by Douglas Young<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The dinner invitation was totally unexpected since Josiah Gorgas had not heard from his high school and college buddy Austin Ervin in well over a decade. They had always been somewhat unlikely friends. While Josiah was a popular athlete in high school, Austin excelled in the arts and was a standout performer on stage. Whereas Josiah majored in business in college, Austin pursued a degree in theater. Though good friends growing up, their lives diverged sharply after graduating from the local university when Austin went to New York City to try to break into Broadway. Two years later, with his big stage dreams dashed, he came home to earn an English degree before teaching at a high school out of state. Over the years Austin and Josiah gradually lost touch.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Upon getting his business degree, Josiah remained in town to work full-time at his father\u2019s department store, marry his college sweetheart Clarissa, and start a family that would produce two daughters and two sons. He had put in long hours at the family store and, at 38, was now making most of the decisions there since his father\u2019s semi-retirement.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Though Josiah\u2019s devoted wife Clarissa\u2019s college degree was in journalism, she soon grew tired of being a newspaper reporter and was eager to create a family. So she became a full-time housewife and mother looking after their four children and home-schooling two of them. She, Josiah, and the children enjoyed living in the comfortably middle class, pine tree-sheltered neighborhood of Leafy Meadows. Clarissa and Josiah\u2019s lives had long been defined by their family, his business, and their church.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Austin Ervin was absent from their tenth high school reunion where Clarissa and Josiah were stunned to hear he had recently lost his job after eloping with a student. The story was that school administrators learned Mr. Ervin had begun a romantic relationship with the girl while she was in his class and not yet 18. A couple of years later Josiah heard Austin had gotten another teaching job up north but that was a long time ago. So it was a complete surprise when Josiah\u2019s boyhood buddy rang early one evening as the Gorgas family was cleaning up the dinner table and washing dishes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAfter so many years teaching high school, I want to teach college,\u201d Austin told Josiah over the phone. \u201cI just long for more in-depth class discussions and not having to worry about some constipated, pushy parent complaining to the educrats about something supposedly said in class and typically totally distorted at that. So I\u2019ve moved back to town to get a master\u2019s degree at the university and maybe a Ph D. We\u2019ll see. But I have to get at least a master\u2019s to teach college.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnyway, I want you and Clarissa to come over for dinner and see my new digs. It\u2019s been way too long since we last met and we\u2019ve got a whole heap of catching up to do, my old friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While touched by the call and especially the invitation, Josiah could not recall when he and the wife had last gone out without the whole family in tow. He also dreaded having to find a baby-sitter for the four children aged thirteen, eleven, seven, and five.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But the eldest, Zoryana, insisted she was now old enough to baby sit \u2013 and be paid for it. So, upon getting the thumbs up sign and a big smile from Clarissa, along with cheers from the children, Josiah told Austin they would be delighted to come over for dinner that Friday.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When Friday arrived, Josiah went to the store extra early so he would hopefully not need to work late, and Clarissa sped up all her normal routines as well. Her day was a blur of getting everyone ready for school and work, teaching two children at home, running errands, grocery shopping, preparing supper for the children, and providing strict baby-sitting instructions to Zoryana while warning her three younger siblings to mind her authority while Momma and Daddy were out. Then Zoryana and the other daughter, eleven-year-old Adelia, enjoyed helping their mother choose just the right dress, jewelry, makeup, and shoes for the big dinner.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At last Mr. and Mrs. Gorgas drove to Mr. Ervin\u2019s home. Josiah was in his best Sunday suit and tie while Clarissa wore her most recently bought green dress, pearl necklace, and high heels. Though they loved their children dearly and were a little trepidatious about leaving them on their own for a few hours, both were enthused about their first evening out as a couple in a very long time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow whatever we do, let\u2019s be sure and not say a word about his first teaching job that ended with Austin getting fired for marrying that gal,\u201d Clarissa cautioned as Josiah drove.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood Lord, no,\u201d Josiah agreed. \u201cGosh, that was really unfortunate. Remember how at our tenth-class reunion Lobelia Langtree said the gal\u2019s parents were so livid \u2013 understandably \u2013 that they were ready to sue the school if Austin wasn\u2019t fired?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd he was fired and they even got the marriage annulled,\u201d Clarissa noted with a sigh.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, and I recall how Miss Lobelia wore a mighty big grin the whole time she shared all that too.\u201d Josiah looked at Clarissa and rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd proceeded to spread the news to everyone.