Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ARROW (11/17/22)
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TITLE: On Target | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dennis Gallemore
11/23/22 -
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His companion, tall and lanky, spat tobacco juice on the ground. “Third one in a row. Remind me to never bet against you.”
The two friends strolled to the target and Bannon retrieved the arrow. “Well, Jimmy, what can I say? Practice makes perfect.” Turning, he handed the compound bow and quiver of arrows to his friend. “Your turn.”
Jimmy sighed. “I don’t know why I should even try. I have a hard time just hitting the hay bale.”
Walking back to their starting point, Jake slid a glance toward Jimmy. “How about you and Carol coming to church with Meg and me tomorrow morning? We could come by and pick you up and then, after church, we could all go out to lunch. That new diner in town is supposed to have pretty good eats."
Jimmy spat more tobacco juice on the ground, narrowly missing a small toad. “Missed him; oh well, can’t win them all. I appreciate you offering to take us, but I don’t really need to go and neither does Carol.”
“Really?” Jake coughed. “I was thinking you might be needing a little help right about now.”
Reaching the endpoint, they stopped and turned back to the target. Jimmy sighed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’ve been telling me that you and Carol have been having some problems in your marriage. I don’t mean to pry, but you are my friend, and, for that matter, so is Carol. Meg is really worried about you two.”
Jimmy notched an arrow and pulled the string back. Taking in a deep breath, he let the arrow fly. The arrow flew over the bale and landed somewhere behind. “Look what you’ve done now; I’m not going to be able to hit anything.”
“You can’t hit the target because you aren’t focusing, Jimmy. It’s the same thing with your marriage. You’ve been avoiding the subject altogether.”
“Where did you hear that? Has Meg been talking to Carol about me and her again? Is that it?”
“Yeah, Jimmy, she has. Carol told her that you won’t talk about your problems.”
“What’s there to talk about? Our marriage is just fine. Carol’s just going through something. A mid-life crisis or whatever, I guess. She’ll get over it in time.”
“Jimmy, you’re my best friend and Carol is Meg’s best friend. We’re not going to just stand by and watch you two destroy your marriage.”
“Destroy our marriage? What are you talking about? We’re just having a rough spot, that’s all.”
“Jimmy, rough spots can lead to bigger problems if you don’t address them. Why don’t you come to church with us and we can talk about it after church, over lunch. What do you say?’
“Alright, if that means you will quit badgering me about it. Church starts at ten, right? Pick us up at nine then.”
“You won’t regret it, my friend.”
“Jake, I’m regretting it already.”
***
Sitting in the third pew, the four friends chatted quietly before the service. “Carol,” Meg said, “I love that new dress you bought. It really brings out the color of your eyes.”
“Thanks,” she replied with a smile, “Now if only Jimmy would say nice things like that to me.”
“I say nice things to you,” Jimmy replied sheepishly.
Reverend Jones, the small country church’s minister, stepped up to the podium as the room quieted. “Good morning, everyone. In just a moment, Grace is going to lead us in song and, after that, I’m going to speak to you about something that the Lord spoke to me about on the way here this morning. I had a sermon all planned out about not being judgmental, but, instead, I’m going to speak to you about what God has to say about having a happy marriage. I think someone in here, maybe more than one, needs to hear that message instead of the one I had planned.”
Stunned, Jimmy glanced at his friend. “How did he know? Did you tell the reverend about me and Carol?”
Smiling, Jake shook his head. “No, my friend, I didn’t. The Holy Spirit did. Bullseye!”
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