Saint City Sermon

“Is everything set for this afternoon? Excellent.”

Rebecca hangs up as she continues getting ready, putting on her snow-white robe (except for the dried-out blood stains). Today, she will deliver her first sermon to the citizens of Saint City, live via satellite. As always, her trusted right-hand is by her side… Mimi Mai Saint, the very first youth to take the pledge. Mimi has been a vital part of laying the foundation of Saint City, and her work expelling Kelsey Spencer from the group has placed her high on a pedestal. She is certainly the City’s MVP.

“Mother?” Mimi says as she approaches her idol. She respectfully bows with her fingers interlocking those on her other hand, a nervous smile branded upon her face. She has a tremendous amount of respect for Miss Saint, but that doesn’t come without trepidation. She’s seen what Miss Saint does to those who don’t fit in well with her, and she’s not about to risk getting on her bad side.

“What is it, my child?” Rebecca asks in a soothing voice, which seems to calm Mimi instantly as her posture improves in a snap.

“Everything’s ready for your sermon,” Mimi announces. “I got the things you requested, they’re in the briefcase out there.”

“Thank you, my child,” she responds, continuing to style her hair in a nearby mirror. She notices Mimi still standing idly by, fidgeting with her hands nervously with a look of concern on her face. “Is something bothering you?” Rebecca turns and asks.

“No,” she flat-out responds, before shaking her head. “I mean, yes… I mean…”

“Let’s talk,” Rebecca says, motioning towards a nearby pair of seats set up in the hall. Mimi hastily sits down and takes a deep breath, while Rebecca occupies the seat opposite her. “Something’s troubling you.”

“I’m just worried that Kelsey’s gonna get me,” she expresses her fears. After she latched onto Kelsey during that in-ring segment last Breakthrough and caused the assault that followed, she’s been worried ever since that she’ll be looking for revenge.

“Trust me, she won’t lay a finger on you,” Rebecca calmly assures her.

“How do you know that?”

“Because I won’t let her,” she declares. “You did the right thing, Mimi. Kelsey Spencer was a poison, and she needed to be removed. Don’t let the negativity of others change you. She’s a loser, and you’re a winner.”

“Why do you do what you do, Mother?” Mimi asks a follow-up question, still seeking answers to justify putting her faith in her. “Why do you want to help us kids?”

Rebecca pauses for a moment, running a single hand through her hair. With a warm smile, she replies, “I don’t want you kids to go through what I went through at your age. I want to show you that there’s more out there than what you’re conditioned to believe by those around you. I’m doing this for you.”

A small smirk appears on Mimi’s face as she brushes a fallen strand of hair from her face. “Thank you, Mother,” she expresses her gratitude, reaching out and embracing Rebecca, who returns the affection with a small pat on the back.

“Two minutes until we’re live,” a stage crew member declares, prompting Mimi to let her mentor go. As Mimi makes her way to where the sermon will be held, Rebecca puts the finishing touches into her appearance, smirking at her reflection as she hears the sea of children outside screaming and chanting her name.

Outside, dozens of children and young teenagers have gathered in a grassy field, adjacent to the rather large stage that has been set up. A solid oak podium is situated in the middle of the stage, with an emblem on the front emblazoned with the words “In Saint We Trust”. The children talk amongst themselves as they eagerly await the arrival of their leader.

“I used to be called a no-soul ginger!” Mimi hears one kid announce to a group as she passes by, looking for the best space to occupy for the sermon.

“They made fun of the way I snort when I laugh,” an older girl declares, to which many of her peers groan and shake their heads in disappointment. Mimi watches all of this transpire from afar, saddened that everyone here has suffered, maybe even more so than she has. The sea of youth hush to silence as footsteps can be heard on the wooden platform. Mimi turns her head to see Miss Saint herself approach the podium.

“Welcome, my children,” she warmly greets the lost souls before her. “I wanted to start by saying thank you for coming here today. I know it must have been scary for you to leave behind a life you knew, but don’t worry… You’re making the right decision for you and your future.”

She looks down at her notes for a moment.

“When I was a child, I didn’t have any birthday parties. I didn’t celebrate Easter, I received no gifts on Christmas. I saw and heard the other kids at school discuss these traditions, but whenever I went home and questioned it, I was told that this was simply the way things were. I had no say in the matter.

