When You Wish(11)

The musicians began to strum the first few chords to “Silver and Gold”, one of Edward’s all-time favorite songs. The director took his position in front of the choir, and with one motion, he brought them collectively to their feet. Sinclair stepped out front; the microphone positioned immediately in front of her.

The choir began to sing, “Silver and gold, silver and gold, I’d rather have Jesus than silver and gold. No fame or fortune nor riches untold, I’d rather have Jesus than silver and gold.”

And with the strike of a few more melodious chords, it was time for the verse. Edward didn’t realize it, but he was virtually holding his breath in anticipation of hearing his beloved’s voice.

And as her solo began, Sinclair’s contralto voice filled the capacity of the sanctuary. Every eye was fixed and every ear was poised to hear the intense spirituality that exuded from her lips. Sinclair wasn’t just singing; she was ministering to the spirit of the believers through crescendos and decrescendos that mimicked the emotional testimonies of so many in the congregation. The saints shouted amen and burst into moments of spontaneous praise as she sang, but for Edward, her voice was the only one he could hear. He rode her vocal waves rising, cresting, and then falling accentuating the beautiful lyrics of the song. Even when the choir joined in ensemble, he could hear Sinclair’s beautiful intonations above all others. For Edward, it was heaven.

But he wasn’t the only one tuned in to the euphonious tones pouring from the lips of the beautiful Sinclair. Pastor Robinson was enraptured with not just her gift of song, but her lust for life. As a single, young pastor he had to be discreet in his admirationgiven the transgressions in his not-so-distant past. But nothing about Sinclair escaped him. Since the moment he arrived at Emanuel, she stood out amongst all the women of the church. She was smart, dedicated, and dare he say sexy, in a sanctified sort of way. He wondered why one of the men in the church had not already made her his wife. Then again, maybe that’s why God allowed him the appointment to Emanuel Baptist, so he could be made whole and have a lovely First Lady on his arm. Sinclair certainly fit the bill.

As the beautifully rendered song came to a glorious end, much of the congregation of Emanuel Baptist were already on their feet giving God a thunderous praise. Pastor Robinson knew that now was the time to capitalize on the members’ joyous outpouring and move into what he thought was a brilliant sermon. The echo of Sinclair’s brilliant voice played in his ears as he approached the rostrum.

There was another person clearly tuned in to Sinclair; her best girlfriend, Jasmine Fleming. Unlike the families of Edward and Sinclair, Jasmine’s family was not lifetime and generational members of the church. Jasmine had been attending Emanuel Baptist since she was a little girl and attended Sunday school classes with Sinclair and Edward; however, unlike the two of them who rode to church on Sunday in the luxurious comfort of their parents’ automobiles, Jasmine was picked up early every Sunday morning by Brother Jacob, the Emanuel Baptist Church’s faithful and loyal van driver. The church van would travel to several of the neighborhood projects and pick up the children whose parents were not necessarily interested in attending church themselves. Some of the neighborhood parents may have seen a real benefit in the children attending church, while others may have seen it as free babysitting service. For Jasmine’s mother, it was the latter. Ms. Fleming had attended Emanuel in the past, but she quickly became disinterested when she felt convicted by some of the things that were said; feeling that many of the members talked about her behind her back because she was poor and didn’t dress in ‘appropriate church attire’. Maybe her feelings were based on fact or maybe it was just a figment of her imagination; her uncomfortable feelings stemming from her own sense of not measuring up. She would come on occasions - family and friend’s day and some holidays - but church was not a part of Ms. Fleming’s weekly agenda

Jasmine however continued to come and was as much a fixture in the church as Sinclair and Edward. She and Sinclair became extremely close as Mr. and Mrs. Livingston took a liking to her and often had her over for Sunday dinners when the children were smaller. As teens and young adults that Sunday tradition continued. Jasmine was a fixture in the Livingston home. Unlike Sinclair and Edward though, Jasmine didn’t attend college. She graduated from high school, but because of family obligations, it was necessary for her to go out and find a job. Jasmine was the oldest of her mother’s six children, and was made to feel responsible for helping to care for her siblings.