Free When It All Falls Down by Dijorn Moss Page B

you to still preach the special events that you made commitments for, but I want you to turn over your weekday and weekend services to some of your other ministers.”
    I can tell that Pastor Robinson really takes heed to my words. I pray that I will be successful in my endeavor. I hate to lose more than anything, especially in the arena of ministry.
    â€œSo what happens now?” Pastor Robinson asks.
    â€œFirst Minister Blackwell is going to drive me back to my hotel so I can get some sleep. Then I am going to return in the morning to the church and start to do my work. I will need for you to pull any information you have on your husband. Check stubs, identification, articles, you name it.”
    â€œOkay,” Pastor Robinson says.
    â€œGreat! See you tomorrow.” I head toward the door knowing that this meeting provided new information that has my head spinning with the possibilities of what could’ve happened to the first gentleman.
    â€œWait!” Pastor Robinson says before I reached the door.
    My back is still turned. I look back to see Pastor Robinson still on the bed.
    â€œWhat are we supposed to say when the congregation starts to see you around a lot?”
    â€œThe truth. That I’m a visiting minister who’s here to serve Jubilee Temple.”
    And that is not a lie. I am a minister who is here to serve both the church and my own interests.

Chapter Nine
    I wake up the next morning around 7:30 A.M. I forgot to close the curtains in my hotel room, so the sun makes its presence known in my room and I cannot afford to sleep in. I have to do my job so I get up and stretch. My shirt, tie, and sports coat are draped over the chair. Last night I slept in my slacks and my white undershirt. Since I am half dressed I grab my watch, wallet, and room key off the table, slip on my shoes, and head out door. I’ll brush my teeth and wash my face later. I hate the aftertaste of eating right after I have brushed my teeth.
    I take the stairs instead of the elevator and that will be my exercise for today. The weather is sunny and brisk and since we are in the middle of November, I know that the good weather won’t last. By noon the weather will be overcast and I can tell by the way the clouds are gathering in the sky that there might even be rain.
    I walk across the street to Lane’s Diner. I have not eaten since yesterday afternoon so I need some type of food in my system. It’s real easy for me to forget to do simple things like eat, shave, or sleep when I’m on a job.
    â€œHello, welcome to Lane’s. Is this a party of one?” The hostess has already grabbed a menu.
    â€œActually, I know what I want and I need it to go.”
    â€œOkay,” the girl says, somewhat surprised.
    It is not often, I assume, she encounters a man who knows what he wants.
    â€œGo ahead to the counter and they’ll place your order there.”
    I walk over to the counter, but I don’t take a seat. I get the attention of the waitress and she comes over right away.
    â€œWhat can I get for you, sir?”
    â€œTwo eggs over easy, hash, bacon, and sourdough toast.” I go into my wallet and place a twenty on the counter.
    â€œOkay, let me get two eggs over easy, hash, bacon, and sourdough toast coming up and you can pay up front with cashier.”
    â€œThat’s for you.” I point to the twenty dollar bill.
    â€œThank you, sir. A girl could use it.”
    I consider myself a part of the same industry as the waitress. We both are in the service industry, but while she serves patrons, I serve the church. I pay the bill on the way out and I walk across the street to the gas station on the corner. I need a pack of cigarettes. I crave a cigarette and I am low on my pack I bought yesterday.
    â€œLet me get a pack of Newports,” I tell the attendant.
    The gas attendant grabs a pack of Newports and sets them on the counter. I slide a twenty dollar bill under the