The Intangible

by C.J. Washington

“Were you religious when you got married?” Meredith asked Derrick. “We raised him in the church,” Derrick’s mother said. “But he had the good sense to stop going.” “Meredith Lynne,” Amanda’s mother rebuked. “It’s okay, Glenda.” Derrick smiled. “My parents did raise me in the church. And I did stray. But I’ll tell you, it’s good to be back.” “It’s good to see you back,” his father said. “Right,” Meredith said. “I guess there’s nothing wrong with one of you going off and joining a church. Assuming the church is reasonable.” “Reasonable?” Derrick asked. “Yeah,” Meredith said, “reasonable. Women are allowed to have opinions. Gays aren’t condemned to conversion therapy. I don’t know where your church stands on those things, but the idea that diabetes is caused by demons isn’t encouraging.” “That probably wasn’t literal,” Amanda’s mother said. “The prayer warrior on stage,” Meredith countered, “literally commanded the demons in Sister Jocelyn’s foot to return to hell. No one said anything about her pancreas. But I digress. If neither of you were religious when you married and then one of you became a Methodist, that’s a bridge that could be crossed. But when one of you becomes a snake handler—” “We don’t handle snakes,” Derrick interrupted. “I didn’t mean that literally.” “You’re being rude,” Amanda’s mother told her. “I can’t wait until you meet my family,” Brian said, grinning. He squeezed her hand. “She says what she’s thinking.” Meredith smiled at him. “Thank you, honey. But...