The tiny, narrow room was white and gold. The walls were white; the changing screen in the corner, white; the recessed bench and the floor, golden wood. The baptismal robe that hung on a brass hook, white; the towels on the bench, white. Outside the high window, the sky was grey, and a wind blew the shadows of the trees.
“You are being reborn, Jamey. Jesus has given you a second chance. I want you to enter the baptismal pool with nothing of your old life, the sinful life—just this sacred robe and your underwear. You’re being reborn, so you will be symbolically naked. Put your clothes in this bag; you can leave them in here. Your robe’s hanging there, by the towels.”
Pastor Carl gestured with one hand, and with the other, held out a plastic laundry bag imprinted with the fire-and-cross lo
