Next Time I Fall

by Jeff Erno

  “Really? That sounds like fun.”

  “We could always use another chaperone. We usually have about ten to twenty teens who show up.”

  “I’ll think about it…thanks.” She looked up and smiled warmly.

  “All the information’s in the church bulletin and on the church website. We’ll meet at the church at seven.”

  She rose to her feet. “Steve…may I call you Steve?”

  “Please.”

  “Steve, please forgive me. I appreciate what Pastor and Mrs. Mathers are trying to do, and I really like you. You seem very nice…but—”

  “I’m not ready for dating right now,” Steve blurted out. “I like you too, but I’m really only interested in friendship.”

  She sighed, obviously relieved. “In that case…I’ll be happy to join you Thursday. I do love working with teens.”

  Chapter Five

  Steve placed Felix’s food and water bowls on the back porch before he left for the evening church service. Butterflies fluttered within Steve’s stomach as he readied himself for his sermon. He’d delivered many sermons back in his hermeneutics class and subsequently many more since he became a pastor, and yet he still hadn’t completely conquered his fear of public speaking.

  Felix would be okay outside for a couple of hours. He had a decent-sized fenced in yard, his own dog house, lots of shade, and could potty at will. Plus, it was a nice night, no signs of rain. Even if he barked, the closest neighbors, the Mathers, would not be home to be bothered.

  He petted his dog, picked up the satchel containing his Bible and sermon notes, and headed out the gate, stopping to double-check it had locked. “You be a good boy. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, Felix.”

  As he drove the short distance to his church, he mentally rehearsed his sermon. I Corinthians 13 was his text, and he’d be speaking about the nature of love. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. He’d memorized the entire chapter back in grade school as had most in his denomination. Yet the words seemed so forgettable, so easy to dismiss.

  “Mr. Hoffman, I don’t feel we’ve shown Barry much love. We’ve shown him only hate and judgement.”

  “We’ve shown him and the entire school love for God and His ministry!” The dean slammed his fist angrily on his desk.

  Steve gripped the steering wheel as he waited at the red light. It is not easily angered. It always protects.

  “Homosexuals… they’re predators, for the most part, many of them pedophiles and perverts. They’re not the kind of people we want within our congregation!”

  How did Steven reconcile the hatred and condemnation he’s repeatedly encountered within his church with what the Bible said about God’s true love? He pulled into the church parking lot and turned off his engine, bowing his head over the steering wheel.

  “Please Father, speak through me tonight. Give me the words and the confidence to reach even one soul in your name. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  After the three bloody marys at brunch, Eric said his goodbyes to Kathleen and took an afternoon nap. He spent the rest of the day lounging around watching television until about seven in the evening when he decided he’d been lazy long enough.

  “Come on Drake. Let’s go to the park.”

  Already wearing his shorts and t-shirt, he slipped on a pair of sneakers and grabbed the leash. Drake stood by the door waiting as Eric clipped the hook to his collar. As soon as he opened the door and stepped onto the porch, Drake let out an excited single bark and lunged forward, nearly pulling Eric behind him.

  “Dang it, Drake! Not again.” He looked out onto his front lawn but this time did not find a handsome young preacher. Instead he spotted another unexpected visitor. “Felix! What are you doing here?”

  Drake tugged against the leash and Eric stepped forward as Felix waddled toward them.

  “Where’s your master? What’re you doing over here by yourself?”

  Felix looked up, as if smiling, and panted, wagging his tail all the while.

  “Let me get you some water.” He unfastened Drake’s leash. “Drake, stay right here in the yard with Felix. Don’t leave! Do you hear me?”

  He rushed inside and snagged a couple plastic bowls and two bottles of water from the fridge than hurried back outside. Drake and Felix were right where he’d left them, now playing in the grass, seemingly chasing each other in circles.

