“Now,” he began again, clapping his hands together, “would I be correct in guessing you’d like to try to scrub off a bit of that mud?”
I shook my head. “Nah. My folks won’t mind. I’ll tell ‘em what happened later.” Reverend Michael clapped my shoulder proudly.
“You’re a good kid, Alex.” Then a curious look came over him. “Alex, can I ask you something?” I nodded, looking into his warm blue-grey eyes. “I was wondering if you’d like to help me out around the church. You know, dust, sweep, house-work things. I’d pay you, if you’d like.” I perked up. A job offer? Here?
I shuffled my feet. “That… that’d be swell,” I replied humbly, smiling a little. “Any money coming in’d be good. Things’ve been a bit tight lately…” I was almost embarassed to talk about the low state my folks and I were in. “Thank you sir.”