I gaze out the window as cars wiz by. For a moment I think I see something glowing in one of the cars, but it's probably my mistake.

  When I try to get a closer look inside it is already flying down the highway.

  I take a bite of the chicken the fam brought me when they picked me up. They know exactly what I like. It was a nice surprise considering I've been smashing on cardboard and getting liquid food shoved through my veins for so long. To say I am enjoying this chicken is an understatement.

  From the corner of my eyes, I think I see another glowing light. I whip my head in its direction.

  "Mal."

  I stare intently at a man crossing a street not too far from me. I can just make out his appearance and he has a glowing gray light surrounding him. I blink. Does that mean he is an SBL, too? But his light is different from B-Man's.

  "Mal."

  "Yeah, what's up, Jay?" I finally answer my little brother. I don't need to turn around to know that it's him.

  I sit in the passenger side of my dad's

  SUV. Dad's driving. My three younger sib-lings, Meeka, Stuje and Jay sit in the back. Jay is squashed between the other two. He is the youngest by seven years. The other two are teenagers while he's still a preteen.

  "Mom and Dad said the doctors told them that people beat you up and jumped you. Why did they do that?"

  I turn to look at him and nearly jump.

  This boy has a baby blue light pulsing around him as he looks at me with a serious expression on his narrow face.

  "Are they going to come back after you? If they do, you know I got your back."

  I don't know if I should laugh or be annoyed. Either way, I'm flattered my little brother cares about me so much.

  "You're only ten, Jay. Besides, you don't need to worry about me. But thanks, bro." I smile at him. A quick side glance at my Dad alerts me to his head turning my direction. Inwardly I sigh because I know exactly what's coming.

  "Son, why won't you talk to me about what happened to you?"

  I turn back around and force myself to meet his gaze. He looks sorrowful. I know it's because he feels like he should have been there to protect me.

  "Both Ann and me were so worried when the police showed up at our door telling us the bad news."

  He's referring to my stepmom. The three kids in the back are hers. I share a mom and dad with three older siblings, and I just share a dad with my three younger ones. It reminds me of a black version of The Brady Bunch. I mean besides the fact there are seven of us and we're all blood-related.

  I heard Ann fainted a few times when she came to visit. After a while, she decided to stop coming to the hospital. I think about bringing that up to change the subject, but I decide to be straight forward with my Dad.

  "Dad, to be honest, I really don't feel like talking about it."

  My dad grows silent. I can tell he doesn't like my answer.

  "I think James will know what happened. Y'all tell each other almost every-thing," Meeka speaks for the first time. I glance her way and see her head is buried in her phone as usual.

  "If he knows he won't tell anyone else, because I have the right to my own privacy." I shoot back. She doesn't answer, probably too busy on some social media app.

  "Mal, why don't you tell me what happened when we get home. I can keep a secret, too," Jay says.

  I smile to myself. I wouldn't admit this out loud, but I like the way he looks up to me.

  I consider him my favorite little brother. Favorite little brother or not, I'm still not going to tell him anything. I try to let him down easy. "Jay, you're a little too young to know right now. I tell you all about it when you get older."

  "But I'm ten, and I'll be eleven in about two more weeks," he protests and then pauses. "Speaking of my birthday...what are y'all going to get me?"

  "Well Jay, it wouldn't be much of a birthday if we told you what we are getting for you," My dad responds.

  "Same thing you got me last year." Meeka retorts.

  "Imma get you a beat down," Stuje says, taking out his earphones.

  Glad the subject has changed, I bring up something I've been meaning to ask. "Hey Dad, before we go home can we stop somewhere for me to pick up a new phone?"

  "I have a phone at home that you can have for now or you can drive yourself later." I do a double-take when I glance at him.

  Dad is surrounded by a gray glowing light just like that man on the street. I swing my head back to peep Meeka and Stuje to see if they have a light surrounding them. I don't see anything yet.

  There is not much I can say about the choices my dad gave me. I wouldn't complain anyway, he looks tired and we are almost home. He pulls into the driveway where my older siblings stand.

