title: You Can't Meet Jesus Wearing Sneakers: And Other Stories from Morgan Grove
author:  Kevin Watson 
description: A wordsmith of Watson's caliber does not come along too often... This book of fine short stories is highly recommended. -- <i>Midwest Book Review, January 2006</i>
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  ## ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  
  
  Thanks to:  
  my father, my brothers, the Linwoods, Roell Schmidt, Elena Ro Yang, Jennifer
  Lewis
  
  
  And:  
  Susan Ramer, Farrin Jacobs, Margaret Marbury
  
  
  Also:  
  Chris Catanese—peace, love and lightbulb
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## ![image](Images/b.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Epilogue
  
  
  
  
  
  As though this were a relationship, I invite Alex to the bar at the Paramount
  hotel to have drinks with Maya, Gavin and me. And he comes. As if he were a
  boyfriend, he comes, even though he has class, a work assignment to finish and
  an upcoming test on urban planning to study for.
  
  
  “Okay, I’ve got one,” says Gavin, laughing so hard he’s in danger of falling
  off his stool. “New Soles: The Best Shoes for Carrying Your Cross.”
  
  
  “Excellent,” says Maya, raising her glass. “To new soles!”
  
  
  We’ve been drinking to Jesus article ideas all morning and fielding curious
  glances from other patrons. Only one person has figured it out—a matronly
  British tourist who shyly asked Gavin for his autograph. He