backwards. He began sniffing like a hound dog on the scent of a rabbit. Sniff, sniff, sniff. .
“Hey you,” a short, burly man shouted. “Beat it, before I call the cops. You’re disturbing my customers.” .
Tony’s eyes finally focused as he looked at the man’s stained apron. He could see the remains of previous greasy meals. Not saying anything, Tony slowly turned and walked away, not paying any attention to the glaring looks coming from inside the restaurant. .
Grumbling and mumbling, the burly man returned to the restaurant saying, “It’s okay, folks. You never know what’s walking the street these days. Young kids running away from home. There should be a law.” .
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About the Book
The Prodigal Son: The Long Way Home reveals lust—the lust for life, lust of the flesh, lust for money, lust for position, the pride of life, hidden family secrets, deception, and deceit— is never satisfied.
Through all of life’s ups and downs, I realize I’m exactly where God wants me to be. The characters in his book have separate lives seemingly on different paths; however, all of them return home where their lives began.
About the Author
Pastor H. Eugene Bagwell-Pettus grew up in Middle Tennessee and was raised from birth by his grandparents. Within months of graduating high school he joined the Air Force from which he retired after serving twenty-four years. He has six children and eleven grandchildren. Traveling over at least half of the world, Howard served in many capacities within the church. He states he’s served God from being the usher at the door to the pastor in the pulpit.
After going through a divorce, he discovered his talent for writing. Believing that he was being divinely inspired, he asked God to give him poetry of psalms. He believes the words he writes are divinely inspired to help not only him but also others that need a word from the Lord. He wrote The Prodigal Son: The Long Way Home in ten days.
Howard is co-pastor of his local church, an entrepreneur at heart, author, caricature artist, singer, an avid cook, and teacher. He and his wife love speaking to people about how God has blessed them with a perfect marriage after divorce.
Howard believes we all have a talent. We are here to be used by God to profit the kingdom and to be a light to this sin-sick, dying world.