  Eric sat down on the step and placed the bowls on the ground at his feet. He filled them with water and watched the dogs play. “I think your master said you live over on Van Dyke. Wonder if I should drive over there and look around or wait for him to find you.” Suddenly he remembered the flyer. He rose to his feet and walked back to the door, reaching inside to grab the papers from the console table along with his phone.

  The church’s phone number was listed on the bottom of the flyer along with the name and cell numbers of the pastors. “Here it is. Steven Warren.” He punched the number into his phone and placed the call. After a couple rings it went to voicemail. “Hi, Reverend Warren…uh… I mean, Steve. This is Eric Daniels, the guy with Labrador over on Compton Boulevard…in the condo at the end. We met a couple times yesterday, and you had your little bulldog with you. Well, he’s here now at my place. He must’ve just wandered over or something. If you could either call me back at this number or stop and pick him up. And don’t worry, he seems fine. He’s playing with Drake. Okay…um…hope to hear from you soon. Bye.”

  He waited a few minutes, hoping for an immediate call-back. Finally he rose to his feet. Since he didn’t have a second leash, he might as well just bring the dogs inside. He didn’t want to risk taking them to the park. “Come on guys! Let’s go inside. I’ve got treats!”

  The dogs rushed inside as soon as Eric opened the door. “Now we just have to wait to hear from Steve.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Steve’s sermon went well. The Sunday evening service attracted only a small crowd each week, the most diehard of the loyal churchgoers. Even if his sermon hadn’t been good, his congregation would have been polite enough to pretend otherwise. Pastor Dave and Evelyn sat in the front row as usual, and opposite them, in the first pew of the other aisle sat Luke, his Sunday school pupil. Steve had never thought about it before, but Luke was always there for Sunday night service, and he did tend to sit toward the front.

  His new friend Rachel had also shown up but sat back a ways. A young man accompanied her. If she was already seeing someone, that explained why she had earlier stressed interest only in being friends. But then, why had she accepted the pastor’s invitation to dinner? Maybe she didn’t realize at the time she was being set up.

  After his sermon, Steve waited at the back of the church. As members of the congregation exited, he shook their hands and thanked them, sort of like a receiving line. This was a practice he’d picked up at his home church and did so every week so that he had an opportunity to greet everyone. During the morning worship services, they indeed had greeters at each entrance, but the congregation was far too large for the pastor and his wife to connect with all of them individually.

  When Rachel and her friend approached, Steve smiled and shook her hand. “This is my friend Philip,” she said.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Philip.”

  “Nice message, pastor.” It felt a bit odd to be addressed as such from someone so close to him in age.

  “You can call me Steve. May I be so bold as to ask…” He leaned in to whisper in Rachel’s ear. “Is this your …you know.”

  “I don’t know yet,” she whispered back. She then reached down and took hold of Philip’s hand. “We’re coworkers.”

  “Well, you’re welcome to join us on Thursday night if you like putt-putt golf…and if you don’t mind hanging out with a bunch of teenagers.”

  Philip looked at Rachel, eyebrows raised. “Why not?”

  As he made it through the remaining line of exitin
g congregants, a sense of relief washed over him, and not just because he’d made it through his sermon. He was glad Rachel had another love interest. This way the pastor would have no expectations that he pursue something that wasn’t right for him.

  Finally the last few parishioners approached—those who’d been seated in the very front row. “Luke! Thanks so much for coming tonight.”

  The teenager looked up, smiling. “I’d never miss one of your sermons. And tonight—I think it was the best one yet.”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “That’s a really nice thing to say.”

  “It’s true!”

  After Luke, Rev. and Mrs. Mathers approached. The pastor shook his head and spoke. “Well dang nab it. I really didn’t know young Rachel had herself a beau already. I didn’t mean to put you in an embarrassing spot earlier. We’ve known her for years and thought you two would make such a perfect couple.” He looked at his wife. “Didn’t we, dear?”

  “Well, we’re going to just keep praying and looking. God will lead you to the perfect young lady, the one He’s chosen for you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Mathers. I’m sure He will.”