  "Were we driving that slow?" I ask. I'm confused because we left before them. Yet, I'm sitting here looking at my two older sisters holding up a banner that reads "Welcome Home!"

  My oldest sister, K'Sara drops her side of the banner and walks to my window. "I'm so glad you are okay, Malmal." She wraps her arms around my neck through the window.

  "Dang, can he get up out the car first, K'Sara?" My other sister, Terra opens the door for me.

  I chuckle a little as I step out of the car and look around. I see James' car but I don't see him. "What's that smell?" I sniff the air, and take in a whiff of juicy sizzling, smoking meat. The seasonings fill my nostrils and make my mouth water in anticipation.

  "Well, why don't you go see for yourself?"

  I do just that. I make my way to the backyard and break into a huge grin. My big bro is standing over a grill, slapping a few burgers on it.

  "Aye, bro..." I stop when I see the Steel Blue Light radiating around him. My grin gets wider. I should have known. "Bro! You didn't tell me you were a-"

  I get stopped in midsentence by James smacking me upside my head with a free hand. "Oww. What was that for?" I stare at him as he balances a tray of raw burgers with one hand. His answer better be good.

  "I told you to leave that woman alone. Did you listen to me? No, you let your dick do the thinking and almost got your head bashed in." He looks at me with anger but his words came out slow and steady as ever.

  "I'm glad you're alright, though." He glances at me again as he slaps the rest of the burgers on the grill, "I see you've become a J. Warrior."

  "No, I'm a SLB and so are you," I say feeling good to correct him.

  "It's actually SBL but we're also known as J. Warriors," he says back with a small smile.

  "Well, I was told different." I shrug. "A guy name Brad told me I was an SBL. I'm actually going to his church tomorrow so he can teach me about all these lights I'm seeing."

  "I could explain a few things."

  "Naw, I'm cool. I rather let Brad explain. It's a good chance to make a new friend."

  "JAAAAAMES!" My Dad calls from inside the house. "Can you come get these ribs and put 'em on the grill?"

  "Why can't you just bring them out to me?" James calls back.

  "Boy, stop being lazy and come get these ribs," Dad yells.

  James gives me an annoyed look. "I'm being lazy? Really?" He shakes his head. "Can you go grab the ribs and see if the chicken is done marinating?"

  "Sure. I need to get some water anyways."

  Delicious, spicy smells hit me the minute I open the back door leading to the kitchen. Several aluminum pans with foil covering the contents sit on the counters.

  Bottles of pop line the counter opposite the food along with two huge bowls of punch.

  I look around perplexed for a moment. At first, I thought James was just making hamburgers, but now I'm thinking this is a full-blown cookout.

  "Hi, Jamal," Ann greets me where she and dad stand next to one of the counters.

  "Hey, Ann."

  "I'm so glad you're okay. You almost gave me and James a heart attack." She steps forward and gathers me in a hug.

  "Yea, my dad said you guys were worried to death," I say hugging her back. I know the James she is referring to is my dad.

  "Did James send you in here to get the ribs?" my dad asks.

  "Yea, he also asked if I could check on the chicken," I answer as I go to the sink to wash my hands. I grab a cup out of the cabinet.

  "JAMES!" My Dad yells again. "Boy, that boy is lazy. Soon as y'all get older y'all don't want to do anything." He mumbles under his breath.

  "Jamal is in the house already getting everything," James shouts back in a calm yet exasperated tone. His voice is raised, but only to be heard.

  "So! I asked you to come get this food."

  "Dad, I'm watching the food out here."

  "It's ok, Dad," I say to stop the pointless argument. "I had to get some water anyways." I pick up the pan of ribs. I can tell they have been seasoned really good because these bad boys have my mouth watering before they can even be put on the grill.

  Back in the yard where the grill is going, Jay busies himself with hooking up his speakers. James is no longer by the grill, but busy occupied with his phone. I assume he's looking for a good playlist. As I watch him swipe away on his phone, I remember some thing. The music Brad introduced me to in the hospital is the same music James listens to. I muse at how alike they are as I pull out the piece of paper Brad gave me.

