other.
“It’s not enough the poor guy had to visit his in-laws tonight.” Matt poked Seth in the chest. “No, you have to go behind his back and ruin his reputation.”
“Call him if you don’t believe me.”
Both fell silent. Ryan shook his head. “Why would Zach even think of doing this?”
Seth grinned. “His mother made him promise he would attend church on Easter. He figured he’d rather act in a play than sit in a pew.”
“He’d rather wear a dress like guys in religious movies?” Matt rolled his eyes.
“A robe, not a dress.” Seth shrugged. “Actually, robes are comfortable. Beats a tight collar and tie every time.”
“My wife bugs me to go to church. Acting in an Easter play might keep her off my back awhile.” Ryan’s eyebrows scrunched low on his forehead. Seth could almost see his friend siphoning information from the Internet into Holy Week history files.
“Forget it.” Matt grimaced. “If you think I’m going to be Jesus in your kiddie story, you’re psycho.”
“Playing Jesus probably wouldn’t work for you.” Seth kept his face straight.
A Hulk-sized, hairy Jesus with tattoos?
“Peter, maybe. Jesus’ friend. Yeah, you’d make a great Peter.”
Matt yanked Seth by the collar until their faces almost touched. “What part of ‘Do you want your face bashed in?’ don’t you understand?”
Though Seth knew his friend was kidding—sort of—he didn’t particularly like dangling from Matt’s giant fists. Throwing up a prayer flare, Seth said, “You owe me, man.”
“Aaahhhh!” Matt dropped him.
“I took your sister out. Your sister, who looks and acts like you—only worse. When you begged me to take her out again, you said—”
“No fair.” Matt crouched on the floor, rocking as if in pain. “I had to spend a whole week with Mandy. I wasn’t myself—”
“You said you’d do anything for me. Anything.” Seth crossed his arms.
“I’ll wash your car every week.” Matt sounded panicky. “I’ll grade your students’ tests. I’ll even go out with
your
relatives—”
“What’s the big deal, Matt?” Ryan shrugged. “Zach’s going to do this Easter play, so I may as well. It’ll keep our women happy.” He looked thoughtful. “I haven’t acted since high school. I played a Nazi in
The Sound of Music
.“
“Now’s your chance to be a good guy.” Seth offered him a fresh bowl of popcorn.
“Anyway, Seth did you a good turn,” Ryan continued. “So bite the bullet, man. Do what you said you would.”
Matt dug his fingers into his mop of frizzy black hair.
Lord, Matt needs to be in this cantata. How else will he hear the real story of Jesus?
Matt finally raised his head, glowering. “Okay. But after this, I owe you nothing. For the rest of your life, I owe you nothing, no matter what you do for me. And if either of you mentions this to anyone, I will find you.”
“Whatever you say.” Seth nodded.
Thanks, Lord
.
No volleyball goddess had ever appeared at choir practice. But, as Chesca’s mother said, there was a first time for everything. Chesca tried several times to start rehearsal, but the six-foot blond still stood in the alto section, laughing and chatting. Not that Chesca wanted her to feel out of place. Still, newcomers usually asked her about auditions before they assigned themselves a section—and a choir folder. This woman riffled through the music as though she owned it. How could she catch up? The choir had been rehearsing the cantata music for six weeks.
Great Christian attitude. You had a busy day at the store and no supper, but chill, Chesca
. She adjusted her face to match her mental turnabout and welcomed the new singer with a smile. “Hello. Are you interested in joining the choir?”
“I’m Taryn Meister. I’m already a member.” She said it with an air of surprise.
The altos echoed enthusiastic assent. “You haven’t heard her sing?” “We’re lucky she’s back.” “Taryn’s wonderful!”
Now
“It’s not enough the poor guy had to visit his in-laws tonight.” Matt poked Seth in the chest. “No, you have to go behind his back and ruin his reputation.”
“Call him if you don’t believe me.”
Both fell silent. Ryan shook his head. “Why would Zach even think of doing this?”
Seth grinned. “His mother made him promise he would attend church on Easter. He figured he’d rather act in a play than sit in a pew.”
“He’d rather wear a dress like guys in religious movies?” Matt rolled his eyes.
“A robe, not a dress.” Seth shrugged. “Actually, robes are comfortable. Beats a tight collar and tie every time.”
“My wife bugs me to go to church. Acting in an Easter play might keep her off my back awhile.” Ryan’s eyebrows scrunched low on his forehead. Seth could almost see his friend siphoning information from the Internet into Holy Week history files.
“Forget it.” Matt grimaced. “If you think I’m going to be Jesus in your kiddie story, you’re psycho.”
“Playing Jesus probably wouldn’t work for you.” Seth kept his face straight.
A Hulk-sized, hairy Jesus with tattoos?
“Peter, maybe. Jesus’ friend. Yeah, you’d make a great Peter.”
Matt yanked Seth by the collar until their faces almost touched. “What part of ‘Do you want your face bashed in?’ don’t you understand?”
Though Seth knew his friend was kidding—sort of—he didn’t particularly like dangling from Matt’s giant fists. Throwing up a prayer flare, Seth said, “You owe me, man.”
“Aaahhhh!” Matt dropped him.
“I took your sister out. Your sister, who looks and acts like you—only worse. When you begged me to take her out again, you said—”
“No fair.” Matt crouched on the floor, rocking as if in pain. “I had to spend a whole week with Mandy. I wasn’t myself—”
“You said you’d do anything for me. Anything.” Seth crossed his arms.
“I’ll wash your car every week.” Matt sounded panicky. “I’ll grade your students’ tests. I’ll even go out with
your
relatives—”
“What’s the big deal, Matt?” Ryan shrugged. “Zach’s going to do this Easter play, so I may as well. It’ll keep our women happy.” He looked thoughtful. “I haven’t acted since high school. I played a Nazi in
The Sound of Music
.“
“Now’s your chance to be a good guy.” Seth offered him a fresh bowl of popcorn.
“Anyway, Seth did you a good turn,” Ryan continued. “So bite the bullet, man. Do what you said you would.”
Matt dug his fingers into his mop of frizzy black hair.
Lord, Matt needs to be in this cantata. How else will he hear the real story of Jesus?
Matt finally raised his head, glowering. “Okay. But after this, I owe you nothing. For the rest of your life, I owe you nothing, no matter what you do for me. And if either of you mentions this to anyone, I will find you.”
“Whatever you say.” Seth nodded.
Thanks, Lord
.
No volleyball goddess had ever appeared at choir practice. But, as Chesca’s mother said, there was a first time for everything. Chesca tried several times to start rehearsal, but the six-foot blond still stood in the alto section, laughing and chatting. Not that Chesca wanted her to feel out of place. Still, newcomers usually asked her about auditions before they assigned themselves a section—and a choir folder. This woman riffled through the music as though she owned it. How could she catch up? The choir had been rehearsing the cantata music for six weeks.
Great Christian attitude. You had a busy day at the store and no supper, but chill, Chesca
. She adjusted her face to match her mental turnabout and welcomed the new singer with a smile. “Hello. Are you interested in joining the choir?”
“I’m Taryn Meister. I’m already a member.” She said it with an air of surprise.
The altos echoed enthusiastic assent. “You haven’t heard her sing?” “We’re lucky she’s back.” “Taryn’s wonderful!”
Now
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