Free Punked by the Pumpkin: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 4) by Constance Barker Page B

on any Tuesday night. The golden halo will go to the one who has been chosen to preside over our Tuesday night congregation and call the Bingo numbers for one year.”
    There was a hushed murmur and then silence from the crowd. The Pastor passed behind the six anxious seniors and placed a halo on top of each of their heads. It was difficult to tell from where we sat which halos were silver and which one was gold.
    “You may now look at your fellow chosen ones and congratulate chosen one.”
    It seemed that most of them were having trouble finding the gold halo too. Harvey looked at us and shrugged. Finally Penny Carver walked over and embraced Harvey.
    “It’s you, Harvey! You’re the one!”
    Harvey took the halo from his head and examined it. “Well, I’ll be.”
    The others shook his hand, and the crowd applauded. The seniors and then the rest of us all stood to honor the new Bingo caller for Tuesday Night Bingo at the Methodist Church. Harvey was red faced, except for where the makeup covered the scratches. He smiled and gave Pastor Miranda a hug. The she raised his hand and presented him to his adoring crowd.
    “Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you your chosen one, the man of the hour, and your new Bingo caller, Mr. Harvey Davis!”
    The old men were smiling and clapping heartily, and the senior women were clapping with excitement. I knew Harvey was popular, but I didn’t know they loved him this much. The cheers and applause went on until the Pastor raised her other hand and motioned for everyone to sit.
    Harvey put the halo back on his shiny bald head, and the Pastor put a gold lamé shawl over his shoulders and handed him a scepter made from an old broom handle with a toy hand grenade on the end. It was all painted gold as well.
    “Harvey Davis, because of your commanding and pleasant persona, your beautiful deep tones that are so easy to understand, and your slow and measured pace that allows all of our players to keep up, you have been chosen above all others to come to the mountain top and call out the bingo numbers.”
    Another round of applause. Eli looked proud of his poppa. “I think a lot of people in this town adore your Dad.” Eli nodded.
     
    It was one of those nights that don’t happen very often and you remember your whole life. Maybe that Bingo hall did have a supernatural warmth and mystery about it. I didn’t discover anything new in their basement, but I did learn that some of the things that sounded like spooky rituals had reasonable, if not a little offbeat, explanations.
    Harvey and Miranda stood outside the front door like a bride and groom in a reception line after a wedding. Hildie seemed a little jealous and irritated with the way Pastor Miranda was holding his arm and lavishing so much attention on him. Maybe she was getting like Essie when she heard about all the women Toe had dated.
    We watched from the curb for a while as everyone greeted and congratulated him. Harvey seemed to be having the time of his life, more vibrant and outgoing than I’d ever seen him, though he did mention that he was nervous about his debut on Tuesday night and felt like he needed a lot of practice.
    “This reminds me of the way Dad used to be when I was growing up.” Eli had a gleam of pride in his eye. “Well, he’s got Sharkie here and Trevor is going to wait for him, so we can head back to the coffee shop if you want.”
    Jules and Mike climbed in the back seat, I got in the front, and we headed back to the Coffee Cabana.
    “I hope Schooner was able to manage things okay. I’ve been a little worried.”
    “He would’ve called if he needed help, Lily,” Jules reassured. “And he’s a good bartender, so he’s probably pretty good behind your counter too.”
    “Yeah. It’s likely been pretty slow during the Harvest dinner.”
    As we drove up to the shop, I couldn’t believe what I saw. There was a crowd of people from the middle of the street, onto the sidewalk, and all the way inside the