  "Aye bro, do you have any Lecrae on your phone?" I ask as I place the ribs on the table.

  "Yea, I been trying to get you to listen to that dude for a while now. Who got you wanting to listen to him?"

  "Brad gave me this list of artists to look up." I hand James the creased piece of paper.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Where did you even meet this dude?"

  He scans the list and then says, "These are most of the artists I've been trying to get you to check out."

  "Man, let me tell you about how this dude just walked right in my room at the hospital. Dude just started to talk to me like we were old friends or something. I was feeling the music blasting through his headphones, though." I take back the paper as I talk.

  "I'm going to put on the song that embodies my motto as of right now." James plugged his phone into Jay's speakers. A slow steady beat begins flowing from the speakers along with a silly voice. Soon a hard beat drops and the rapper starts to flow.

  I listen intently as I flip over the burgers.

  "What song is this?"

  "This is KB," James answers. "It's called 'Imma Just Do It'."

  I nod with appreciation. The songs just get better as we pass the time chilling and watching the meat.

  I'm sitting on the picnic table when I see a glint of light from the corner of my eyes. I turn my gaze to the back door to see whose light I can see now. But I don't see anyone, just this golden light shining in between the crack of the door. I squint at it and then tap James on his arm.

  "Yeah?" He looks at me as he gathers the cooked chicken from the grill.

  "What is that?" I ask pointing at the back door.

  "A door," James answers flatly.

  "No! Not the door. The golden light in between the door," I say still pointing.

  "OH! That's the light of the Guardian. I pray for protection over this whole house.

  It's on every door." He explains this nonchalantly as he turns to Jay. "The last of the food is cooked. Jay, can you go tell Dad so we can eat."

  "Yeah." Jay runs into the house yelling "FOOD DONE!"

  From there we pray, eat, laugh about the past and have fun as a family. I'm relieved that no one decides to bring up and ask questions about why I got jumped. It makes enjoying my mac and cheese, mash potatoes (which I mixed together), melting off the bone ribs and juicy cheeseburgers that much easier.

  "Dang Jamal, how are you fitting so much in that skinny body of yours?" Meeka asks, gently tapping my stomach.

  "Eating nothing but pudding isn't exactly what I call food," I mumble as I pick up a chicken wing dripping with my dad's infamous barbeque sauce.

  I look around the table and realize I can see neon lights around my whole family. Seeing them makes me regret not taking James up on his offer to explain more. I can't very well bring them up now in front of the family. They probably would think I am crazy.

  So, I simply eat and feel grateful for what is before me. After we eat, the family retires to dad's movie theater; dad's man cave so to speak. My dad has a finished basement with this giant big screen T.V. and a long sectional. We chill down there and watch movies until I decide to turn in for the night. I have to catch some zzz's before church in the morning. James and my sisters are already gone when I retreat to the guest room.

  It's 11:15 a.m. when my alarm finally wakes me up the next morning. I frantically trip out of bed cursing. Church starts at 11:00 and I set my alarm for 10 o'clock. But because I kept pushing snooze I overslept. I run to the bathroom and get stopped by a locked door.

  "Aw, man!" I knock on the door.

  "What you want?" The voice is Meeka's.

  "I'm late for church I need to get ready."

  "Should have gotten up when your alarm first went off."

  "Whatever, just hurry up so I can get in there." I walk away already thinking about picking out some clothes.

  Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I find my way downstairs. By the looks of it, everybody else has been awake for some time. I walk in the kitchen to see my Dad sitting at the table talking to Ann and Jay.

  "Good morning, Dad, can I borrow a shirt?"

  "Hold on," Dad turns to look at me. "How you going to say good morning and then ask to borrow my clothes? Where's my hug?"

  "I don't know, Dad..."

  "Then I guess you can't borrow a shirt."

  "Come on Dad. I don't have any clothes here. No one got any from my apartment."

  "Let me see what I got." He stands, "Ann can you watch the bacon?"

