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I was in there when Dad asked Mom to take charge of the New Member banquet. He told her since nobody volunteered it looked like she was elected. Mom said Dad should’ve told her a long time ago a month wasn’t enough. Also pastors’ families lived in glass houses.
But Dad said, “Now Elise. Don’t worry, the Lord is in control.” Mom’s face turned red, almost as red as her hair. But she didn’t say anything. I started to ask about living in a glass house. But then I decided now wouldn’t be a good time. Finally Mom said okay.
After that things weren’t easy around our house for a while. Our church was in the old Droemer’s store so we had to have the banquet at our place. Our house wasn’t very big either. But we did have a dining room and a table with two leaves. It used to be Grandma’s.
Dad said Mom could use paper plates for the banquet. It would save a lot of work. Mom got mad again I could tell, but Dad smiled and said, “Do what you think best, Elise.”
The next day was Saturday and Mom got us all up real early. She told me and my brother she was putting us on the business end of a rake. I knew what that meant. Then she put my oldest sister, Janine, in charge of my baby brother, John. Stacy had to vacuum and Denise’s job was to scrub bathrooms.
Dad came home around noon. Mom was pulling stuff out of closets. He said she didn’t need to go to all that trouble. I couldn’t hear what Mom said but pretty soon Dad left in the car and after about an hour he came back with lots of paint. He started in the kitchen and I was pretty amazed how much he got done.
Sunday we went to church like always. I tried to concentrate on Dad’s sermon but those glass houses kept popping in my head.
The next week Mom had jobs for everybody as soon as we got home from school. The house started to look real nice. Mom waxed the floors and washed and ironed all the curtains. We ate a lots of sandwiches because Dad was in charge of meals. We cut the yard and he trimmed hedges. Mom didn’t seem quite so grouchy.
The banquet was getting real close. Mom called on the phone a lot asking ladies to bring stuff. One day I came home her eyes were all puffy. The widow Moses died and two of the Archer kids were real sick. Dad went to the hospital to visit Mr. Palmer with pneumonia. Friday night John got a fever and threw up. I couldn’t hardly hear Mom and Dad after lights out talking. Next morning we all prayed if we should call off the banquet. But the Lord told Dad not to.
To save time Mom laid the table Saturday night. The blue and white dishes and crystal goblins looked real good with Mom’s white tablecloth and napkins. Janine missed a few spots on the silver but Mom didn’t notice. John didn’t throw up anymore. When I went to bed Mom was still in the kitchen. Her rolls smelled so good I didn’t think I could wait.
Sunday Mom left early from church. So Dad and us walked, but it was only three blocks. We got there just in time before people started coming. Women were bringing so much food in Mom had a hard time fitting everything on the table. Mrs. Watts said Mom’s sinner peace looked interesting.
Finally Dad lit the candles and everybody bowed their heads. First he praised God for all His benefits. Then he thanked Him for such a good wife and all of us. He thanked Him for the whole church, which was about twenty-five names. Then he thanked him for new additions to our church family. He said their names too.
I thought he was finished but he still needed to thank Him we didn’t put off the banquet. The widow Moses was rejoicing in heaven because Stan and Andy her nephews got baptized. Angels in heaven were celebrating right now too and so should we. Everybody said amen after Dad did. When I looked up Mom was smiling. Maybe now would be good to ask about glass houses. Mom didn’t even pinch that hard at church. I sure was glad we could eat.
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