Anne-Marie heard her mother calling her from the bottom of the stairs, but it wasn’t until the third time that she actually woke up. She rolled on her side, burying her head beneath her pillow. Her dream had been about Brother Jackson and his sermon. It had been vivid enough to recall one of his admonitions again: Keep company with the sheep, those who can help you find paths of righteousness. Avoid the goats; they are the tempters who set the snares. Anne-Marie remembered the man as well as the words. She couldn’t forget Brother Jackson’s smile or the strength of his body. The dream had such a haloed effect she buried her head deeper beneath the pillow to try to preserve it. It only took a few moments, though, before she was wide awake and headed for the bathroom. Lathering in the shower, she asked herself, Can I always tell the difference between the sheep and goats? How do you do that? She thought again of his face, but the tingling was nothing more than the hot water rinsing down her limbs.
