A Prodigal Brother: Christian

by John Warren Self

It was spring and few people in Brooklyn wondered how hot this summer will be. Carl Ramsey, a young man, was a college student, Church volunteer and helped Ben at his office and work his urban farm plot.Carl’s wife, Sara, was a clerk in a real estate office near the Church. Carl’s younger brother, Robert, became a bandit from the time when he worked at the diner for Ozzie Franco. He took cash from the cash-register when no one was looking.He even created several diversions inside the diner or claimed that there was an emergency outside the place. He did what he could to get everyone to go outside so that he was alone with the cash-register for that short time. He stole small amounts of cash that he felt would not be noticed as missing. The thefts were so small that they were not discovered by Ozzie at all.Robert saw that his mother was sitting on the couch very still. Then he realized that she had passed away. He found the incoming mail with his late fathers insurance check on her lap. He cashed copying her signature.Robert left the area on a bus en route and then boat up the East River. He transportation eventually took him to the Canada border. He nothing other than legal troubles there that kept landing him in jail.Roberto was arrested and put in a New York City jail after a few years in Canada. Carl was on his way to the jail for his first visit with Robert after that. He was going there alone beings cousin Alan only had an interest in hearing that the jury voted to convict him and nothing to do with it beyond that.Carl’s cousin, Alan, was at his front door ready to make his visit. They greeted one another. Alan commented. “I somehow got the impression that you might be visiting Robert today.”“Good guess.”“I'm thinking about it too.”“I was just looking over the Prodigal Son story of the book of Luke Chapter 15.”“Really, so you think Robert is the Prodigal Brother?”“I think he might become the Prodigal Brother.”“How's that?”Carl went over his thoughts about the book of Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 through 32 with regard to Robert. He explained the similarities of most the verses. Then Alan commented about one thing that was not similar. “You read in there about how the Prodigal Son robbed his father?”“No.”“Prodigal Son didn't rob anyone. He took the money that he took from his father because he was able to talk him out of it. He did not steal it, so there were no victims. Then the Prodigal Son flew the coop wanting to go off on his own with that money.“Yur brother did some of that and he might ask forgiveness one day. He is in one very important way different from the Prodigal Son. He made you his victim when he robbed you. I understand that he will have federal charges for insurance fraud, stealing your money and identity theft, when he signed the insurance check.”“I don't like thinking of him as criminal. Now he's being tried for robbing me, I can only pray that he will be my Prodigal Brother some day.”“It would seem that you're right about this. I think I'll take that up with Father Peter.”“That's fine. Father will see Robert about it.”“Why aren't you still angry about this?”“I took my old feelings about it to confession. Then I visited Robert alone a few days ago. He told me where he hid the remains of the insurance money. I'm going to Canada to get it. You can come along with me.”“Okay.”“He told me something else.”“Yes.”“He's making a list of people that he stole money from over the years. He wants us to pay as much back to them as we can with the insurance money.”“Sure, God and your parents will be proud of you if we do that. Perhaps Robert will become my Prodigal Brother.”“Really? He will likely do jail time. Then there may be other penance to do after he pays his victims off. Now lets go see your Prodigal Brother and pray for the best.”“Your Prodigal Brother.”

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2019