A perfect despair – that’s what led to it, Io says. With everything. With my whole life. With the whole fucking universe. And I … asked for help. I said, Jesus, if you’re there, give me a sign.
You really said that? Sophia asks.
And there he was, Io says. Right by my side.
Who, Jesus? Furio says.
Who else, fuckwit? Driss says.
Yes, Jesus, Io says.
And was this a punk Jesus? Furio says.
Don’t take the piss, Sophia says.
It was Jesus, Io says. I knew. Standing right beside me. Unmistakeable. And I didn’t deserve it. It didn’t have to happen. But it did happen.
I wish it would happen to me, Furio says. I’ve got fucking faith-envy.
And has it actually changed your life? Driss asks. Are you actually a changed person?
Immeasurably, Io says. Totally.
God, what were you like before? Furio asks. Even more vicious?
I don’t get it – where does the punk thing come from? Sophia asks.
I told you – it’s a grassroots movement, Io says. It’s something new. Like, a punk thing. We’re not all seventy-five. We’re not embarrassed to believe stuff. We don’t want to be patronized. We don’t want Jesus, like, made relevant.
Is there a special, like, punk theology? Furio asks. Angelology? With Johhny Thunders and Ari Up out of Slits.
Were they Christian? Driss asks.
They were punks, I say.
So why are you always so angry? Furio asks.
I’m angry that the world is generally the opposite of Jesus Christ, Io says.
It’s not Jesus-y enough for you, Furio says.
And I never take the Lord’s name in vain, Io says. Not like you guys.
And are you a proper apocalyptic believer? Furio asks. Do you believe in the apocalypse and the Second Coming and all that?
Sure I do, Io says.
Do you think these are the end times? I ask.
Who knows? Io says. They could be.
So when you hear bells ringing, what do you feel? Furio asks. That they’re ringing for you? I love hearing church bells. That’s what I’d like to hear on this campus: church bells.
There aren’t any churches, I say.
St Mary’s is close, Sophia says. And the church in Summerhill.
I want to hear church bells, Furio says. Like that guy in Satantango.
Eternal life: I know what that means now, Io says. There’s something higher and better than all this.
Yes, I say.
And God looks over everything, and knows each hair on our heads and all that is true, Io says.
Like, good surveillance, Fiver says.
Which is why they’re targeting the God gene, Driss says. Right here on this campus.
Maybe that’s my problem: I’m missing the God gene, Furio says. Doesn’t that suck? Have you got the God gene, Io?
Furio, you’re too much of an enthusiast, Driss says. Jesus doesn’t like enthusiasts.
Is that true, Io? Furio asks.
You’ve got to be a bit indifferent, Driss says. Like Io. You’ve got to be a bit punk. A bit cool. God likes a challenge. You’re making it too easy for him.
There are some things you can’t mock, I say. That are off-limits. Cicero honoured that.
What did Cicero think of your punk Christianity? Sophia asks.
She liked I, Io says. She liked my ferocity.
Did you ever feel any demonic attacks? Furio asks.
Furio actually wants demonic attacks, Driss says.
Like, when the ground falls out from beneath you, Furio says. And you can see into the void. Or when the ceiling opens up, and there’s just blackness. And demons flying in towards you. Fuck.
This whole campus is a demonic attack, I say.
I’ve never had any demonic attacks, Io says.
And have you seen any angels? Furio asks.
Like, fallen angels? Driss asks. Organisational managers are fallen angels.
Organisational managers are Nephilim, I say.
No just ordinary angels, Furio says.
I haven’t seen any angels, either, Io says.
Work in Progress 