  She nods. "Sure."

  As we start up the stairs I notice the light around me begin to glow brighter.

  Jamal, the voice that swells up in my heart takes me by surprise. I immediately recognize it as Wisdom's, even though I haven't talked to Her since I got out of the hospital. I'm glad to hear her voice, but I don't know exactly how to respond.

  Jamal, can you hear me?

  "Yeah, I can hear you," I answer out loud.

  Dad turns around and gives me a funny look. "I didn't say anything."

  "Oh, I thought you did." I look ahead, feeling warm.

  As we go into his room, my glow gets so bright that it shines in front of me and brightens the whole room. Wisdom's call is persistent. I try to concentrate on the nice shirt my dad grabbed from the closet. I take it quickly and hurry out of the room.

  "Thanks, Dad," I shoot over my shoulder.

  Because I don't really know how to answer Wisdom's call, I proceed as normal. I hop in the shower and get ready for church.

  The steam from my shower has the mirror foggy as I brush my teeth. I casually wipe off the steam and jump. The person staring back at me is me but different.

  I'm looking at my hand holding my toothbrush and it is as solid as ever and glowing. In the mirror my body is almost transparent, think Casper the friendly ghost.

  Slowly this freaky reflection of myself's mouth opens. "Jamal, we need to talk." The voice is Wisdom.

  I yell and jump back, letting my toothbrush clatter to the sink.

  "I can tell you are confused," I...or She goes on to say. "What you are looking at in the mirror is the real you. The you without all the worldly junk."

  I blink, "What are you talking about?"

  "Don't bother trying to reply to me right now. I can't hear you." With that, my reflection returns to normal.

  "How am I supposed to talk to you?" I call out to an empty bathroom.

  I finish getting ready and head out to James' car to wait for him. My plan is to ask him for a ride when he comes out. But, as soon as I open the front door I peep that he is already sitting in the car and checking his phone.

  "James!" I yell and run at the same time.

  "Aye bro, can I get a ride to church? It's just around the block, I think." Without waiting for an answer I open the passenger door and slide in.

  "Yeah. I was just going to text you to see if you needed a ride. I'm trying to see this B-man." He starts the car and pulls off.

  "So, I've been hearing Wisdom call me. I mean it was like She was calling me from within my heart at first, but then I actually saw Her...or me...I don't know. But She was talking to me through the bathroom mirror. I tried talking to her, but She said she couldn't hear me." I stop and study him. "You think I'm crazy?"

  "When did I say that?" James looks straight ahead as he turns a corner. "When you want to talk to Wisdom you just have to visit the White Temple."

  "What you mean?"

  "The White Temple within yourself."

  I raise my eyebrows as I look at him. "I don't know how to do that."

  He pulls into what has to be the church parking lot. James drives around a few times as we try to find a space to park. We finally find one so far from the door, we have to jog to make it on time.

  "Man, we going to be in our thirties before we even reach the door." James jokes out of breath.

  We finally reach the open glass double doors. As soon as we walk through the doors I hear bass bumping and sweet vocals. I exchange looks with James. This has to be one of the biggest churches I've ever seen. The worship team sounds pretty good, kinda like a Kirk Franklin concert.

  "Good Morning!" A man stands just inside the doors and smiles at us. I look him over. Suit, no tie, fresh cut, this man is tall and husky. He shakes my hand and points us to the direction of the sanctuary. We pass a mini coffee shop, which is right next to their bookstore. I look at James to see if he sees what I'm seeing, but he is looking straight ahead, cool, calm and collected. Maybe he's been here before.

  "Are you seeing all this, bro?" I ask amazed.

  "Yeah. It's a nice church. It's like God's Ambassadors. But don't get too caught up in looks, Jamal. It's not about what the building looks like or how good the choir sounds. It's not even about if the house is packed. It's all about if the Spirit is showing up in this place."

  We reach the sanctuary doors and push our way in. I absent-mindedly accept a bulletin as James talks to the usher. What I see can only be described as the nations worshipping the Lord. I stare at the hands of multiple colors raised high. I see dashikis, ki-monos, suits, jeans, you name it. The usher leads us down an aisle and then gestures past three standing people to two empty seats.

