Personal Narrative: The Pastor Who Changed My Life

Three years later I met James Cox. He was living with his Mother’s Pastor Charles and his wife. We met on the job and became friends. James passed his physical for the fire department and he wanted to go out to celebrate. He took me to a very nice restaurant called Max House. Once we were seated he smile and said thank you for accepting my invitation. I brought you here to show you how much I appreciate you for working the extra hours and allow me to get paid for it. Few people would work another’s shifts and gave them the hours. That was the only way he could go through his training and still keep his pay. I had not minded doing that for him. While we sat in the restaurant he thanked me repeatedly for helping him. Then he told me about his life. He came to New York
She moved to Ohio where her job was. They stayed behind and lived in Minneapolis with his grandmother. Then he moved here. He said I’ve never lived in a different state from my kids. We talked a while about my son and I. Then he told me he had a girlfriend. They met in college and fell in love. Now they live in different states. He said, “I don’t think this long distance relationship is working for me. I told her I did not feel we should continue to see each other.” I asked, “So what did she say?” He continued “She said just give it more time.” After a moment of silence, he took my hand and said, “We’ve worked together for years and you have always stayed in my corner. I feel you’re the only family I have here.” I smiled and thought well that good to hear. I’ll help you out when I can. The next day we were at work and he was taking out the trash. I was doing my paperwork. A woman who worked with us liked him a lot. She walked up and asked me why are you keeping your relationship a secret. You and James are a couple. I asked her what she was talking about? She said James told me and everyone else at the job you guys were a