When Shadows Screech

Chapter 1

Reverend Millisant Hood crossed the driveway from the parsonage to her office in the small county town. The cool mountain air always feels good on my face, as does the warm sun on my hands. This walk is never long enough to enable me to fully admire all the beauty of God’s creation in the early morning. I love the way the sky shows a full range of yellow over the green treetops. It makes me stop and give thanks. I see that Linda, my secretary and faithful companion, is already here. She rounded the corner going down the walkway that led to the back double doors of the fellowship hall in the basement of the church.

“Good morning! The newspaper is on your desk. Mail’s not in yet. And Ms. Yobanski left you two messages already.” Linda talked as Millisant crossed the fellowship hall and headed from the kitchen back to her office. “Same thing though. She’s lonely and wants her minister to visit.”

“Such a beautiful day! Didn’t we get her one of those senior aids from the office on aging last week?” Millisant began walking slowly past the Sunday school classrooms to her office. “Why is she still calling?”

“Because she wants her minister.” Linda began to giggle.

“And why are you giggling?” Millisant retorted.

“In the eleven years you’ve been here, you should know that these people think the sun rises and sets on you. Their efforts to get you married off tickle me. She probably has another nephew she wants you to meet,” Linda continued.

“I’d rather take my chances on the Internet,” Millisant said, beginning to get annoyed.

“Chances, chances! What chances do you take?” Linda’s voice rose higher.

“Oh no, not you too! I’ll get married as soon as my Mr. Right comes along,” Millisant said while turning her head away from Linda to whisper a silent prayer to God. And please let him come soon. My egg supply is getting low. “Do we have time to visit her today?”

“What do you mean we, Kemosabe?” Linda stopped in her tracks and mimed pulling up on a horse’s reins while tossing back her long blond hair and smacking her toned bottom in an imitation of horseback riding.

“It’s such a gorgeous day. You know you would enjoy the drive.” Millisant tossed the thought of an easy workday at Linda.

“Yeah, and I could act as a buffer if she has a nephew!” Linda tossed back the tease.

She is always peeking at my hold card. One of these days, to the moon Alice! I’m not going to get upset.

“If you want to come, fine; otherwise, stay. I’ll be in my office. Did you make coffee?” Millisant tossed back her hair and shut her eyes before moving on.

“Yeah, coffee is made. And there are leftover doughnuts from the Boy Scout meeting that I plan to use for the Joy Circle meeting tonight. So watch your figure and stay clear.”

“Just let me get to my office and get settled in for whatever unexpected events are waiting to happen, which in this church is the norm. The only constant thing around here is change,” Millisant said as she entered her office.

After her usual silent time asking for guidance from God, Millisant picked up the Daily Record their local newspaper. The headlines read “Local Minister Ousted.”What a blow to a beginning career, she thought as she read: “The Matamoras church will seek to exchange their minister of one year. This mid-term decision comes after a near tragedy resulting from neglect of his children by the pastor.” The article went on to describe in limited detail how Reverend Jameson was accused of leaving his children alone in the church parsonage while he attended a meeting in the church across the parking lot. His only connection to them was a baby monitor.