I suppose I see them a lot. In my position, that is.

Both the Boys from Below and the Girls from Above. Not sure why it breaks down that way. Suppose it could be some agreement they’ve made. Or just natural inclination. Guess it’s not really my place to wonder.

It is what it is.

The Boys from Below are the easy ones to spot. See a lot of ‘em in AA, the ones that have some ‘epiphany’ moment, and turn their life around. Often get their wives and children and whatnot coming up to thank me. “Not me,” I’d tell them. “It’s all on his head.”

Or they’re the ones coming back to my church after saying they’d never darken the doorstep ever again. All contrite, and apologetic.

Oh, yes. The church is a big haven for them. Think about it. Escaping a bit of a bad situation, ya know. They generally find sanctuary in a place as far from their… home… as they can.

Same reason they turn their lives around. Well, their hosts’ lives. Same difference, really.

Don’t wanna go back. Can’t say I blame ‘em, neither.

Nah, nah. They’re just here to make something of themselves. Something better.

See, it’s the other side’s ‘guests’ ya gotta be careful about.

No, see. Up above, it’s full of rules.

Regulations. Directives. Commandments. Whatever you wants ta call ‘em.

And they get down here, and what do they find? Anarchy. Pure, sweet, and simple anarchy.

So, they latch onto whatever system of rules they can. To a rather… unnatural extent, you could say.

Doesn’t matter what the rules are for, or how just they are. Only matters that they are followed. MLMs, HOAs, local politics, and then some.

Anyways, that’s why I cannot, in good conscious, allow this marriage to take place.

I mean, Jim-Bob here is an ex-drug dealin’, child beatin’, dog sniffin’ bastard, possessed by one of the ranking demons from hell…

And Karen, he’s just too damn good fer the likes of you!