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Chapter 12
Ifeverybodygivesonemoredime,we’llhaveit—"ReverendSykeswavedhishandandcalledtosomeoneinthebackofthechurch."Alec,shutthedoors.Nobodyleavesheretillwehavetendollars."
Calpurniascratchedinherhandbagandbroughtforthabatteredleathercoinpurse."NawCal,"Jemwhispered,whenshehandedhimashinyquarter,"wecanputoursin.Gimmeyourdime,Scout."
Thechurchwasbecomingstuffy,anditoccurredtomethatReverendSykesintendedtosweattheamountdueoutofhisflock.Fanscrackled,feetshuffled,tobacco-chewerswereinagony.
ReverendSykesstartledmebysayingsternly,"CarlowRichardson,Ihaven’tseenyouupthisaisleyet."
Athinmaninkhakipantscameuptheaisleanddepositedacoin.Thecongregationmurmuredapproval.
ReverendSykesthensaid,"Iwantallofyouwithnochildrentomakeasacrificeandgiveonemoredimeapiece.Thenwe’llhaveit."
Slowly,painfully,thetendollarswascollected.Thedoorwasopened,andthegustofwarmairrevivedus.ZeebolinedOnJordan’sStormyBanks,andchurchwasover.
Iwantedtostayandexplore,butCalpurniapropelledmeuptheaisleaheadofher.Atthechurchdoor,whileshepausedtotalkwithZeeboandhisfamily,JemandIchattedwithReverendSykes.Iwasburstingwithquestions,butdecidedIwouldwaitandletCalpurniaanswerthem.
"Wewere‘speciallygladtohaveyouallhere,"saidReverendSykes."Thischurchhasnobetterfriendthanyourdaddy."
