Click the pic for the original challenge. Written for Ermilia’s Picture It & Write. Haha, I know Jessi’s blonde, but it reminded me too much of one of their fights.
“Good evening, folks, and welcome to Baptism by Jeff’s Mouth!” Jessi announced.
I sat back to enjoy the ride. Jessi isn’t one for a lot of words, but when they come, it’s usually worth the price of admission.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jeff asked.
Jessi ignored him for the moment. “Tonight’s edition is brought to you by the words hot air, and by the letters M, N, S!” she said, enunciating as closely as she could to, “I’m an ass.”
Jeff made a you’re-so-clever face, typical of their arguments.
“It means…” she said, “sometimes I think you just open up your mouth and puke whatever comes out. You’re so hung up on bein’ the center of attention, you never pay any attention to yourself.”
“When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you,” Jeff sniped.
“More likely shove it down my throat… or up my ass.”
Jeff shrugged. “One hole’s as good as another,” he smirked.
“But that’s exactly what I’m saying, ain’t it? We’ve been sittin’ here listenin’ to you go on all night about how Atheism is better than Christianity because Atheists don’t preach! Do you even hear the irony in that?”
“That’s not what I said at all,” Jeff argued.
“Whatever. I heard what you said. We all heard what you said. You said there’s no such thing as God, and Christians are always tryin’ to shove their beliefs down your throat, and you spent ten minutes stuffin’ it down ours.”
“You’re missing my point…” Jeff started.
“No, you’re missin’ my point! Do you even know what my religious beliefs are, Billy Teddy-Graham? No. You don’t. And do you know why you don’t? It’s cuz I never once told you. So why is it I always have to sit here and listen to yours?”
“Atheism’s not a religion, ditz,” Jeff snorted.
“Then maybe you should stop evangelizin’ it.” Jessi shook her head to emphasize the maybe. I swore sometimes when she got riled up, her bangs curled.
“You can’t evangelize Atheism,” Jeff said smugly. “It means to preach the Gospel.”
“Right. So the Gospel according to Jeff. I’m pretty sure we can all quote some part of it by now, but I don’t really care what you wanna call it. The point is the pot’s as black as the kettle.”
“No, it’s not!” Jeff said emphatically. “The point is I never tried to push my religion on anyone.”
“Flower’s right,” Jessi said, turning to look at me. “Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
“So you’re admitting I won?” Jeff asked.
© 2013 Anne Schilde
Anne Schilde 
tough subject you chose – and handled it cleverly. brilliant story-tellling!
Thanks! Yeah, I’d better not come off sounding preachy myself had I?
Love the dialogue. I like when Jeff says that he doesn’t like to push his religion (atheism) on anyone. And you’re right ever argue with an idiot. Just tell him if you agreed with him, then you’d both be wrong. Now Jessi, what exactly is your religion? (A host of angels appear and chorus – awaiting enlightenment and joyful refrains!)
Jessi worships me. But don’t tell anyone.
The way you write dialogue is unparalleled 🙂
This is such a delicate subject, but you always make my think outside my own tiny box. People, religous and non-religious can be just as good, or as bad, as each other.
Right? The religion itself is never the problem.
You should read Grip of Terror, Anna, if you have a couple of minutes. It was one I thought you’d especially like.
Good one Annie! I find that many of my fellow non-believers give us all a bad name with their incessant preaching. I find the whole idea a little counter productive.
BTW I’m trying to remember if Jeff and Jessi were going out in your earlier stories. You make them sound like a bickering couple here.
That’s a really good point! I almost had Jessi say she was atheist too to illustrate it! No, Jessi and I did more with each other than we ever did with Jeff. We knew him too well.
I remember those stories. They’re hard ones to forget!
🙂