Xavier stood on the church steps, waiting as the dial tone sounded. On the third ring Larry answered, though there was quite a bit of background noise. "You called?" Xavier asked his friend.
"Yeah man, where are you? Things are awesome down here! This new girl showed up, I think her names Cherry or something. Anyhow she's smoking hot, and does she know how to liven things up! You coming?"
"Maybe later, I promised my mom I'd go to church today, you know, mother's day and all that," Xavier explained.
"What the Hell? First Rick, now you. What is with you people today?"
"Rick's going to church too?" Xavier said incredulously.
"Yeah, and he you remember how he was acting fucking weird last night too. I tell you, something's got into that guy..."
"Ah, well, maybe I can find him and drag his sorry ass down there once services are done. Hey, I gotta go. Sounds like they're starting and my mom will skin me alive if I miss out."
"Alright man, but you get down here as soon as you can, alright?"
"Gotcha. Later, then," Xavier finished, hanging up his cell and heading up the stairs to the church. He was too busy putting his phone away to notice a woman in her late twenties in a blue skirt and blouse. Xavier barely avoided tumbling down the stairs, mumbling his apologies to the woman as he righted himself. The woman gave a few words of assurance, albeit with a disapproving look on her brow, before composing herself and heading inside. Xavier wasn't sure why he waited until she was inside before resuming his walk up the stairs, but when he finally did he noticed a strange glimmer near the point of their collision. It was a pinkish gemstone, a little smaller than the palm of his hand.
Xavier picked up the curious trinket, figuring it must have fallen from the woman's purse when he ran into her. He pocketed the gem and headed into the church, though by the time he entered services had started and the woman was no where to be found. Figuring he would have to find the woman afterwards to return the strange stone, Xavier walked over to where his own family stood, sitting down on the end of the hard wooden pew.
