Doors (Book 1 of the Longwood Series)

bedroom set, as their old one clashed with the powder-blue walls, and Sheila loved the walls. The furniture wa

and lunch and then a real restaurant for dinner. They favored the Olive Garden, but had hit up The Red Lobster as well. The kids felt they were in heaven and were dismayed to find out that this morning would be their last McDonalds for a while. Sheila couldn't wait t

ead and kill them again with his snores! It woke her up better than coffee. She thought to wake him up but decided to let him sleep

She grabbed the coffee out of the cabinet, put a filter in the coffee machine, and measured out the five tablespoons of coffee. She filled the coffee pot with water from the f

fter her to wear slippers, but she could never understand why. She always kept her hou

and waved at them. They waved back, and then she could see their looks of horror as they looked at her. She wondered why and looked down, since the third neighbor covered her mouth in horror

and hissed it out as she s

. Finally, her voice caught up with her brain, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream. She felt she was losing her

hammering, expecting to find his wi

e skittered to a stop behind her and look

hair was cornrows done tightly to her skull, bringing out her wide almond eyes. For the first time, Sheila felt nerv

g their wives. Then he shook his head. As gorgeous as she was, she wasn't Sheila, and the attraction instantly died. He felt Sheila st

frosting in the other. "I was gonna' get rid of that fo' you befo' you be seein'

must think us so rude. I'm Brad Longwood, and this is m

ing and her teeth were chattering. Sweat broke out. She reeked of fear and his he

eighborhood this way, but the truth of it is we be havin' some Satan wo

ommitted s-s-s," Sheila stammered,

ve of the Lord on him, but he wasn't havin' any of it. It's a shame, t

ming down. The woman had appalling grammar, b

els like a chile of God is a chile of God no matter what. I goes to Calvary Church on Sun

these devil worshippers scare you though? They

vil be hatin' people 'cause we be made in God's image, whether you be believin' it or not it sho' don't matter. And the devil be hatin' God, so he be hatin' God's creation. See, God made them angels first, but he be puttin' us higher than the angels. The devil, Lucifer be his name, be jealous, he be thinkin' he should be God, and he d

inside as well as outside, and Sheila knew she would grow to love this woman as a good friend. H

y. He almost forgot the bag Gwynn carried. "Gwynn, we can take care of that, don't worry

t with a knot, and took it to the trash can. He ca

th the cake. "Is that chocolate-frosted ca

wantin' to bring you a w

d let's all have a

and before I left, the Lord done t

love to have yo

inging three cups, three dessert plates, forks, spoons, a knife, cream, and sugar. There was plen

chocolate cake. The frosting was thick and

his was my favorite

ne tole me?" Gwynn said s

n. She was like no one she ever met before-kind, loving, r

in, did they do the sam

, and theys try to frighten me when they

us who they a

vin' a very important part to play in a battle that be comin' ahead, and you needs to make your own choic

believe in eith

u ain't with Christ. But God be callin' you, and He wants you, but you must choose. It be free will. He can't force you into nothin', 'cause he done promised us t

s talk about God and the devil. She couldn't believe in either one. Oh, she believed that others believed with their he

ke and coffee and lounged a lit

chores to do," Gwynn said and w

sincere heart, and I'm sorry. I know you believe in Him, and I can ap

ront door, and Shei

will be put in a position where you must choose. I be prayin' for you. T

walked away as Brad

amazingly, that the kids ha

got a sandwich and her husband the leftovers from dinner. The kids were given money on Fridays because that was the day the Cafeteria had their favorite food, pizza, and they purchased their favorite beverage

ey would stop and make sure they had a hotel room booked ahead. She didn't mind camping, as long as she was in a hotel or cabin. No way she would sleep on the hard, lumpy floor of a tent with the mosquitos eating at her, hot as hell. Because of this, she tended to just stay home while Brad took the kids camping. Sheila didn't mind, and it usually was a relief for Brad not to

ed to Sheila it was out of respect for her and her husband's marriage. It wasn't a conceited way, like she felt she was too good looking and might woo him; it was more that she felt

d never do anything anyways. Please, don't leave eve

that way, then I be

o, and he liked her a lot. He could

s she was about start ironing, someone knocked on the door. She sighed, as she knew she would be behind but, truth

yes. Her face was round, her lips full, and she had a curvy body. She was a little overweight, but it didn't detract from her

you?" Sheila

th for a couple of months and when I came back, no one told me right away. Finally, I was told about our new neighbors. Not one of the dolts

held a cake of some kind. She stood back. "Please come in, and thank you," Sheil

fee cake, one of my favorites. I baked it la

to indulge in some cake with me, as well as a cup of

t woke up and rushed over here, and I r

sink. She set them down on the table and encouraged Maureen to sit. She took the spoons and two cups and set them

fe, and some napkins and carried them and the contain

I have a wonderful marriage, or I'd be fat as hell instead of a little overweight. Can

their first bite and their

're very good. I think I'll come over

otten a few cold looks. Why does the neighborho

on't mind her, but I'm not crazy about her," Maureen confided. "I know she's your

ell her who she could be friends with. "But I don't understand. What's so bad with Gwynn, other than he

e aren't fanatical about it, but she's indiscriminate with the accusations. My husband, Doug, used to help her all the time, but when she couldn't convince him of thi

why would you help Gwynn

ee to choose, cause who the hell wants to burn for eternity? God made us with wants and desires and then tells us we can't indulge in them. He made us to love sex and then tells us we can't enjoy it unless we're married. What about those of us who don't want to get married

that have rejected him and have rejected God will feel the eternal fire. There's no tolerance for sitting on the fence with either of them, and, in this one thing only, I can agree with God about that. Right now, Lucifer is not as

. It's for this reason why we tried to help her, despite the fact that she hates us. I'm sorry; I'm not here to draw you in to our side, and it wa

believe in this. Yet her heart skittered as she felt a dark presence, menacing,

want to believe. I don't believe in either one-I think

lly, it hurt us. We loved Gwynn, even though she's worshipping our enemy, cause we don't see her as an extension of God or anything. We see her

ike," Shei

s herself our enemy, and we do try to love her, but...anyways, it's okay. If she can be friends with you, I think that's awesome. My husband and I don't really hold ill will towards her, and we would still help her if she wanted us

aureen was preaching pretty much the same as Gwynn. The only difference was that she still felt uncomfortable and scared. Perhaps it was the years of brainwashing about devil worshippers, the i

and sexual abuse. Even our master hates those. On other things, though, what's right for you may be wrong for me and vice-versa. So, we try not to judge people on a hardcore right and wrong system. We uplift people, hold them high. We may be created in our Enemy's image, but He turned on us, and L

r family used to go to church until we sta

ike it?" Ma

in it, and I felt it was hypocritical of me

nated against, we have to hold them in secret. I'd like you

unch in his belief to not attend anything

tand," Mau

vers love Humans, why did they put a

em. Christians have extremists too, bombing the abortion center in the name of

emists. Where is your church, and what

he border to Homestead. Sundays at 11:00 a.m. I'll gi

with you and your f

look at the time!" Maureen exclaimed, jump

ssed her already. Maureen w

heila mentioned it. "I'm only half Irish, and I di

ared. She felt a very dark presence in her house. She shook her hea