“Odessa got sick a long time ago, and fought hard. Saw a lot of good come to fruition from her direct efforts. Our Thanksgiving program where we provide entire meal kits to needy households. Our Christmas Toy Store where the poorer children from here and surrounding communities come in and pick gifts they couldn’t otherwise afford. She made sure to leave her mark.”

I couldn’t zone out like I did in his sermons. This was one-on-one, couldn’t fake my way through this. His stare never wavered.

“I’m sad to say she saw some ugly things in her final days. Shadows descending on our community. All those young ladies at the high school throwing their lives away over momentary temptation. Just about tore Odessa’s heart in half.” He broke eye contact, staring down at hands he was wringing hard enough to cause a potential friction burn. “I’m sure you know two of the young ladies who made that devil’s pact were members here.”

I did not. Why would I? Also, the pact wasn’t a real thing.

This didn’t feel like the right time to bring that up.

Newsome’s voice became edged. “On her deathbed, Odessa told me, ‘Eldridge, you have to intervene for the Green Creek youth. That’s what God’s called you to do. And I won’t be with you, so you’ll have to look for like-minded saints to help.’ She said those exact words to me, and that’s why I’m talking to you, Mr. Rainey. Do you understand?”

A slow head shake was my only answer.

“I want you to help me save the youth in this town. That starts with you telling me what’s been going on in that sex class.” He got into a comfortable note-taking position. Wrote the number one in the top left margin of his pad. Waited.

“I’m not sure what to tell you. It’s boring stuff mostly. Statistics. Telling us how to avoid places where we might get tempted.”

He didn’t write anything down. “You said ‘mostly.’ You don’t find it boring all the time.”

“That’s because of MJ.” Then I caught myself, feeling I’d made a misstep. Said too much.

“The English teacher. I know the man.” He scribbled something quick and hard on his pad. “He was quite eager to take on this particular task. A man possessed, you might say. How’s he handling the mandated curriculum?”

“MJ’s good.”

“Is he now? He lets you call him that? Just his initials?”

“I—yes. I mean, he’s cool.” Every answer felt like the wrong answer. Twisting in my chair, I motioned toward the corridor. “Kiera’s probably going to need some help.”

Newsome scrutinized me while twirling his pen between his index and middle finger like a drumstick. “I met my Odessa at church when I was about your age. It’s a special bond that forms when two young people connect over holy pursuits. I can tell you that. I can also tell you that two people pursuing a relationship should be equally yoked. Do you know what that means?”