  “Good sermon.” The pastor clapped him on the back. “Doin’ a great job.”

  On his way home, Steve felt as if the weight of the world had dropped off his shoulders. It was like this every Sunday. He always became anxious before his sermon and relived when it was over. And he was glad the situation with Rachel had been resolved. At least now the pastor wouldn’t pressure him. Hopefully they didn’t find another victim right away to thrust upon him.

  He pulled into his driveway and turned off the ignition. The Mathers wouldn’t be home right away. They always took the kids out for dessert after the Sunday evening service, usually to an ice cream parlor. He’d gone with them a couple times previously, but usually he just wanted to get home to Felix. He reached over to his glove compartment and removed his cell phone. He never took it into church with him, not wanting it to go off during a service. He noticed he had a missed call but could check it once he got inside.

  He entered from the back, using the gate so that he could greet Felix. As he pushed the gate open, he called for his dog. “Here Felix!” He whistled. “Come on boy!” He must be in his doghouse. Steve took a step closer when suddenly he noticed the fence on the far side of the yard. “Oh no!” He rushed over, staring down at the boards in disbelief. One of the planks had come loose and apparently Felix pushed it aside and let himself out.

  Eric quickly glanced at his phone. Who should he even call? The police? The dog pound? He stared at the missed call and didn’t recognize the number. Maybe it was something about Felix, but from whom? He pulled up his messages and pressed play.

  He sighed with relief when he heard the message from his new friend Eric. “Oh, thank you God!” He plopped down on the porch, almost in tears. He quickly pressed the redial button on his phone.

  “Hello, Pastor Steve?”

  “You have Felix! Oh, thank you so much for calling…and I’m so sorry.”

  “No, no, don’t apologize. He’s here and he’s fine. He’s sprawled out on my couch like he owns it.”

  “Oh man…” Steve laughed. “I’ll come right over. Thank you. I was so scared when I saw he’d gotten out. He broke through the fence, it looks like.”

  This time Eric laughed. “Who’d have thought he’d have it in ‘em? I’m just glad he didn’t’ get hit crossing the street.”

  “You and me both! I’ll be right there. Thanks.”

  Chapter Six

  What exactly did you offer a man of the cloth on a social visit? Putting on a pot of coffee this late in the evening probably wasn’t the best idea. Did Baptists drink alcohol? Maybe. Jesus had turned water into wine, after all.

  Whatever, it probably didn’t matter. Steve wouldn’t be there for a social call. He’d probably just pick up his dog and leave. In any event, Eric didn’t have much time to think about it. His doorbell rang about the same time Drake jumped up and rushed to the door. Felix raised his head from the sofa cushion as if debating whether or not it was worth the effort to follow suit.

  “That’s your master,” Eric said, and pushed himself up from his seat. When he opened the door to the image of yet another version of the young man he’d met twice previously, Eric momentarily lost his ability to breathe. He stared, wide-eyed, and took in the sight of the sharply dressed man. Pastor Steve looked as if he were dressed for a wedding—as the groom.

  “Felix!” Steve spotted his pooch immediately, and upon hearing his master’s voice, at last Felix shot up from his lazy slumber. He hopped off the couch and waddled quickly across the floor. “Thank you so much,” Steve had crouched to greet his dog but was looking up at Eric. “I’m truly sorry about this, but thank you.” He scooped his dog up into his arms and rose to a standing position.

  “Why don’t you come in for a second? Would you like an ice tea? Coffee? Um…”

  Steve smiled, and the genuineness of his expression nearly melted Eric’s heart. His eyes seemed to sparkle even in the dim light. “Ice tea sounds awesome.” He hugged and kissed his dog, then gently placed him back on the floor. “Wow, you really have a nice place here.” He glanced down to the table beside the front door and spotted the vacation Bible School flyer. “I forgot about that. So that’s how you got my number.”

  “Oh yeah. I remembered you said you live on Van Dyke but I had no idea where, then remembered the flyer.” He walked out to the kitchen and Steve followed a few steps behind.

