People started noticing him. Children pointed.
“Looks like it’s time to make my return,” the puppet said.
The crowd chanted.
“No Homos!”
“Save our city!”
Luke landed gently in the street. Silence fell. Only birds chirped in the
trees.
He took a deep breath. Everyone stared.
“Heard you guys were having an exile,” the puppet said.
Two preachers stepped from the van.
“We’re getting rid of the homo!” someone shouted.
“We’re saving our city,” said a woman.
“Saving your city? From what?” the puppet asked.
“From homosexuality,” the woman replied.
“Homosexuality isn’t a fucking plague,” said the puppet.
The woman winced.
“We don’t want it to spread,” she said.
“Father, give me strength,” the puppet muttered. “I’d much rather be
crucified again.”
“You’re sacrilegious,” the woman said. “A heretic!”
“I can’t control him,” Luke said.
“Shut the fuck up,” the puppet told him.
The preachers approached.
“What’s going on here?” one asked.
“I’ll tell you what the fuck is going on—” the puppet started.