(Sound of fly buzzing. Bob picks up a flyswatter and without even looking swats the fly. Buzzing stops.)

Bob: Yeah, after a couple of months of practice, you get pretty good at that. Well, things kinds went downhill from there. I could ignore it for a while, but it was taking up a lot of my closet space. I don't know what it was. Maybe we had just been together for so long I thought I'd miss having him around. I mean, we went through a lot together, after all. Finally, I decided to just do it, to bury my old self in the back yard once and for all!

But then I tried to lift it -- talk about dead weight (pause). Sorry, no pun intended! I couldn't even lift it, much less carry it out back. I guess I should have started that diet BEFORE I got saved!

At first, I considered calling a couple of my new friends, but I was afraid of what they would think if they knew I had this body decomposing in my closet. After all, everyone looked up to me and all. Shoot, I'd even been mentioned in a sermon or two. I couldn't let people know I hadn't gotten around to burying my old self yet.

Pretty soon, I had to cancel the Bible study. The weather had warmed, and well...I'll save you the details, but needless to say there was a distinct aroma about the house. I closed all the windows and shades so people couldn't see in. Sure I missed the sunlight, but I had a reputation to uphold. It wasn't that big of a deal; we just moved the Bible study somewhere else.

It was a shame. I used to have people over here all the time, reading the Bible or praying, or just talking. Oh well!

Anyway, one night, I was sitting here, wondering what I could do about my old self, and I realized it really was wearing my favorite jacket. I knew I probably shouldn't touch it, but I really liked that jacket. Well, I got it off and cleaned it up, but the next day I noticed people at school looking at me funny, and nobody wanted to sit next to me at lunch. Then I realized I was so used to the smell, I didn't even notice it was on me now, too!

Well, I tried everything: new clothes, showers; I practically bathed in cologne, but nothing helped! It was so embarrassing, some of my Christian friends tried to be polite and casual about it. Before I knew it, I was lying about what was causing that smell.

Now I really couldn't ask for their help, 'cause then they'd find out I'd been lying to them, too. I started missing church, and even school and work 'cause I was afraid someone might notice the smell while I was gone and bust in here and find my old self. Worst of all, the smell keeps me awake. I can't sleep at  night, and I can't concentrate during the day.

It started out as no big deal, and now I can't think of anything else. It completely controls my life. I just don't know what I'm going to do...

(Pause.)

Bob: What's that? Oh, yeah...I understand. It's pretty bad, but thanks for stopping by. You're the only person I can trust to tell this to. Yeah...bye...come back soon...

(Lights fade.)

[[[The End]]]

Perry Perkins is a Christian novelist, blogger, and award-winning travel writer, who also is a stay-at-home dad living in the Pacific Northwest with his wife Victoria and their daughter Grace. He has written for numerous Christian magazines and anthologies, such as Echoes of White, Children's Writer Magazine, New Man Magazine, REV Magazine, New Christian Voices, Marriage Partnership Magazine, Metro Parent, Seek Magazine, Drama Ministry, Contemporary Drama Service, National Drama Service, Encore Performance Publishing, Word Drama, Foursquare Advance Magazine and Bible Advocate. His inspirational stories have been included in 11 Chicken Soup anthologies, as well.