James

by Percival Everett

“There is no God, child. There’s religion but there’s no God of theirs. Their religion tells that we will get our reward in the end. However, it apparently doesn’t say anything about their punishment. But when we’re around them, we believe in God. Oh, Lawdy Lawd, we’s be believin’. Religion is just a controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient.”

“Folks be funny lak dat. Dey takes the lies dey want and throws away the truths dat scares ’em.”

I saw the surface of her, merely the outer shell, and realized that she was mere surface all the way to her core.