G.H.O.S.T.

I am a double agent, but not the kind that just jumped into your mind. I'm no James Bond. I am a member of the G.H.O.S.T. Squad. It stands for "God's Human Observance of Saintly Temperament." Basically, we assess humans.

Most of the time, I live among the living, though I died hundreds of years ago. When we take a case, we can look and interact like any person. Once a case is concluded, teams report to God. Yeah, that God! You know that thing about God hearing and seeing all? That's because he has us.

There was a case that I worked on once that comes back to me frequently. That's saying something, since I've been involved in millennia of cases.

Normally, we just play the part of non-descript individuals and observe like we're told, but if someone asks questions, we're allowed to guide them on the straight and narrow, though we're not allowed to tell them who we are or why we're there.

Jerrod was only 16. This boy was full of questions. His life trajectory indicated that he would die of a drug overdose just before his 17th birthday. I certainly didn't want to see that happen. I had assumed the role of a substitute teacher at his school. Tough gig, teaching in the projects, and I died for the Ottoman Empire, so I know tough.

Jerrod came to me after class one day and asked, point blank, "Mr. Duncan, do you believe in God?" Ironic, I know.

I told him, "Absolutely. He's pulling for you. Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, like he wasn't going to say anything else, but he did go on, "It's just that, my ma and pa both died. I wonder if they in heaven. Gram takes care of me. She tries, but there ain't much she can do for us. Sometimes, we hungry. I just wonder what good prayin' does. So far, nothin'. Whatcha think about prayin'?"

"Well, Jerrod, are you praying for stuff you want? In my experience, if you pray for a Lamborghini, you're not likely to get one. However, if you pray for something reasonable, especially for other people, you're more likely to be heard." I let that sink in. Then I added, "Also, I'll be glad to swing you by the food bank."

He nodded, "You sure nice, Mr. D., and smart too."

I smiled and said, "I've been around a while." He had no idea.

As promised, I took him to the food bank. We got a big box of staples, and some canned goods. They just happened to have a pair of shoes his size. I might have had something to do with that. You'd think it was Christmas. He asked, "I really don't have to pay anything?"

The kind lady said, "No, young man. All of this is donated by people who care."

I said, "Come on, Jerrod, I'll take you home."

He hesitated. "No, I can walk. You done enough."

I shook my head, "Jerrod, you are not walking home with all of this food. It's no problem. I'm not in a hurry." I knew he didn't want me to see his rundown apartment. I already knew what it looked like from reconnaissance. I put my hand on his shoulder. "You're a good kid, and I'm not going to judge you by where you live."

On the way, I said, "Jerrod, I think you should be thinking about what you want to do with your life. If you get good grades, you can get scholarships for college. You should have big dreams."

"Ain't nobody gonna give me no scholarship."

"I could tutor you. It wouldn't cost anything. Your teacher will be back soon, so I'll have time on my hands. What do you think?"

"I don't know, man. Let me talk with Gram. I got a potential for earning some money. If that works out, I won't need no college."

I had to tread lightly, but I knew where this would go if I didn't intervene. "I don't want to sound like I'm preaching here, but if this venture is against the law, I don't think your grandmother would approve, no matter how much money you make."

He slouched in the car seat and looked down at the new shoes.

I continued, "Remember how I said God is pulling for you? Don't you think you should do the right thing?"

He shrugged. "I'll think about it."

I stopped across the street from his apartment building. "Let me know. We can start tomorrow."

The next day, he came in with a huge smile. "Mr. Duncan, Gram baked you some cookies for helping me. I ate some." He handed me a paper plate.

"Thank you... and thank her for me. I'm so glad that we'll be working together."

I'm not going to tell you it was an easy process. Jerrod was behind in almost every subject, but he was eager and a quick learner.

I'm proud to say that he made it past his 17th birthday. More importantly, my report to The Big Man was hugely in Jerrod's favor.

Every time I have a new case, I still look Jerrod up. He went to college, majoring in accounting. He took a job with a tax firm, earning enough to get his own house. His Gram passed away peacefully in her sleep shortly after they moved.

Jerrod started a charitable organization that tutors students who want to better themselves. He regularly donates to the food bank to which I had taken him.

Eventually, he married a nurse. They named their first son Duncan. I am one proud G.H.O.S.T.