Encountering Members at the Kroger

The parson headed into the Kroger, grocery list in hand, to purchase the goodies for the evening’s consumption. He hesitated where the grocery carts gather to ponder if he needed the large one or could get by with the smaller. Jimmy Swartz entered the store and upon seeing the parson began a litany.

“Hello, Parson. It’s good to see you. Hey, I’m sorry I couldn’t get to church last Sunday. Tell you the truth I was catching up on sleep. Little Greg was sick Thursday and Friday and kept me up half the night. That kid can wear you out. I’ll try and be there Sunday,” he added as he scampered away.

The parson headed toward the meat section to peruse the possibilities for the evening meal. While the parson might fall short of being described as “handsome,” his culinary skills utilized each evening kept Ms. Parson interested in keeping him around. Two excellent fillets of salmon were marked “Manager’s Special.” The parson placed them in the cart and headed to the produce section as, in his head, he planned out a meal centering on grilled salmon with pineapple, mango and strawberry salsa. He had a mango in his hand testing its ripeness when Louise Witherford greeted him.

“Hi, Parson,” said Louise, “hey, I enjoyed the sermon Sunday. Wait, let me rephrase that. I thought the sermon was challenging. I heard you ask Gordon Palmer which part he enjoyed most a couple of Sundays ago.”

“What are you doing here this time of day?” asked the parson. “I thought you’d be home in bed.” Louise worked the night shift at the hospital. When she attended church every Sunday it was on her way home from work.

Louise headed toward the checkout and home for some sleep. The parson moved over to the other side of the produce area to examine the strawberries.

“Parson, it’s so good to see you. Gracious, it’s been weeks. I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to church in such a long time. But, well, you know I’m getting up in age now. Last Sunday I could barely get these old knees to work. Glory, who would have thought getting into your seventies would slow a person down so much.”

The parson watched her walk away, wondering if he should tell her about the motorized shopping carts. He put the mango into the cart beside the strawberries, and contemplated what other vegetable might go with the meal. As he walked down the aisle toward some canned pineapple, he came upon Linda Garner, whose father attended his church.

“Parson,” said Linda, “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve wanted to tell you for the longest time that Dad really appreciates the multi-media at the church. When you guys said you were going to put it in I didn’t know what he’d think, but with his hearing going bad he’s able to keep up much better now. Who would have thought a ninety-three year old would get such a kick out of that.”

The parson talked with Linda a bit longer, both sharing stories of her father and his dedication to being at the church every Sunday no matter what. She promised that someday soon she’d come and visit with her dad.

The parson was headed toward the checkout counter when Elmer Cunningham hailed him.

“Parson, how are you?”

“Great, Elmer,” said the parson. “How about you?”

“Doing well, Parson. We missed you at the family reunion last Sunday. Ellen did invite you to drop by after church, didn’t she?”

The parson acknowledged he’d been invited. And he explained he had some other things on the calendar which prohibited him dropping by for lunch after church.

“Well, too bad. Ellen laid out a feast. We weren’t at church, of course, because we were preparing, but we shared with the whole family the good work the church is doing.”

The parson talked with Elmer a bit longer. He then headed to the checkout and then his car. As he was placing his shopping cart in its corral, he noticed Wanda and Alvin Brooks walking across the parking lot. He didn’t hail them as they were almost on the opposite side of the lot. But he couldn’t help but remember they’d reserved the fellowship hall at the church for their family reunion dinner in order for everyone to attend the services.

That night, as Ms. Parson marveled at the culinary talent of the man she’d married, she asked, “So, how was your day?”

“Oh it was typical. I ran into several members. Every one of them had something to share about the church.

Comments

[teri]

LOL!

This is why the staycation doesn't work for me--I can't go anywhere around town without running into people who turn my shopping trip into "work"...if only mine were as amusing, it might work!

[Larry]

So that's where everyone was.