Josh announced his intentions that Sunday, and the following week he was gratified to find the church full nearly to capacity. After a brief song service, the announcements, and the offering, he started to read.
"George and Linda Brunwald lived in a modest three-bedroom home in one of the better parts of Chesterfield township."
He went on to talk of their family life - two children, George worked for an insurance company, Linda participated in the local Young Women's League, etc. They attended a so-called "old line" church, and were active in the various programs of their denomination. Josh noted that things were going well for them, and that they were a typical, well-rounded, well-adjusted, middle-class family. Then, one day (so Josh read) things began to change. George hired a new secretary, a beautiful young woman who showed considerable personal interest in him. George took her to lunch once, then again, and then - well, it was obvious that real trouble was brewing. Josh ended the story for the week with George and JoAnne planning a more intimate meeting.
He went to the door after the service, something he rarely did, but this week he wanted some first-hand reactions to his new venture. Everyone seemed to be talking among themselves but, other than smiles of various sorts, only two people had specific things to say to him. Mrs. Hoddy said that she hoped he would get to the religious part pretty soon, and an unruly fourteen-year old winked his eye, gave a leer, and said "Right on, Preach!" Finally, he stopped Greg Brown, a young man majoring in English at the local college.
"What did you think of tonight, Greg?"
Greg, usually open and friendly with his pastor, averted his eyes and mumbled something about it being okay. Josh pressed the point.
"Do you think it will hold the people's attention for a few weeks?"
Greg shifted his weight from right foot to left, obviously reluctant to speak. "Well, Pastor Felton, I don't know for sure, but..."
"But, what?" Josh interrupted.
"Well, sir, I'm no critic. I mean, I'm just a college student, and I can't say for sure..."
"No, go ahead, Greg. I respect your ideas, and I'm sure you can speak for many who were here tonight."
Greg still hesitated. "It's just that - well, it doesn't seem real to me. The people are so stilted, and so far it all seems like clichés - like a corny soap opera, and... well, I'm sorry, sir, but - as I said - it just doesn't seem like real life to me.”
Josh remembered his own words about Sheldon, and the disappointment must have shown in his face. Greg started to apologize, but he waved him off.
"No, it's all right, Greg. That's what I asked for. I'll try to work on it for next week. Thanks."
As he closed the church door, Josh had a variety of thoughts. He wanted to be mad at Greg - what right did he have to criticize? He was just a college student! But then, he remembered that he had asked for it. He wondered if he had really offended Mrs. Hoddy. He wondered if the fourteen-year old and his pals were getting the right message. But, most of all, he wondered if he had made a big mistake with the whole thing. Maybe he couldn't write about the "real world," after all.
Suddenly, someone spoke to him. Not realizing that anyone was left in the church, he reacted with obvious surprise.
"I'm sorry I startled you, Pastor."
Josh recognized the speaker as a regular attendee, William something, he thought. He was about thirty, good looking in a boyish way. Right now, he looked very unsure of himself.
"Can I have a minute of your time, Pastor?"
Josh really didn't want to give anyone a minute, or even a second, of his time tonight. He was tired and a little bit upset, and all he really wanted to do was get out of there. He looked at his watch.
"It'll only take a minute,” the man almost pleaded.
No, Josh thought, that look on your face tells me this will take more than a minute. Oh, well! "Sure, Bill, why don't we go into my study?"
"It's Bob, sir. Bob Hoffmann. Thanks for seeing me; it is important."
They walked the short distance to the house, settled in chairs in the study, and Josh waited expectantly.
"It was an interesting program tonight," Bob ventured.
"Thanks, I think it was well-received." Josh hoped his real thoughts weren't as transparent as they felt.
"I think the idea of talking about real situations is a good one. I mean, Moses and Abraham and Simon Peter were real, too, but they lived in a different time. It's hard to relate to them. Do you know what I mean?"
Josh smiled and waited. Bob seemed to need encouragement, but he didn't feel like giving it. Anyway, he didn't know what to say. They just sat for a minute.
"What happens next?" Bob finally asked.
"Next? Oh, you mean in the story. Well, as you know, it's about a group of people who find that they need religious strength in their lives. I intend to build from one personal problem to another, until they reach that final point where they have to turn around and reevaluate their lives - to where they have to rethink their positions and set new priorities and goals. I want to use modern problems, even if it is a little uncomfortable for some folks, because, as you say, Peter and Paul are not always that easy to relate to."
Bob fidgeted in his chair, "What I mean to ask is, what happens to George and Linda?"
"George and Linda?" Josh looked blank. "Oh, you mean my characters! Well, their story is just the first one I'm going to tell - theirs, and the girl in the office, of course."
"But what actually happens?"
Finally, the light dawned. "Oh, you mean the details," Josh laughed. "Tune in next week!"
Bob crossed and uncrossed his legs, obviously upset, but Josh couldn't tell why. He let him fidget a minute. Bob tried again. "I guess, Reverend Felton, what I'm asking for is a sneak preview. I really need to know, now."
Now it was Josh's turn to be uncomfortable. "It isn't written yet - Chapter 2, I mean. And, besides.., "
"Pastor, I'm asking for advice." Bob's interruption was quiet, but obviously intense. "I really need to know how you resolve the situation, and I need to know now."
"Why, for heaven's sake?"
"Well, you might say I'm George."
"George? What do you mean, you're George?"
Bob got up out of the chair, and walked across the room and back. He sat again, and began speaking in a soft voice that he was obviously having a hard time controlling.
"I know I'm being a little melodramatic, but I feel like you were really talking about me tonight. My family is the one you're reading about. There is a girl at the office, and I don't know what to do."
Josh wasn't prepared for this. "But those aren't real people I'm telling about,"
"They aren't, but I am, and I'm in a fix, and I don't know what to do. Don't you know how you're going to resolve your story?"
Still shaken, but beginning to get over the shock, Josh felt on a little more comfortable ground. "Well, I suppose I'm going to have one or the other of them see their pastor - George, probably, since he's really the one who can do something about the situation,.The pastor will convince him that what he's doing is wrong, and direct him back to his family."
Bob tried to sound reasonable. "The problem with that scenario, Pastor, is that it won't work. 'George’ has come to his pastor. His pastor doesn't need to convince him that he's - that I'm - doing wrong. I know it. I've known it from the start, but I still got into it."
"Then you can get out of it.” There was no compromise in Josh's voice. He didn't feel that there should be any.
Bob stood again, and walked to the window. He was silent for some time, then spoke without turning around.
"It isn't so simple. I'm already in Chapter 2 of your story - probably Chapter 3 or 4, actually. JoAnne - not her real name, obviously - is pregnant, a really dumb mistake in this day and age, I guess, but we made it. My wife knows about us - not about the pregnancy, but about the affair. She just found out, and I don't know what happens next."
Silence fell in the room. Bob stared out the window. Josh stared into space. Fully two minutes passed before Bob turned back.
"So, what do I do?" he asked.
Josh couldn't look at him. "I don't know what to say. You're in a mess."
"I know," said Bob, softly. He crossed the room and left, closing the door softly behind him.
Josh sat staring into space for a long, long time.
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