Judas is less than thrilled about the concert, but I expected that. I know he slept out by the pond last night. I made sure none of the boys bothered him. They were good and listened to me. It helped that we all sat up ’til I don’t know what time, drinking, dancing, partying, having a general good time. I don’t think anything less than the thought of being able to see Jesus today would’ve gotten them out of bed, but they’re up, I’ll give them credit for that, no matter how they might feel. That’s
’cause they love him so much, you know. They’d do anything for him. Now, if I can only get them to behave with regard to Judas, so they don’t upset Jesus. While the boys are getting ready to go, I’ve worked out the arrangements for today. I just need to explain them to Judas. Very carefully. I go out to the pond and take him some fresh clothes, and a little food. Not much, but enough to keep body and soul together. I make him eat it, too, even if I can tell it’s against his will.
“If you don’t eat that whole thing, right now, Judas Iscariot, I’ll tell Jesus and he’ll be upset with you and I know you don’t want that,” I threaten him with a knowing smirk. The one that tells him I mean business. Yeah, maybe it’s a low blow, but it works. He scowls even as he puts the pastry into his mouth and chews.
Good boy. I make sure he swallows, too. Not that I don’t trust him, but I don’t trust him, if you know what I mean. Then I wait until he gets dressed and is ready to go before I bother to tell him about tonight. Mostly ’cause I know what his reaction will be, and I’m right, as usual.
“What the hell use is that?” he thunders at me, shaking his head. Sometimes he acts like he’s talking to a bratty child, a stupid one at that. You know, the one who can’t possibly understand what she’s saying, rather than a grown woman who can think for herself. I scowl back at him, ’cause he don’t scare me none.
“It’ll help tomorrow when that circuit judge comes around here to set his bail, you doofus, and he sees that Jesus has a lot of people who support him and love him, and not just us, but a lot of people all over the world. What don’t you understand? Can’t you see the big picture? Like maybe he’ll be released tomorrow, not just on bail, but permanently? Don’t you want to see him free?” I know he does, but I ask the question anyway, to give him a chance to think this through and stop thinking with his damn dick.
“It doesn’t work like that. He still has to come to trial,” Judas argues, but I can tell he’s softening, so I throw in the part I’ve been saving, the pièce de résistance I have tucked up my sleeve.
“And just think of this, Mr. Iscariot,” I add, pointing my finger at him, practically shaking it in his face. “Tonight I’ll have every one of the boys on stage with me…”
“I know that,” he grumbles, swatting at my finger. “Do you think I care? Do you think I’d come anywhere near where they are?” He puts a hand up to his head, in memory of the souvenir he got from one of them last night. I still have no idea who did it, no one’s ’fessed up to it, probably ’cause they know I’ll be pissed when I find out. Yeah, quite a goose egg he’s got, dark and ugly. Damn ugly. I consider offering to pancake it for him, but on second thought, I rethink that. “Why do you think it matters to me if they’re on stage with you…all I want is—” Suddenly he stops speaking, and I watch his eyes grow wide—I can almost see the gears moving inside—as he finally gets the idea through his thick head. I swear, sometimes men are almost more trouble than they’re worth. The operative word being almost.
“Yes, I think you have it now.” I nod. “While they are here with me, that means you can spend the entire night alone…”
“With Jesus,” he says, wonder and glee evident in his voice as he begins to see the possibilities of this situation. And he begins to appreciate them. Good. His cooperation will make things a whole lot easier, believe me. I move on to the next part. I figure he’s so high on what I just told him, he won’t even mind the rest of it.
The part where we’re all going into town to see Jesus—at his request, mind you—
and the boys are going to take turns seeing him. Which means Judas will have less time with him, besides being stuck around us for at least a little while. But there’s nothing I can do about that. This is Jesus’ request, and I’m going to do my best to see that it’s done. Judas’ll just have to get over himself.