Visiting

I was worried about wearing sneakers to a place like this.

I looked around and noticed that I wasn’t under-dressed after all.

The music is loud. The lights are bright. The fog machines make me cough.

I see the lyrics up on the screen, but I don’t really understand them.

I see someone next to me raise a hand and sway to the beat.

What did these people know about this place that I didn’t?

I’m not sure why I feel so out of place.

I’ve seen some of these people before.

There’s the guy who won a game of beer pong last weekend.

I didn’t know that he played guitar, or that he performed on stage.

I wonder if the other band members share this guy’s talent for stringing expletives together.

Wait…they’re talking about money now. Dang.  Nobody told me there’d be a cover charge.

I hope that the five dollar bill I put in the bucket is enough.

I didn’t hear anything about a price for this event anyway.

The screen comes to life with a recording…some kind of commercial now? 

I don’t get it.

I wish someone would just explain this to me.

There’s another guy on stage now…he’s all alone.

I think he’s some kind of motivational speaker.

I’ve seen guys like him before.

So excited about their successful lives that they talk just to impress the world.

I don’t know why he’s talking about death though.

I’m not feeling too motivated all the sudden.

But everyone around me is smiling…heck that woman is even crying!

I’m beginning to think I don’t fit in after all.

I tune out the speaker and let my eyes wander.

That guy has his hand up his girlfriend’s skirt.

I guess nobody is exempt from lust.

I hadn’t expected to see it here though.

People are standing up now, and they’re all looking at the floor.

I don’t wanna stick out like a sore thumb, so I do too.

I miss the cue to leave, and people are jostling out of their seats beside me.

Nobody even looks at me.

I follow the masses out into the sunlight.

I can now say that I’ve done it.

I’ve gone to church.