The Big Cat Nap

pants pocket.
    “As for a new truck,” said Latigo, “this is a good time to buy. Folks are staying away from the gas guzzlers, so truck sales are slow. You should be able to drive a good bargain.”
    “That they are, but the church needs a big truck. As you can imagine, the upkeep on a place this old consumes a considerable chunk of our budget. I’ll buy the truck in my own name, but, of course, we’ll use it for necessities here.” He leaned back in his chair. “Nothing seems to get cheaper, does it?”
    “No. Doesn’t the church provide you with a car?”
    “They do, and it’s a big help.” He swept his hand toward the triple-sash windows, wide open. “What a beautiful place to work, tolive. Can’t put a price on that, and what preacher is in it for the money?”

    An eruption of laughter roared from Latigo. “All of them on TV.”
    Reverend Jones smiled at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t consider them ministers. I think of them as hucksters. Revealing my prejudice here, but I am an ordained Lutheran minister, so I have high educational standards. Plus, I don’t think one should use the Good Lord for profit.”
    “I do.” Latigo smiled. “I pray daily.”
    This time it was Reverend Jones’s turn to laugh uproariously. “I’ll pray for you.” He patted his pocket wherein he had slipped the check. “You’ve got one good deed fresh in St. Peter’s book.” Then he smiled again. “And I’m sure many, many more.”
    Latigo surreptitiously checked the Napoleon clock on the mantel. “I’ve got to run. Let me know what you do buy. I certainly hope you’ll continue to insure with Safe and Sound.”
    “I will.”
    As Latigo left, Lucy Fur raised her head.
“Poppy’s happy.”
    “A new truck,”
Cazenovia purred.
“New leather seats to scratch. Heaven.”
    Herb dialed ReNu.
    “ReNu Auto Works,” Kyle intoned.
    “Kyle, this is Reverend Jones. You have my 1994 Chevy half-ton there. I’d like to come down tomorrow and clean it out thoroughly. I didn’t do that when it was towed. Just too upset about it. Will that be okay?”
    A short pause, then Kyle replied, “Sure. I’ll tell the boys to leave it alone.”
    “What would they do with it?”
    “Strip it. There will be good parts in it even though it’s old. The boss sells the older stuff to specialty houses.”
    “Specialty?”
    “Places that work on old vehicles, trucks. Plus there are warehouses for old parts.”
    “I see.”
    “And then the boss sells the truck for scrap. Scrap metal’s up right now, so he’s happy.”
    “Well, you don’t stay in business if you don’t find ways to make the money, beat the tax man.”
    “Right.”
    As Reverend Jones hung up, he thought to himself that the few times he’d seen or spoken to Kyle, no sliver of enthusiasm ever disturbed the young man. The other thing was, Kyle never said good things about ReNu. He didn’t say bad things, either.
    He dialed again. “Harry.”
    “Rev.”
    “Will you go down to ReNu with me tomorrow?”
    “Sure. What’s up?”
    “I need to clean out the old truck before they trash it. I was so mad when the truck went out on me, I didn’t think to take all my stuff. I don’t even know what I left in there.”
    “Glad to help.”
    “I don’t want to go there alone, truth be told.”
    “I understand. I really do.”
    “Okay, then. Mmm, ten too early?”
    “No. I’ll pick you up.”

R elieved? Reverend Jones enjoyed the smooth ride of Harry’s Volvo station wagon as they left the church to go into town.
    A silence followed this. “Yes. I was sure I was fine, but yes.” Harry waited another moment. “I have gained even more respect for doctors and nurses who deal with cancer.”
    “It’s all around us. Our various church groups provide comfort. The men’s group surprised me.”
    “You didn’t think they’d talk about how cancer affected them?”
    “I thought the men who had been afflicted with cancer would. But the new group, the one for men whose spouses, family members, have cancer or have had it, that’s been the surprise. And your husband holds it all together.”
    “He never talks to me about it.” Harry wasn’t offended by this.
    “Sometimes, Harry, there are things a man can only say to another man, especially in a situation like this. To tell your wife, daughter, sister, best friend, of your fears while she’s in the middle of battling this disease, well, most men feel this would make it worse. They feel their job