And yes, for a while, it didn’t actually bother me. I accepted this as my reality. It wasn’t until after high school, when I was an adult, that I discovered it didn’t have to be that way. I had been oppressed by those I thought were on my team, but they were only in it for themselves.”

Rebecca pauses her speech for a moment to inspect the sea of young faces before her… Some are nodding in agreement, some are avoiding eye contact, others are resisting the urge to break down. One thing that they all have in common is they’re all upset.

“I want each and every one of you to understand that you’re not alone,” she declares. “Saint City is a safe place, where you can be free to be yourself. You have the support of your peers, and you can always come and talk to me. You don’t have to feel sad anymore.”

She motions to behind the children.

“You may have noticed there are a few cameras here today filming this,” she points out. “That’s simply because I wanted to make sure that anyone who couldn’t physically be here, could still experience this from their home. I feel this is a message that needs to be conveyed, that we need to stand up for our rights. Pessimists have held us down for too long, and it’s time we struck back.”

She looks down for a moment, tearing open an envelope, before raising a Gina Neon trading card.

“How many of you know who this woman is?” she asks, to which she gets a modest show of hands. “This is Gina Neon, and she is a professional wrestler. A moderately successful wrestler, might I add. But, of those who didn’t raise your hands earlier… How many of you can honestly say you would’ve guessed that, had I not told you?”

Every hand remains down.

“Gina Neon is a prime example of what I am trying to protect all of you from,” Rebecca declares, emphatically placing the trading card down on the podium. “It seems I was one of the lucky ones. Gina, on the other hand… Her young mind was so warped that she thinks she hails from a time period she wasn’t even alive for! The result, my children, is a young adult whose fascination with 80s style and fashion has limited her potential… And the only thing I can put it down to is the lack of a serious role model.

My children, don’t be mistaken… I do want you all to remain positive. Bright colours and video games may be fun, but only in moderation. Please, don’t allow these things to consume your lives. Don’t become Gina Neon.”

She stops speaking for a moment, as she motions for Mimi to come up on stage. Hesitant at first, Mimi gathers up the courage to stand behind the podium alongside Rebecca.

“This is Mimi,” Rebecca introduces her. “Mimi was just like all of you… She was confused, feeling alone… Until she came here. She’s here to tell you a bit about herself.”

Rebecca steps down for a moment, allowing Mimi to take centre stage. She clears her throat, and shakily begins to talk.

“I’ve, umm… I’ve never been good at public speaking…” she reveals. Rebecca gives her a reaffirming pat on the back, boosting her confidence just enough to force the words out. “It’s true… All of it. I was lost when Miss Saint found me. My birth mother had died, my father was in and out of prison for drugs. I spent most of my time living with my grandparents. I was so scared, I had nowhere to turn, I…”

She clasps an open hand to her mouth, choking back her tears. Rebecca stands off to the side, stroking Mimi’s hair softly for comfort. Fighting through the emotions, she musters up the strength to finish her thought.

“I owe my life to this woman,” Mimi announces. “She saved my life, honestly. I don’t know where I would’ve ended up if not for her…”

Turning to Rebecca, she manages to whisper “I love you” before finally breaking down. Rebecca pulls her into a heart-felt embrace as the young Mimi balls her eyes out. After about half a minute, Mimi calms down enough to return to her place in the crowd, where many other children continue comforting her. Rebecca smiles down on them as she re-approaches the podium, once again glancing down at her notes.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Timothy 4:12.”

She turns her attention to the briefcase Mimi had placed outside earlier, containing the items Rebecca had requested. She places it onto the podium, opens it up, and with a look of genuine disgust, pulls out the shiniest, sparkliest pair of parachute pants imaginable. Holding them like a mother would hold a dirty diaper (the pinching method), she moves them into the view of the children.

“These, my children, are parachute pants. They’re filthy, disgusting, and don’t belong anywhere in today’s society. This is the kind of garbage you’re expected to wear if you want…”

She dry reaches for a moment.

“...Neon Power.”

The boys and girls in attendance, who have been fairly silent for the majority of the sermon, voice their conditioned distaste for Neon Power.

“Fear not, children,” Rebecca continues, as they fall silent once more. “Saint City will not fall to the Neon Nation. With any luck, after Breakthrough #44, Gina Neon should see the error of her ways and join us here in Saint City to receive the help she needs.”

Rebecca reaches down into the briefcase, removing from it a stick lighter.

“My children, the only way to ensure our survival is to burn the Neon Nation to ashes.”