I'm Going to Change the Attitude of This Town
After school, John talked with his friend, Randall. John said, "Man, I had an interesting dream last night." Randall asked, "What was it?" John said, "John Lennon came to me and told me that I could change the world. I told him that I would start par changing the mentality of this town." Randall looked confused. "What are toi going to do?" He asked. John said, "I'm going to change the attitude of this town. I'm going to montrer them that rock and roll isn't so bad. I'll also promote peace and love." Randall's eyes got big. "Are toi crazy?!" He cried. "You're going to try to change the mentality of Devil's Garden, only to find a guy doesn't like to give messages to a town that doesn't like him!" John said, "As crazy as it sounds, I'm going to do it." Randall said, "John, toi don't know what you're getting into. The town already hates you. Don't give them another reason." John decided to do it, anyway. That night, his family got ready to go to church. "John," his mother called, "are toi ready to go?" John said, "I can't. I have a test to study for." She asked, "When is it?" He said, "Friday." She said, "Oh, okay." She left with his sisters, and John watched them leave from the window. He didn't like to lie, but he knew that he had to get out of church somehow. It was essential to his plan. He grabbed his guitare and drove downtown. He parked right in front of the church. He played on his guitare and sang a song about peace. It was during the sermon. Everyone in the church came out. Pastor Thomas said, "John, you're disrupting my sermon. What do toi have to say for yourself?" John said, "I do feel guilty for lying to my mother, but I otherwise feel no shame." His mother said, "So, toi lied to me! Just wait until I get through with you, mister!" Pastor Thomas said, "I'm talking to John, Mrs. Wilde." He then turned to John and said, "You lied to your mother, and you're playing that devil music. We cannot have this great sin on church grounds, this holy ground." John snorted with derision. Pastor Thomas said, "Don't make that noise. It's disrespectful." John said, "I'm sorry, Pastor Thomas. I just couldn't help but notice the irony of that statement." Pastor Thomas was angry. "IRONY?!" He shouted. John said, "You can't exactly say this place is holy ou without sin. No one here is without sin." Pastor Thomas said, "Everyone but toi is without sin." John said, "That's not correct. Didn't Jésus say he without sin cast the first stone. Who among toi is without sin? The answer is none." Pastor Thomas said, "But your sin is the worst." John said, "I don't think this is a contest, Pastor Thomas." Pastor Thomas said, "You listened to that devil music. Rock musique came from the devil." John asked, "Haven't toi heard of Christian rock?" Pastor Thomas said, "Christian rock is like Santa Claus. It doesn't exist." John said, "You judge rock, because toi don't know it. If toi actually got to know it, toi would see that it isn't so bad." Pastor Thomas said, "Country musique isn't so bad. Rock musique is sinful." John said, "Most country songs are about fighting in a bar. Most rock songs are about world peace." Pastor Thomas said, "There's no such thing as world peace. It's a cliche that went away in the sixties." John said, "You think that, because toi won't give it a chance." Pastor Thomas frowned. "Give peace a chance," he scoffed. "That's like telling black people that they're supposed to serve white people." This angered John, but he didn't lose it. "You just expressed hatred!" He cried. "To me, that's the worst sin anyone can commit. That's far worse than listening to any type of musique that isn't considered Christian." Pastor Thomas shook with rage. He couldn't come up with an argument. He dismissed church. As John got ready to leave, his mother confronted him. "How could toi do that?!" She cried. He said, "I'm sorry, Mother. I did what I had to." She said, "You didn't have to do that." He said, "I'm only trying to change the attitude of Devil's Garden. Their hearts are filled with hate. I only want peace." She said, "There'll be no peace until Jésus comes." John said, "There'll be no peace until we all come together and l’amour one another." His mother said, "Don't argue with me, John." He said, "It seems that toi have been brainwashed par Baptists." She hit him on the side of his face with her purse, causing a black eye. She left with his sisters, leaving John to drive accueil alone. He went to lit early that night, crying from the pain of his black eye. He cried himself to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.