The Reverend returned to the table. Ricky looked up at him and smiled and said, "She is one hot babe." The Reverend sat down, took a long swig of his beer, and with a sense of wonderment in his voice replied, "She sure is." A couple of minutes passed in silence between them and then Jessica returned. She had touched up her make-up and sat down like nothing had ever happened, except for the little gleam in her eye that sparkled when the Reverend looked at her. "What do you say, Ricky?" she inquired, casting her eyes toward the Reverend. "He is nice isn't he, just like I told you," she prodded with the anticipation of approval in her voice.
"Do you like him?" he asked, not wanting to cave into the sugary way in which she was speaking.
"Oh, I think he will work fine," she reassured him and then looking back at the Reverend, asked, "Don't you?"
The Reverend hesitated for a minute and then replied, "I think so."
"Well, then it is all set," she gaily responded. "Why don't you go back first and get all your camera stuff ready," she instructed Ricky, giving him a distinct wink. "I will just go over the ground rules with the Reverend here while you get ready."
"What's the hurry?" he demanded, "I haven't even finished my drink."
"Please, Ricky," she pleaded with her small girlish voice again. "We will just be a few minutes."
"Well, I suppose," he replied and pushed back his chair and prepared to leave. Thinking for a moment, he turned to The Reverend and said, "What's this business about you being a Reverend, anyways? You're not going to preach to us and tell us that we are sinners or something weird like that. Are you?"
The Reverend looked up at the man and said, "No, no, no, I am not a preacher or a reverend for that matter. It is just a little name she calls me. She thinks I look like a preacher man."