  “I love this kitchen. You know, I’ve never lived in a home with a dishwasher.”

  “Really?” Eric laughed as he retrieved two glasses from the cupboard. He stepped over to the ice dispenser in the fridge and filled them to the brim. “Sweet or unsweet.”

  “Unsweet.”

  “A man after my own heart. Down south, it’s hard to find a good glass of unmolested ice tea. They ruin it by adding sweetener. Tastes like medicine.”

  “I really haven’t traveled much other than one summer when I toured some of the Midwest. Always wanted to travel more, but never had the chance. I was raised in northern Michigan, in a small town named Boyne City, and I went to school in the Grand Rapids area, and now I’m back.”

  “My former…uh…roommate used to love sweetened tea.” An image of Max flashed into Eric’s mind and the excitement of the new guest in his home slightly waned. He placed the glasses on the counter and removed a pitcher of tea from the fridge.

  “The young lady who was here this morning?”

  Eric looked up. “No, no. That’s my friend Kathleen. She’s never been my roommate, but she did stay over last night. We attended a dinner party and got back kind of late.” He held out the glass of tea to Steve.

  “Thank you.” He took a sip. “Mm. Fresh brewed.”

  “My former roommate was Max. He just moved out a few days ago, left for California.”

  The dogs had followed them to the kitchen and Drake was rubbing against Eric, looking up at him.

  “He really loves you.”

  “Unfortunately, not the way I love him.” Eric looked down, suddenly realizing Steve was talking about the dog. “I mean, he can’t possibly love me more than I love him.” He leaned down and kissed Drake on the head.

  “I know what you mean. That’s how I feel about Felix. I’ve had him since I was fourteen. He’s almost ten years old.”

  “So you’re twenty-four and already a pastor?”

  “Twenty-three. I’ll be twenty-four in December, and I’m actually just an associate pastor. I only deliver the main Sunday-morning sermon when the senior pastor, my boss, happens to be away. And I’m kind of the youth pastor as well.”

  “That’s interesting. Not to be nosy, but is it a lot of work? What do you do beside preach?”

  Steve laughed. “That’s not an unusual question. A lot of people don’t realize exactly how much work is involved in be
ing a pastor. I rarely have a day off. On Sundays I have a Sunday school class and have to attend and participate in the morning worship service. Then I preach on Sunday night. Usually on Mondays I meet with the pastor for our weekly meeting and prayer session, and I do nursing home and shut-in visits. This week we’re also having vacation Bible school, so I’ll have that every afternoon. Tuesday is our men’s prayer meeting at six in the morning.”

  “Oh my God! That’s early…um…sorry…language.”

  Steve grinned. “Yeah, and usually it’s the one day of the week that I have spare time. After the prayer meeting, I’m free the rest of the day. But Wednesdays we have our Bible study, and I usually use the morning and afternoon to prepare my sermon and lesson plans. Thursday is youth group. Friday is volunteer-slash-community day. Saturday is canvassing and evangelism. It’s a full schedule, probably way more than a standard forty-hour work week. A pastor is also pretty much on-call twenty-four-seven. And even in my spare time I’m often helping Pastor Mathers. I usually go with him on Thursdays to the hospital for visitations. I help with funerals, weddings, etcetera.”

  Eric shook his head. “I never really thought about it. You really do have a demanding job.” He laughed. “I’m just an accountant. I pretty much work nine to five with at least an hour lunch. And I leave early whenever I can.”

  “You must be very smart.” Steve’s expression sobered. “I totally suck with anything like that. I’m not good with numbers.”

  Eric couldn’t help but laugh. He liked it when the pastor didn’t sound so pastoral.

  “I always tell my kids—my youth group, I mean—they shouldn’t use that word. Suck. It’s kind of rude.”

  “You’re fine, and to be honest, I’m thankful that most people think accounting sucks. It gives me job security. If everyone realized they could do their own taxes and bookkeeping, I’d be out of a job.”