A Reason For Going To the Meeting

The parson opened the door of the fellowship hall. Everyone who'd attended the meeting of the Administrative Board had left, rushing to their cars through the torrents of rain that were falling. Just as he was about to step out Jim Hardiman, a pastor from a nearby church came rushing through the rain toward the door. The parson suddenly remembered Jim and he had made an appointment for Jim to borrow a book and pick it up after the meeting at the parson's church this night.

“Holy Mackerel, Parson,” cried Jim as he entered the door. “This is a deluge.”

“It is that, Jim,” the parson responded. “I have to tell you Jim, I'm glad you're here a little early. I would have forgotten you were coming. The meeting let out a little early. Come on back to the study; I'll get the book for you.”

Back in the study the parson pulled his first edition copy of Cora Harris' book, Circuit Rider's Wife, from the shelf. It was a story of a preacher's wife in north Georgia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Cora Harris, whose cabin was just a few miles from the parson's church had been a gifted writer, the first female war correspondent for The Saturday Evening Post during World War I, and someone who'd captured the parson's interest long ago.

“I really appreciate this,” said Jim. “I'll be careful with it. I know it's rare.”

“Thank you for that,” said the parson. “I know you'll enjoy it.”

“Tell you the truth, Parson, I really didn't expect to meet you here tonight. With this weather I figured you might call off the meeting. And from the looks of the cars in the parking lot you couldn't have had more than seven or eight people at the meeting. Why didn't you call it off?”

The parson walked with Jim toward that fellowship hall door, where Charlie Brown, his faithful canine companion, waited to dash to the car. As they walked, he replied, “You know, Jim, they pay me the same amount of money if all twenty-five or so are here or just seven.”