  One of the people standing has blackness moving slowly around her, its glow is dark and inky. Her eyes are closed and her hands are raised. I can tell her lips are moving along with the song, but I gotta funny feeling this chick is putting on a show.

  I side-eye her as I sit. James, however, stays standing and joins right in. I stare up at him for a moment contemplating if I should stand or not. I stay seated. I'm not trying to look foolish. I look around instead and make a note of the SBLs I spot. I get a little overwhelmed as I am doing it because I see so many different shades of blue light.

  The music softens as a man, who I assume is the pastor, steps on stage. My attention fixes on this white man who is clearly an SBL like me and James. I settle in to listen to what he has to say. With raised hands, he begins to pray, and I bow my head automat-ically. The worship team softly sings in the background as he prays over his sermon, the church, and that the name of God would be glorified.

  "Amen," we all say as one when he finishes. The congregation eases into their seats.

  I sit through a 45-minute sermon about how we as Christians need to go out into the world and shine our lights. Whether it is in the hood, the suburbs or the crack house, we should shine our lights anywhere it's needed. At the end of his sermon, he gives an altar call.

  "If you are lost and looking for the road to redemption, I would like to pray for you.

  If you are struggling with your identity, I know a man who can give you a new ID. I know there is at least one who is in the midst of a battle. If you can just come to the altar and lay it all down. If I can just touch one of you, I know that person will touch three. If you can just come on down."

  I squint at the pastor because for a moment I think he is looking at me. I look around to see if maybe he is looking at someone else and notice a man right next to me with a silver light glowing around him. He holds the hand of a woman who has to be his wife or something. She leans close to his ear and says something. The man shakes his head.

  The Pastor looks away and begins to pray, "Father God let your children know that you see their problems, that you see that they're lost and you have the correct GPS to guide their lives. Reveal the plans you have for them. For those who are in a battle between two worlds..." He begins to walk off the stage, eyeballing the man and woman next to me, "let them feel your presence and guidance. Tell them that you are Almighty," He walks with assured strides until he reaches the aisle where we all sit. He motions the man to come out.

  At first, the man looks at him like that dude lost his mind, but then he slowly steps past us and meets the pastor where he stands. The Pastor places his hand on his head. "Release all control over your life to our God," he commands.

  To my surprise, the man falls to his knees and weeps.

  As the pastor walks away, people fall in to surround the kneeling man. Amongst all the different shades of blue, I see red from the corner of my eyes. A woman joins the group and tries to put her hands on the man.

  I watch as a glowing blue hand collides with her murky red one. The colors clash and the blue engulfs the woman's hand. I look to see who the hand belongs to.

  Bradley winks at me as he calmly leads the woman back to her seat. I look at James to see if he just saw that, but he has already joined the people circling the man.

  Through the circle I hear the man crying softly, the woman is, too. I can catch glimpses between the people surrounding him. The silver light burns bright around him and grows. As it grows to include everyone around him, it transforms into this white light that sweeps through the whole church.

  I yelp at the blinding light and blink several times before I can see again. The white light retracts back to pulse around the man, but it isn't white anymore... it's blue.

  With renewed strength, the man stands to his feet. I watch him rise like 200 pounds has been lifted off of his shoulders. The people who pray for him now hug him.

  "You ready to go?" James taps my shoulder and regards me with a satisfied smile.

  "Yeah." I answer, "But give me a second to find B-man."

  "No need to look for me, son."

  "Aye B-man." I turn around and we greet by dapping.

  "It's good to see that you actually came, man. And I see you brought a friend with you." B-man turns his attention to James and offers his hand.

  James shakes it. "I'm his older brother, James. I actually brought him."

  "Coo. I like that you are a J. Warrior, too. That's sweet." B-man nods approvingly.

  "Hungry? If you are up for it, we should grab some food from Jim Bo's. My treat. I can tell you all about the lamps over some bomb chicken wings."