Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Music (03/08/07)
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TITLE: Mrs. Edna's Hearing Aid | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marita Vandertogt
03/15/07 -
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“Mrs. Edna had to have her hearing aid adjusted. Seemed too much sound was going in, and making her head hurt, but only at church.” Jocelyn looked across the table at her friend as she spoke and waited for a response.
“So why only in church?” Angela finally asked, stirring her tea, watching the brown liquid swirl in the cup. “Pastor’s sermon that bad?”
“Pass me the sugar will ya?’ Jocelyn dumped another creamer into her coffee and reached across for the white sacs of sugar
“Not the sermon. Seems the drums when the singing starts, just came smacking into her head. She can’t handle the noise. And the cymbals make her heart jump when she isn’t expecting them.” Jocelyn banged her fist into her hand to demonstrate the supposed effect on Miss Edna.
“That’s too bad,” Angela said. “So then why doesn’t she sit on the other side of the sanctuary, or maybe at the back, or something?” She tossed the solutions out of her mouth, checking her lipstick in the back of the silver spoon she used to stir the tea.
“She tried that. Went clear to the back of the room, but then she couldn’t hear the sermon.” Jocelyn smiled, a small smile that gently turned the corners of her mouth up, just enough to seem sympathetic.
“Then she tried the other side of the sanctuary. That didn’t work either. She just hit another speaker and the sound went straight into the other ear.”
‘She did find a temporary solution though.” Jocelyn paused and waited for Angela to ask. When she didn’t, she went ahead anyway.
“Yup, she found a good solution for a while. She stayed home and watched that tv evangelist guy. Just turned the music down when it got too loud, though on the tv they never get all the drum and cymbals thing going as much.” Joceyln kept talking while Angela reapplied another coat of Too Pink to her lips.
“But then she had to stop staying home because she couldn’t figure out what to do with the offering. And there was no program. Mrs. Edna needs her program. So she came back and put up with the loud music again as best she could. Sometimes, she’d just turn it off and read her bulletin, and drop the envelope in when the offering bag comes around.”
“Seems a shame,” Angela said. “I always found the music the best part of the service. At least, when I was going.”
“I thought you always found John Lester the best part of the service since his wife passed away.”
“Well, the music was good too.” Angela’s neck turned red and she went back to stirring her tea.
“Come to think of it now, you never hear those hymns anymore either.” Jocelyn looked at her friend, but she was speaking more to herself. “Unless they fancy them up with a beat. I guess even church has to change to keep up with the times.”
“Well,” Angela raised her eyebrows in her friend’s direction. “Change is good isn’t it? Necessary?”
“I guess maybe you should ask Mrs. Edna that.” Jocelyn folded up the empty white sugar bags and lined them up neatly on the table.
“By the way Angela,” Jocelyn touched a finger to her lips. “That lipstick you’re wearing. It’s last year’s colour.”
“Okay, maybe not all change is good.” Angela smiled. “Or necessary?”
“Depends on the cost I guess, eh my friend?” Jocelyn got up from the table and grabbed her purse. “C’mon, we gotta go, or we’ll be late.”
“So who decides,” Angela said, putting on her coat.
“Decides what?”
“Decides who pays the cost for change.”
“Not sure Angela,” Jocelyn turned at looked at her friend. “But that’s a good question. That’s a really good question.”
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