\u201d Clarissa chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn ever greater detail,\u201d her husband added.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI \u2019spect she may have still been a little bit bitter about his dumping her in 10th<\/sup> grade for Dorena Tanner.\u201d Clarissa smiled.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight,\u201d confirmed Josiah. \u201cAnd I recall the scuttlebutt was that he had already been dating Dorena on the sly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRegardless, if there had been a vote for class gossip, my money would have been on Miss Lobelia winning in a landslide.\u201d Clarissa laughed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShe certainly woulda\u2019 got my vote.\u201d Josiah agreed. \u201cA year or so after the reunion I heard Austin ended up teaching at some Yankee all-boys or all-girls school, but I can\u2019t rightly recollect which,\u201d Josiah replied.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHopefully all-boys,\u201d Clarissa remarked and they chuckled.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Both were glad their old classmate was back in town and hoped he had found happiness. They also looked forward to seeing him since Austin had always been kind, good humored, and fun. Each spouse smiled as many warm memories starring Austin scrolled through their minds.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When they arrived at the address Austin provided, Josiah double-checked it before parking the car. The home was in a neighborhood formerly dominated by middle class families but now mostly rental properties occupied by university students. The house appeared somewhat ramshackle, desperately needing a paint job and\u00a0and new roof. There were a few weather-beaten cars in the driveway, as well as one in the front yard.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps Austin invited several guests,\u201d Clarissa suggested. She surveyed Mr. Ervin\u2019s very tall grass swaying with the wind and imagined it wailing to be cut.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After carefully avoiding several dog deposits, they rang the front doorbell which immediately prompted loud barking from inside. Soon the door opened and they faced a barefoot, college-age girl wearing an old paisley red dress with a yellow flower in her long, straight brown hair.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHey! Y\u2019all must be Josiah and Clarissa,\u201d she said with a warm smile. \u201cI\u2019m Sunrise, Austin\u2019s old lady, and this is Fidel.\u201d She laughed while restraining a big young dog eager to jump on Clarissa\u2019s dress.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFido?\u201d Josiah asked.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, Fidel.\u201d Sunrise giggled as she ushered them into the living room.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Josiah wrinkled his brow trying to recognize the tall man entering the room from the other side wearing a long African robe and sandals who did and did not look familiar. Though Josiah knew the eyes, the thick beard and outfit were foreign. Austin Ervin extended his arms to envelop Clarissa and Josiah in a bear hug and kissed them both.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWelcome, dear friends from long ago.\u201d Austin beamed. \u201cWhat a genuinely jubilant joy to see y\u2019all again after so many years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They exchanged pleasantries and the Gorgases thanked Mr. Ervin for inviting them. All agreed how lovely it was to meet again.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clarissa and Josiah experienced something of a sensory overload as they took in their surroundings. There was a strong scent of incense permeating the place and, amidst Fidel\u2019s loud barks, a quartet of cats came to inspect the new arrivals.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeet Kerouac, Coleridge, Le Guin, and Nin,\u201d Austin announced with a broad grin.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Josiah and Clarissa then looked around the living room to see several large posters on the walls. Though the identities of some escaped him, Josiah recognized images of China\u2019s Chairman Mao Zedong, Vietnam\u2019s Ho Chi Minh, and Cuba\u2019s Ernesto Guevara. Clarissa guessed a few others were rock stars, but could not be sure.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seeing them observe the posters, a long-haired, gray-bearded, older fat man seated on the sofa wearing a beret and drinking wine looked up at them and pointed to all the posters.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHave you joined the revolution?\u201d He asked in a loud voice.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Josiah raised his eyebrows and sighed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, sir. I don\u2019t b\u2019lieve I have. I\u2019m far too busy trying to run a business and a family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow about you?\u201d He asked Clarissa.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, sir, I\u2019ve been pretty preoccupied birthing babies and trying to bring up four young\u2019uns,\u201d she replied with a smile.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMeet the illustrious Dr. Obadiah Rant, professor of philosophy, poet, revolutionary, and Renaissance gentleman,\u201d Austin announced proudly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAt your service.\u201d The professor stood, bowed, shook Josiah\u2019s hand, and kissed Clarissa\u2019s. \u201cBut y\u2019all can just call me \u2018Che.