Let's Not Talk

Ring. Ring.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Parson, It's Jim Gilmer. How are you?”

“I'm fine, Jim. I haven't talked to you in years. How are you doing?”

“I'm getting along fairly well for an old man. Can't complain; that's for sure.”

“Where are you living now, Jim?”

“We bought a little cabin in the mountains not too far from the Chapel in the Serene Valley of Complacency. You remember that church. You spoke at a spiritual retreat there.”

“I do,” said the parson. “How's the family.”

Jim related to the parson how he and his spouse were doing well. They now had four grandchildren who delighted them when the visited.

“Good to hear you're enjoying life,” said the parson. “I'm curious, though, Jim, what led you to call me after so many years?”

“Well, I called to ask if you heard the news?”

“What news?” asked the parson.

“The news about our former classmate being arrested.”

“What classmate was arrested?”

The parson knew what was coming. He'd read the papers. He let Jim relate to him how one of their former seminary classmates had been arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

“So, what do you think about that, Parson?”

“Jim,” said the parson, “you haven't talked with me for over twenty years. Now, all of a sudden you want to talk about our friend being arrested. Does that strike you as odd?”

“Well, no, I don't think it's odd, Parson. I know you and he were close at one time. I thought you might have the skinny on his peculiar behavior.”

“Jim,: said the parson.

“Yeah?”

“Say good-bye, Jim.”

The parson hung up.