Stumbling about, I bypassed an Army latrine

A dentist’s office was leveled. A church feared it was next.

We leveled a complaint against it, or a threat, some would say.

The archdiocese minister reacted by e-mail, a little too meanly: “You can send your Paw after me, Steven, or a second cousin who’ll try to adjust my behavior, but whatever I say goes.”

The instant coffee we couldn’t really imagine drinking sat steaming in our hands. On his computer, that minister’s a real tough guy.

We are cowards, you and I, but you don’t see it that way. You were looking over my shoulder, staring baldly at the minister’s comment. “Eff you,” you suggested I write.

I have my own plan -- frantic applause at the minister’s sermon tonight. You and me, clapping for everything he says, every sentence, and the thing is, he can’t afford to pause.

Baptismal waters swirled, but the sermon had stopped.