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clarissa and Josiah nodded with frozen smiles before glancing at each other and turning to Austin who led them all into the dining room where the men sat at the table and Clarissa joined Sunrise in the kitchen. The men were telling each other about their jobs when the ladies brought in several large pots of food.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I\u2019d be happy to give you gals a hand,\u201d Obadiah announced. \u201cBut I don\u2019t pick up anything heavier than a pen or a twenty-dollar bill \u2013 not with this back anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAustin, please tell us what all you\u2019re up to these days,\u201d Clarissa asked eagerly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d Austin replied, \u201cI scored a sweet gig as a teaching assistant in the university\u2019s English Department where I\u2019m taking classes for my master\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd that\u2019s where he met me,\u201d a smiling Sunrise interjected.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr. and Mrs. Gorgas were careful to look at the young lady and not each other. Meanwhile Fidel had to be tied to a chair in the den to prevent him from jumping on the dinner table, but he continued to covet the food and occasionally bark.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHush, puppy,\u201d Sunrise would say every few minutes as she threw a hush puppy at Fidel who eagerly gobbled it up.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis fish is terrific,\u201d Josiah exclaimed and hoped he did not sound too surprised.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, and I like how it\u2019s even got a little kick to it,\u201d Clarissa added. \u201cThese are some mighty tasty spices.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSplendid victuals, indeed, Miss Sunrise,\u201d Professor Rant volunteered with his glass raised to the beaming cook. \u201cYeah, Austin, I\u2019m right relieved y\u2019all didn\u2019t just pick up something from a restaurant. Most of what passes for food in this town\u2019s eateries puts the \u2018B\u2019 in all caps \u2018BLAND.\u2019 Speaking of bland, I heard the Fosters were joining us for dinner too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, they were,\u201d Austin answered. \u201cAt least Selwyn wanted to join us, but then Drunella called to cancel. She just said \u2018Some things have come up and we won\u2019t be able to make it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo I guess Miss Drunella must wear the pants.\u201d Sunrise giggled.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd a strap-on,\u201d Dr. Rant added before taking a drink.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clarissa quickly looked at her plate and Josiah took a sip of water. He was grateful Austin remembered they were teetotalers. Austin, Obadiah, and Sunrise all drank wine. Josiah looked at Sunrise and wondered whether she was 21 yet and legally of age to drink.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAw, don\u2019t be so hard on her, Doc,\u201d Sunrise spoke up, barely concealing a laugh. \u201cI met Miss Drunella once and she was a real dear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh yeah, a real dear ball-buster,\u201d Obadiah observed.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat a male chauvinist,\u201d Sunrise replied before bursting into a laugh.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI merely recognize that Miss Drunella is a devoted member of the castration conspiracy,\u201d Professor Rant noted drily.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSays the thrice-divorced gentleman at the table,\u201d Austin said in a low tone before winking at the Gorgases.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t befog the issue,\u201d Obadiah stated as he poured himself another full glass of wine.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow Dr. Rant\u2019s not a sexist,\u201d Austin stated with a teasing smile. \u201cHe just has some \u2026 eccentric views concerning the fairer sex.\u201d Sunrise stifled a laugh.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAlas, I\u2019m not remotely rich enough to be \u2018eccentric,\u2019\u201d the professor protested. \u201cI\u2019m poor. So I\u2019m just nuts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I think Drunella\u2019s got a real big heart,\u201d Sunrise said, hoping to get another rise out of Obadiah.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, she\u2019s a real big ol\u2019 fat thing,\u201d observed the professor as Sunrise put her arm to her mouth<\/p>\n \n to muffle her laugh.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cActually, truth be told,\u201d Austin added, \u201cI don\u2019t miss the Fosters\u2019 boy. That little fellow can get mighty loud and really aggressive with Fidel and the cats.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAmen to that,\u201d Dr. Rant agreed with a raised glass. \u201cWhat a relief indeed to avoid that obnoxious excuse for a son they stubbornly claim.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Josiah and Clarissa glanced at each other as Austin steered the conversation to their old mutual friends and classmates. Sunrise was elated to hear stories of her beau\u2019s antics in high school and college as Clarissa and Josiah became much more relaxed regaling her and Obadiah with tales from long ago.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After his fourth glass of wine, Mr. and Mrs. Gorgas each perceived that the professor appeared to be slurring his speech a tad. As if intuiting their thoughts, Dr. Rant addressed them.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNow I\u2019m not drunk and my speech ain\u2019t slurred. I\u2019m just speaking in cursive,\u201d he pronounced.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sunrise giggled and winked at Josiah and Clarissa while Obadiah stood and asked to be excused to go to the bathroom.