Melody liked hitch-hiking. It was a cheap and easy way to get around and you met some interesting people.
Mind you, she was always very careful about the lifts she accepted. Women drivers or elderly drivers were chauffers of choice, and she always turned down rides offered by a car with only a male driver or male driver and passengers. One couldn't be too careful, and there were nut cases out there.
As with most things she did, her choice of driver was a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Melody decided that accepting a lift from a couple of ministers was reasonable. If a minister wasn't a safe ride then who was? Accordingly, when the small car driven by a couple of ministers pulled over and she was offered a lift, she was quite happy to accept.
Melody would have been the first to admit that she'd had her doubts about that lift, because ministers did tend to have this idea that they needed to convert you, and they preached a lot, which could be boring.
On this occasion Melody struck lucky, as the ministers were affable and refrained from preaching. Finally arriving in a small town, they pulled up outside a small house next to a church.
"I'm sorry, Melody, but this is as far as we go," Father Bob said. "However, if you take a right turn at the street just ahead you'll find it a short hike to the main road, and you should be able to get another lift easily enough, a pretty little thing like you."
"Thank you for the lift, Father," smiled Melody. "I'll head on down."
"Don't be in such a rush, Melody," murmured Father Tim. "We're about to put the kettle on and make some coffee. Why don't you come in and have some. Then you'll be refreshed for the next stage of your journey."
"Why not?" thought Melody. "Saves me buying some."
She thanked them and went with them. The two ministers worked with easy accord, swiftly setting out some biscuits and coffee. Melody idly wondered if they were actually a couple, and then reprimanded herself. None of her business either way.
Melody relaxed and enjoyed the coffee and free bickies, chatting casually with the two ministers. Still, time was passing, she decided, and she'd best be on her way.
"Thank you for the coffee and biscuits, Father," she finally said, "but I really must be on my way."
"I quite understand," said Father Bob. "It's been a pleasure meeting you. Do you mind if we give you a blessing before you go? It is the business we're in, after all."
Melody gave an invisible shrug. Ministers would be ministers, she guessed.
"Thank you," she said smiling. "That would be kind of you."
"Don't think anything of it," said Father Bob. "It'll be our pleasure, I assure you, and yours too, of course."
Expecting the two ministers to pray, Melody was surprised when they rose from the table, came round to her and urged her to stand.