Ecclesiastes 5:2
Sunday 9th December: "You're joking."
"I'm not. It's right here."
Jane Hanlin was sitting at a breakfast of bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. Mike Hanlin was confined to toast and grapefruit. They both drank coffee like true Americans. It was the Springfield Republican that Jane Hanlin was reading, the "Cries and Whispers" column.
Mike Hanlin set aside his toast and finished his mouthful. "Read it out," he demanded before picking up his coffee.
Jane folded the paper down to the article. Then obeyed.
"Which potentate of the Springfield Church will be called as a witness for the prosecution in the Bob Young murder case? As readers will know, one-time Springfield Classical High beauty queen, Trish Hartnett, stands accused of the murder of water commissioner Bob Young. The case is due to go to trial next month.
"And the whisper is that a Springfield Church leader will be called as a hostile defense witness. And we are not talking of any mere Parish priest but rather one who wears the purple so they say.
"Why hostile? Well, the nature of this high cleric's testimony is unclear except and in so much as it will, we understand, expose in the process the sexual shenanigans of said pillar of the church. Remember: You heard it first in 'Crys and Whispers'."
Jane Hanlin set the newspaper aside and picked up a trim rasher of crisp bacon and held it delicately between thumb and forefinger. She looked at her husband, the bacon poised in mid air like a conductress' baton. She pointed the rasher at her husband. "So dear, what do you think?"
Hanlin put down his coffee cup. He saw the funny side of the whole business, despite which, or maybe because of which, his face was grim. "What I think is that I'll be calling on Bishop Patrick this morning." He shook his head in exasperation. "The poor man needs every friend he can muster."
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