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t you go right before dinner?\u201d she asked. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy child, I have a sixty-four-year-old prostate gland,\u201d he answered as he tossed a hush puppy at Fidel on his way out of the room.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With dinner done, Austin insisted on showing his old classmates the backyard before it got dark. The yard was fairly large with a good-sized garden in the rear, and Mr. Ervin pointed out all the stumps where he had cut so many trees bordering the garden \u201cso the plants would get plenty of sun,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI also put up this fence \u2026 to keep the deer out,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Josiah wondered why the fence was wooden instead of the typical chain link variety, as well as why it was higher than usual. He could not see any other yard at all.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clarissa was especially impressed with all the garden\u2019s beans, basil, parsley, and sage.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSunrise, I reckon you used some of these herbs for that delicious dinner tonight,\u201d she speculated.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, ma\u2019am, and some cucumbers and tomatoes too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clarissa had always enjoyed growing plants and enlisted all her children\u2019s help with the family garden. But after admiring and complimenting each of Austin and Sunrise\u2019s many healthy varieties of plants, she suddenly frowned. Among the tall sunflower and tomato plants in the back corner of the garden could be seen a great many large weeds.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, Austin. Look at all these weeds. Here, let me help you get rid of them,\u201d she remarked as she grabbed the big one nearest her.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, Clarissa! Let them live! Let all God\u2019s creatures grow! We don\u2019t disturb any!\u201d Austin shouted as he ran toward her with his arms stretched toward the weeds.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut Austin,\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cThese big ol\u2019 weeds are competing with your tomatoes and sunflowers. Here, let me help you pull \u2019em up. It won\u2019t take us but just a few minutes to get rid of all of \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, get after it, Clarissa. Pull up all those wild weeds,\u201d Obadiah declared in a loud voice while toasting her with his glass. Sunrise chortled and clapped her hands as Austin shot her and Obadiah an exasperated look.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, no, Clarissa,\u201d Mr. Ervin said. \u201cThank you for your concern, dear, but the tomato plants and sunflowers are just fine. In this garden everyone gets along swell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Confused, Mrs. Gorgas sighed and chalked it up as just another strange twist to a thoroughly unusual evening. Mr. Gorgas had long concluded the whole visit was akin to their having walked through a looking glass into some kind of bizarre wonderland where absurdity reigned.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At dusk, they returned to the house where Austin wanted them to \u201csit a spell\u201d in the living room. But instead of visiting some more under the watchful eyes of Chairman Mao, the Gorgases begged off on account of needing to get back to their four young ones at home. They all said their thank yous and farewells, and Sunrise insisted on slipping Clarissa a to-go bag of fish and hush puppies for the children as she hugged Mr. and Mrs. Gorgas goodbye.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On the ride home, Clarissa and Josiah were silent for some time, each contemplating how best to characterize the evening. Everyone was friendly, including the pets, and the food had been excellent. The conversation was certainly lively and each reflected on how the experience had offered a significant element of unpredictability largely absent from their lives. They agreed it had been a worthwhile \u201cinteresting\u201d visit and they were pleased Austin was teaching and earning another degree. But as sweet as Sunrise was, they hesitated to speculate on her age difference with Austin or precisely how they met. They were also majorly relieved the children had not joined them and decided to share only the most sanitized version of the dinner with them.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The visit struck both as a reminder of how differently lives can evolve, but they were moved that Austin had reached out to them and wanted to return the favor. Yet they seriously doubted the advisability of inviting him and Sunrise over to the house for dinner since they could all too easily imagine their inquisitive children asking if they lived together and whether they were married. Perhaps it would be better if they met at a restaurant, especially now that Zoryana was hopefully old enough to look after her younger siblings for a few hours. Neither mentioned inviting Dr. Obadiah Rant.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Life immediately returned to normal as soon as they entered their home to be greeted by a quartet of loud children excited to learn about Momma and Daddy\u2019s big night out — and to sample the fish and hush puppies. In bed that night, Mr. and Mrs. Gorgas discussed the dinner date in more detail and were now comfortable enough to laugh at much of it. As they went to sleep, their adventure at Austin Ervin\u2019s house soon slipped ever further into their rearview mirrors, and dramatically so once the morning alarm ushered in a new day.