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           Theyseemedtobedrawingclosertous,butwhenIlookedupatCalpurniatherewasamusementinhereyes.WhenIlookeddownthepathwayagain,Lulawasgone.Inherplacewasasolidmassofcoloredpeople.

           Oneofthemsteppedfromthecrowd.ItwasZeebo,thegarbagecollector."MisterJem,"hesaid,"we’remightygladtohaveyouallhere.Don’tpayno‘tentiontoLula,she’scontentiousbecauseReverendSykesthreatenedtochurchher.She’satroublemakerfromwayback,gotfancyideasan’haughtyways—we’remightygladtohaveyouall."

           Withthat,CalpurnialedustothechurchdoorwhereweweregreetedbyReverendSykes,wholedustothefrontpew.

           FirstPurchasewasunceiledandunpaintedwithin.Alongitswallsunlightedkerosenelampshungonbrassbrackets;pinebenchesservedaspews.BehindtheroughoakpulpitafadedpinksilkbannerproclaimedGodIsLove,thechurch’sonlydecorationexceptarotogravureprintofHunt’sTheLightoftheWorld.Therewasnosignofpiano,organ,hymn-books,churchprograms—thefamiliarecclesiasticalimpedimentawesaweverySunday.Itwasdiminside,withadampcoolnessslowlydispelledbythegatheringcongregation.AteachseatwasacheapcardboardfanbearingagarishGardenofGethsemane,courtesyTyndal’sHardwareCo.(You-Name-It-We-Sell-It).

           CalpurniamotionedJemandmetotheendoftherowandplacedherselfbetweenus.Shefishedinherpurse,drewoutherhandkerchief,anduntiedthehardwadofchangeinitscorner.ShegaveadimetomeandadimetoJem."We’vegotours,"hewhispered."Youkeepit,"Calpurniasaid,"you’remycompany."Jem’sfaceshowedbriefindecisionontheethicsofwithholdinghisowndime,buthisinnatecourtesywonandheshiftedhisdimetohispocket.Ididlikewisewithnoqualms.