Jacob and the preacher: Conversations in context, part II—Jacob talks back

Abstract

Freeman and the Preacher showed me the story Freeman wrote about the first time me and the Preacher met. I thought it was kind of neat, but there was some things I thought was different. So Freeman said I should tell you the same story from my point of view.

I told it to him, actually, and he put it on paper because I still ain't too good at this writing thing, but he and the Preacher are teaching me how to write. I think I'll get better as time goes on. The Preacher, he says I have what's called a “natural ability.” Me. I don't know about that.

Anyway, I told my side to Freeman and he wrote it. I read it and I think it's okay, you know. It ain't exactly what I said, but he said it has to be this way so other people can understand it. Like he had to take out some of the language so people don't get turned off. He's okay. I don't think he'll mess with me.

Anyway, he said maybe you'd be interested and maybe you wouldn't. Sort of like life, eh? So here it is, Jacob and the Preacher from Jacob's point of view. I ain't as good at this as Freeman or the Preacher, so I just told the story. The talk that the Preacher said happened was real and everything, so I thought I would just tell you what was going on for me when the talk was going on. Freeman said that's what you wanted to know anyway.

I guess you know that when me and the Preacher first met, I didn't know all this was going on inside of me. It's only since he has been helping me to be “in touch with myself” that I know that there is always all kinds of stuff going on inside. I'm still not real sure I like knowing this but he says it gets to be less of a problem with time. He says I'll read this in a few years and be surprised by how much I know. Sometimes I wonder, why bother, but he says I'll understand later. Maybe.

Anyway, here it is. I would be interested in knowing whether you think it is okay. Like I said, I told it to Freeman and he wrote it out like this.