Read an Excerpt
In 2010 the Choristers move through the church burial grounds. The Ensemble hums “Before the Heaven Doors Close.”
Choristers
(reading tombstone) Lord have mercy!
Chorister 3
Marcus Jeremiah Ross?
Chorister 2
I stillcan’t believe they let you be buried ’longside the church.
Chorister 1
All that sinnin’ you done did?
Choristers
Lord!
Chorister 2
Break and enterin’.
Chorister 3
Armed robbery.
Chorister 1
Assault wit’ a deadly weapon.
Chorister 3
Child abuse.
Chorister 2
Wife abuse.
Chorister 3
Fraud.
Choristers
Ain’t no way that man made it in.
Chorister 1
He mighta crossed the bridge. Made it far as heaven door. Might even got to knock knock knockin’ on it but so help me, I tell you . . .
Chorister 2
(interrupting) Preach!
Chorister 1
. . . soon that angel Gabriel seen his sorry ass try to step through the pearly gates, I know he look Marcus Jeremiah straight in the eye and say, “You must be out ya goddamn mind!”
Chorister 3
(to Chorister 1) Stop that now.
Chorister 1
God rest his soul.
Chorister 2
Amen.
Chorister 1
Well will you look at that—someone went put fresh flowers on Brother Bobbie grave.
Chorister 2
Shoulda put a bucket of chicken. That man was sooo fat.
Choristers 1&3 respond in agreement.
Took the whole community to lug his behind out the church when he passed. Casket so heavy Cousin Ronnie was pallbearin’ dropped his side, sent poor Aunt Paulina flyin’ down the church steps, knocked that old woman straight out!
Chorister 1
Almost had two funerals in one day.
Chorister 2
That man been dead five years but believe you me there’s enough meat on them bones to keep them maggots feastin’ for forty, fifty years to come.
Chorister 3
God rest his soul.
Chorister 2
Amen.
Chorister 3
Well now will you look at that.
Choristers pause at another gravesite.
Mary Elizabeth Carter.
Choristers 1&2
My Lord.
Choristers
I forgot you was even dead.
Chorister 1 spies John Solomon standing at Mama Irenie’s gravesite.
Chorister 3
Sorry I didn’t make it out to your funeral.
Chorister 2
Me too. Heard it was a lovely time.
Chorister 1
(motioning towards John Solomon) Look.
The humming stops. The Choristers observe John Solomon at Mama Irenie’s gravesite.
Chorister 2
Irene Isabella Moses.
Chorister 1
(motioning to John Solomon) Didn’t even come to his own mama / funeral.
Chorister 3
Shhh!
Chorister 2
God rest your soul.
Lights fade on the Choristers.
John Solomon
(singing) I’m gonna meet my mother in the wilderness
The wilderness, the wilderness
I’m gonna meet my mother in the wilderness
One of those days
Reverend Eli enters, spies his brother.
I’m goin’ right straight up yonder
I’m goin’ right straight up yonder
I’m goin’ . . .
Reverend Eli joins in.
John Solomon&Reverend Eli
(singing) . . . right straight . . .
John Solomon stops singing.
Reverend Eli
(singing) . . . up yonder
One of those days
John Solomon exits abruptly.
(calling after John Solomon) John!
Reverend Eli moves to Mama Irenie’s gravesite.
