‘Old man Jackson’ was really mad when we got into his old ‘Chevy’ pick-up truck. He just kind of grumbled all the way to Dairy Queen. When we were driving up, I saw Maggie, she’s the weekend manager, moving all around re-arranging tables and chairs so that there was one long table with about twenty chairs. I don’t know if she has ESP or if someone called ahead and made reservations. If they did, it was a first for Dairy Queen. Somebody must have called, because we were the first two there and Maggie looked up at us and said, “Here, Mr. Jackson, this is the Riverstone table today.” I certainly didn’t want to sit there alone with ‘old man Jackson’ so I went over and put two quarters into the ‘Pac Man’ machine and played several games. I only paid for one, but someone once showed me how to kick the bottom right corner and get extra games out of it and I got two free ones today before the rest of the Riverstone group showed up.
I don’t know if Ron planned it this way or not, but somehow I got seated right next to him. He was at the very end of the long table and his family was to his left in the first three chairs. I sat in the first seat to his right and Jake, the tattooed guy and his…whatever…wife, daughter, friend, was sitting next to him. The other few important deacons and wives were at the other end of the table. ‘Old man Jackson’ was on the same side as the preacher’s family two from the other end. Thankfully, Inez didn’t show up.
Before she sat down, Alice Holman walked up to the lady and offered her a sweater. Alice wore sweaters in the winter and the summer, no matter how hot it was. And it was pretty hot today. “Here, sweetie. You might need this. You look a little chilled.”
The lady looked up, kind of embarrassed and answered. “Oh, thank you, but I’m fine. I think it’s kind of warm in here, anyway. If I get cold I will let you know.” Alice wasn’t concerned about the pretty lady being cold. She wanted to cover her up. She probably wanted Hubert to stop looking at the lady. He had stared at her all during church. I notice things like that.
After we all ordered, Pastor Ron raised his hand to get everybody’s attention.
“On behalf of my whole family, I just want to let everyone know how thrilled we are to finally be here and be moved in and what a great time of worship we had together this morning.” Every head turned as Jake let out a loud ‘amen,’ and it was real quiet for a few seconds. “We hope and pray that our time here will be blessed by God and our ministry to you at Riverstone will be productive. You have all been so kind to Alisa and I and the kids, helping us move in and all. Oh…Since I …we…sort of feel like your guests, let me introduce mine.” He pointed at Jake. “This is my special guest today, Jake Johnson. He is going to be in town for a few weeks for his job. He is a specialty welder and is working on some oil drilling rig outside of town.”
Jake nodded his head. “Yes, your pastor and I sort of ran into each other yesterday and he was kind enough to invite me to visit Riverstone. I’m sure glad he did. It was a wonderful service. God really spoke to my heart.” I could hear a few chuckles and throats cleared when he said that. I don’t think most sitting there at the table thought Jake had ever even been in a church, much less enjoy it.
One lady spoke up at the far end of the table. I don’t know her name. “Mr. Johnson, who are you staying with while you’re here in town? There’s not really a decent…” She looked my way and I could tell what she was going to say. I had heard too many comments about my home and mom’s job. “I mean, there are not many choices here in town.”
“I’m staying at the Sunset Motel. It’s adequate.”
“Great,” I shouted. “I live there. In number 15. My mom’s the manager. At least during the week. If you checked in yesterday you might not have met her.” Jake was smiling real big now and I could tell we were going to be friends.
Jake continued. “And this is my friend, Collette. I’m sorry, what is your last name Collette?”
“Madison,” was all she said. She looked like she would rather be anywhere else. She doesn’t have a happy smile like Jake does.
“Collette is also staying at the Sunset and I just met her last night, so since Ron invited me to Riverstone, I passed along the invitation to Collette and here we sit.”
Mrs. Martin, she was sitting right next to Collette, spoke up in her usual snivvely voice. “And Collette, what business are you in?”
Collette looked really embarrassed and played nervously with her straw. “I, well, I’m not really working right now. I have been living in New York for the last few years and just needed to get out. I got this far and was kind of running out of money, so I thought I would stop and try to get a job. I…I’m not sure what I will do. I paid a months rent Friday…,”
I heard someone whisper, “That couldn’t have cost her much. Not at that place.”
She continued, “…and then I got robbed last night, and I don’t have a thing. If any of you know of any jobs…”
Ron stepped in. “Oh Collette, we are so sorry about that. Were the police called?” She nodded that they had. “Don’t worry. We at Riverstone will try to do what we can to help you out. That’s what a church is for.” I heard a grunt or two after that from several.
Mrs. Martin asked again. “But what kind of work do you do, ma’am?”
Collette was working on the straw even harder now. I could tell she was getting very upset. “I will be changing careers now that I am out of the big city. I could work at a restaurant maybe. I’m not sure.”
Mrs. Martin wouldn’t leave it alone. “But what kind of work do you do?”
Collette then looked up right in Mrs. Martin’s face and announced, “I’m twenty-nine years old and I’ve been a barroom dancer since I was sixteen, and I just got fed up with it and I had to get out, so here I am. Like it or not.” The whole room was as quiet as a cemetery at midnight for about five seconds.
“You won’t find many dancing jobs around here, Miss Madison,” said Hubert with a snicker.
“She realizes that, sir,” Ron said. “Like my friend said, she is starting over and will be looking for a career change. If any of you own a business, maybe you would consider talking to Collette about a job?”
Collette then spoke up again. “I apologize for the way I look. I know that I haven’t been to church in many years and I probably don’t really fit in, but Jake was real persuasive last night and insisted I come with him. But I apologize for this…” She looked straight down into her lap. I guess she was hinting at her clothes. “…for the way I am dressed. Like Jake said, I was robbed of my purse and my bags last night, and this is all I had to wear.”
Mrs. Anderson, Ron’s wife jumped in. “You are fine Collette. We are just glad you were unhurt last night and glad you joined us all today. We will help you get some more clothes. It looks like you and I are about the same size. Maybe I can come up with some clothes that will fit you.”
Collette didn’t look up. “That is so kind of you, Mrs…”
“Anderson, Alisa Anderson. And these are our children, Ronnie Jr. and Carlie.”
“They look like sweet children, Mrs. Anderson.”
“Alisa, please, Colette. Just call me Alisa. Mrs. Anderson is his mother,” she said as she pointed to Ron.
‘Old man Jackson’ then asked Ron about their life in Michigan and his last church and I didn’t pay much attention to their talk. I was busy with my coney dog and the ‘Blizzard’ Ron bought me after I downed the dog.
All of a sudden, ‘Old man Jackson stood up and said, “Come on boy, I’ve got to get home. Gotta go.” I started to get up at his rough command.
“He isn’t half finished with his ice cream, sir,” said Jake. “We both live there at the Sunset, so I’ll make sure the lad gets home safely. If you don’t mind.”
“I do. He’s my responsibility and anyway I wouldn’t want him to have to ride with…with her.” He looked down at Collette and then grabbed me by my collar and pulled me all the way to his truck. As he popped the clutch and squealed his tires, I looked back and saw Collette walking out of the door of the Dairy Queen heading the same way as we were, toward the Sunset. The whole time I was thinking that I could have stayed and at least walked home later. It was only three blocks, and ‘Old man Jackson’ certainly knew that.
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