Timberwood: Short Stories Edition Vol. 16
Edwin Jones wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to join Timberwood. He was just recruited by Trumaine (Truh-MANE) Preston Wilson (whom they call "Tru"). Tru told him, "Go out & do it!" Tru's voice just kept ringing in his head. That phrase kept ringing in his head. Edwin felt in his gut not to trust this. He felt like he had a conversation with a quack or a snake oil salesman. He was down on his luck & desperate. He just got out of jail this morning. He was found innocent. He went to jail because he had a warrant out for his arrest, due to mistaken identity, because he fit the physical description of a wanted fugitive. Coincidentally, they caught the actual criminal the day that Edwin was let out of jail.
From then on, Edwin kept running into Trumaine everywhere he went. At the gym, at the grocery store, at the barber shop, etc. He started feeling creeped out that another man appeared to be stalking him. He wondered what Trumaine wanted out of him.
He told his friend Brian Moss about it, & Brian said, "Bro. What have you got to lose? Go out & do it. Or like Nike says, 'Just Do It'! I'mma try it wit'chu."
Edwin said, "But..."
Brian said, "Stop being such a spineless snowflake, bro!"
They both got on the public transit bus. They had a day pass. After that, they hopped on the train. Then they connected to 2 more train lines & another bus. They finally made it. They were both too strapped for cash to be able to afford an Uber, Lyft or taxi.
When they got to the front entrance of the building, Edwin felt a PTSD moment because he said that the security setup reminded him of a jail or a prison. He said that the security guards were dressed up in what looked like prison guard uniforms.
Brian said, "C'mon! Don't waste my time. It took us over 4 hours to get over here. We didn't make it this far, for nothing!"
Tyler Fields had just got finished applying & doing interview, orientation, intake & onboarding. He stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. He noticed Edwin & Brian whispering & debating with each other. He said, "This place got some hella strict rules, but it's worth it. You can't even curse once you get up in there. I wonder if they gon' say something about me smokin' by da buildin'."
Edwin said, "See? Why such strict rules, man!"
Brian shook him & said, "Will you stop being so negative?" (He was trying to show off & stunt, trying to jokingly act like the actor Chris Tucker.)
Tyler was laughing the whole time. Tyler didn't know what he was in for. He dropped his criminal thug mentality & lifestyle for the Timberwood money & women. He switched up his personality REALLY QUICK! He had a false sense of salvation & newness of life. He kept telling the 2 guys that the money is WORTH IT! He said that he never saw so many beautiful women in his life, & he said that those women aren't even famous. He compared those pretty women to angelic beings. He said that all the women were trying to get at him.
WOMEN was more of a magic word to Edwin & Brian than the word MONEY! Especially the way Tyler described it. They said, "Hell! Women & money are spelled with almost all of the same letters." They falsely reasoned with themselves to believe that women = money!
All 3 of the guys went through the humiliating & grueling security frisk, & then Brian nearly fainted when Taschika (Tah-SHEE-kuh) walked by & smiled & waved in her New Orleans accent, saying, "Heeeeeey! How y'all doin' dis mawnin'?"
Then Jerrica (pronounced -not like JEH-ruh-kuh, but like juh-REE-kuh), Emily, Tauriana (Taw-ree-AH-nuh), Lisa, Genna (like JEHN-nuh) & a slew of other women passed by. Edwin was panting. Trumaine, the stalker, walked by. Edwin told Tru that he was a lifesaver. Trumaine could do nothing but laugh in his face & walk off. He was creeped out again because he felt like Trumaine's laugh sounded as if a demon had entered him. Once Trumaine got Edwin right where he wanted him, he left Edwin alone & stopped stalking him. Trumaine probably did some doggone witchcraft on Edwin to have him join! Those pretty women are probably all witches, too.
Mark Bass sent Edwin & Brian in for an interview, intake (more like an interrogation session), orientation, & onboarding, just like what Tyler just went through. The guys didn't realize that whatever questions they answered during the "intake" would be negatively used as a weapon against them later on, especially if they try to resist or break away.
After they successfully got in, they were directed to go & help set up & decorate for Timberwood's 35th anniversary ball, which was to happen that night. They had a lot of catered food & a big turnout. The cult also used this fake "ball" as a cover for more recruitment. Therefore, they encouraged the members to invite friends, lovers & family.
Tyler invited his friends, Floyd Griffin & Marvin "Marvinous" Crawford. Edwin & Brian invited Desmond Bledsoe. They were all new recruits. Desmond said that the ball reminded him of a funeral repast or something. He thought it felt eerie & creepy. He said that the entire "energy" of the event felt gloomy & depressing. He said that everyone walked around, looking like soulless, lost, empty vessels.
Tyler disagreed & thought that the event seemed like a wedding reception. Right after he said that, everyone turned around because Camille's water broke. Desmond said that Camille looked possessed.
Tyler & Brian asked if Edwin & Desmond were high off of tainted weed or some other drugs because Edwin & Desmond were spiritually able to see Timberwood for what it really is. They weren't high. They saw the truth.
Edwin was like, "F***! Did we sell our souls without realizing it?"
Zechariah said, "Hol' up! U trippin'. It don't e'en work like dat! I know. I'm a mason."
Edwin said, "Ok. That's all I need to know." Edwin & Desmond snuck out of there. They ran as fast as they could towards Desmond's car. Desmond drove Edwin to his (Desmond's) uncle's house. That was a safe haven. Desmond's uncle, "Uncle Pops" is a Christian minister.
Edwin said, "I need the Lord right now! Where is he? Where is he?" Desmond chimed in & said, "Me, too."
They started getting on their knees, praying & crying. Edwin ran around the house, saying, "I need a Bible! I need a Bible! Take me to church, PLEASE!"
Uncle Pops was able to comfort & console Edwin. Edwin was far more distraught than Desmond. Uncle Pops assured them that they did not sell their souls, & that they can repent & turn to Jesus Christ. He reminded the 2 guys that Jesus is a forgiving God.
They changed their phone numbers & moved in with Uncle Pops. Brian, Tyler, Marvin, Floyd & the rest, thought they were living it up & living their best life. They didn't want to leave the Timberwood cult for anything in the world.
Uncle Pops, Edwin & Desmond prayed for the souls of everyone in Timberwood. They prayed that more members would break the spell & leave. Uncle Pops said, "Well! We can't help or rescue those who don't want to be rescued."
THE END