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Their routine remained firmly grooved, like a needle plowing through a vinyl record, until the Sunday morning nine days after seeing Austin. Once the major production that was the family breakfast was finished and the children ran upstairs to brush their teeth before leaving for church, Josiah sat back down at the table to quickly glance at the morning newspaper that his younger son had retrieved from the driveway.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The lead headline above the fold dominating the front page screamed \u201cBiggest Pot Bust in Longstreet County History.\u201d Since nothing else on the page grabbed his attention and he was intrigued by such a big headline, Josiah began to read the article. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJosiah, don\u2019t you think you better get ready?\u201d Clarissa asked as she put up the last plate in the cabinet. \u201cIt\u2019s 9:35. If we don\u2019t leave in the next few minutes, we\u2019ll be late for Sunday school.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJosiah. Do you hear me? Josiah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Looking shell-shocked, he raised his head and lifted the newspaper pointing to the headline.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d she asked. \u201cCan it not wait \u2019til after church?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJust read the lead article, babe, or at least the first paragraph.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She sighed, glanced at her watch, called for the children to go to the car, and picked up the newspaper as Josiah slumped back in his chair staring at the refrigerator.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, my Lord,\u201d Clarissa gasped and put a hand to her mouth. \u201cOh, Austin. Oh, poor Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYeah, and oh, poor Sunrise too,\u201d Josiah added.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAll those weeds I tried to pull up!\u201d Clarissa gasped again and looked at her husband with a start.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf only Austin had let you get rid of \u2019em,\u201d Josiah observed with a sigh.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, my Lord, if the police were spying on the place, then they saw us there too,\u201d Clarissa exclaimed. \u201cAnd in that very garden. Josiah, are we in trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, no.\u201d He stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. \u201cAs the Good Book says, \u2018Fear not.\u2019 I\u2019m confident the cops could clearly see we had nothing to do with those weeds. In fact, I hardly think your trying to trash them struck Longstreet County\u2019s finest as the least bit incriminating \u2013 quite the contrary. I\u2019m just relieved the article says the police had staked out the place for \u2018several weeks.\u2019 So Austin and Sunrise won\u2019t think we called the cops.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJosiah, I had no idea that was marijuana,\u201d Clarissa declared.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know. I didn\u2019t either. I feel like an idiot. Actually, it\u2019s good we didn\u2019t know. That would have made an already awkward evening all the more uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They immediately agreed not to say a word about it to the children, and Clarissa quickly cut out and threw away the shocking article since the children knew Austin\u2019s name. She nervously straightened her husband\u2019s tie and loudly called the children to come downstairs since they were now definitely running late for Sunday school.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll crank up the car,\u201d Josiah said.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But before he could get out the door, his wife called him. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, dear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDo you think Obadiah Rant\u2019s okay?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Douglas Young \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The dinner invitation was totally unexpected since Josiah Gorgas had not heard from his high school and college buddy Austin Ervin in well over a decade. They had always been somewhat unlikely friends. While Josiah was a popular athlete in high school, Austin excelled in the arts and was a standout […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1681,77],"tags":[1565,1682,1123],"class_list":["post-15066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-egophobia-79-80","category-english","tag-douglas-young","tag-egophobia-79-80","tag-english"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DakB-3V0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15066"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15216,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15066\/revisions\/15216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cSheriff Milledge Bonham announced the largest seizure of marijuana in the history of James Longstreet County, along with the arrest of two subjects living at the residence where the illegal plants were discovered growing in a large backyard garden. Austin Ervin, 38, and Rebecca \u201cSunrise\u201d O\u2019Leary, 20, were taken into custody late yesterday afternoon as several sheriff\u2019s deputies raided the home at 420 Manassas Drive. A source close to the investigation said the property had been under police surveillance for several weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHer husband\u2019s mouth had slowly dropped open as he crouched ever closer to the newspaper. His eyes and facial expression bore an intensity his wife had not seen him wear since the year before when their younger son briefly went missing in the woods behind the house.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cJosiah.\u201d<\/p>\n