The parson was sitting at the very end of the tables which had been pulled together for the Vacation Bible School group to complete their plans. He was writing on a tablet, half hoping the other folks at the meeting would think he was taking notes. He wasn’t. He was working on a sermon.
Pam, a precocious young lady of eight, came and plopped down in the seat next to him. The parson looked at her and whispered, “You know, I was watching you a little while ago. I think you must have grown two inches since I saw you last.”
She grinned and whispered back. “I’m wearing my heels, parson.” She pushed back from the table and pulled her left foot up to her right knee. “See.”
The parson looked. Indeed her summer shoes had built-up heels.
“My goodness, you really are becoming a young lady.”
“I’m not a young lady, I’m still a girl, but since we were coming to church I thought I’d look good. I brushed my hair and put on this dress, too.”
The parson leaned back in his chair, looking carefully at her.
“You sure do look nice for a girl.”
“Thank you,” said Pam.
“Are you having fun since school’s out.”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Borrrrrred.”
“That’s terrible,” said the parson. “Are you going to spend the whole summer bored?”
“It looks that way. We’re not going on a vacation this year. Gas costs too much.”
“You need to find something that will keep you from being bored.”
She leaned her head on her hand and her elbow on the table.
“You got any ideas?”
“How about some extra chores?”
“I hate chores.”
“Maybe you could cut the grass.”
“I can’t do that. 
I’d get in trouble.”
“You’d get in trouble if you cut the grass.”
“Yep, my mom did ‘cause she wrecked the lawnmower. I think my Daddy may ground her.”
“She wrecked the lawnmower?”
“Oh boy, was my Daddy mad. Whew!!”
“One time when I didn’t do my chores he grounded me.”
“Why didn’t you do your chores?”
“I had something else I wanted to do.”
The parson glanced down the table toward Pam’s mother. He watched as she silently mouthed the words “Is she bothering you?” The parson shook his head side-to-side. He turned back to Pam.
“You know what I know parson?” whispered Pam.
“What do you know, Pam?”
“I know you are doing something else instead of listening to what they are saying. That’s why you started talking to me. You get bored, too.”
“You’re right. I was bored. But I’m not bored now that I’m talking to you.”
“Thank you, but you should be paying attention.”
“I guess I should.”
“Don’t you think when the pastor doesn’t pay attention at a church meeting it’s like not doing your chores?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“Better be careful, parson. God might ground you.”
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