VIII

'Honey, where are you?'

'I'm at church,' he said yawning like he'd fall over and die.

'Church? Baby! You should have come to ours!' she said excitedly.

'Yea? And have your dad throw the bible at me? I might burn to an unholy pre-mature death,' he grumbled.

'Don't say that,' she pleaded.

'Sorry. Its just that its REALLY early. And I slept REALLY late. I guess you could say I'm cranky.' he apologised.

'Why did you go?' she asked.

'To check out the chicks of course. Why else do guys go to church?' he teased.

'Did you go because you thought I wanted you to?' she persisted.

'Doesn't that like make you super important to me? That I'd even go to ... CHURCH for you?' he said mercilessly.

'It doesssss.... it doessssssss,' she laughed happily.

'Don't let it get to your head baby,' he hissed.

'It already has. I loveee youuuuuuu..' she chirped.

'Heh... well I gotta run baby, the dude in black robes and a white collar seems like he's gonna start talking or singing... not like it makes a difference to me...' he sighed.

'It'll be good hun. I promise. I'll call you later when I'm done performing for church.' she said.

'Bang em drums like hell's gonna freeze over... pun unintended,' he laughed.

'You big dolt. Talk to you soon. Have fun!' she said.

'Have fun she says.' he groaned to himself.

'Who is new in God's church today?' the pastor asked.

'He must be wondering who the sinners are,' he mused to himself. 'No way I'm owning up.'

'You, young man. You're a new face here aren't you?' the pastor said smiling.

He cursed his luck and smiled; nodding. 'This is going to be a LONG morning,' he sighed to himself.

'Baby, baby, tell me... how was church?' she bugged when she called him.

'Err... it was traumatising...' he thought to himself.

'It was great hun.' he replied.

'What did the pastor talk about?' she asked.

'ME!' he grumbled.

'Huh?' she was stunned.

'Well not me. But people who come to church to please their girlfriends.' he said.

'WHAT?' she said, shocked.

'Ok ok.. so I was exaggerating. But it was more or less like that. He was talking about people who come to church, but don't really feel the love of God. People who come for appearances sake, but don't understand His greatness. Yea something along those lines.' he explained.

'Its okay hun, you'll get there. You're doing great so far. It gets easier as you go along,' she encouraged.

'God I hope so,' he mumbled.

'Pardon sweetie... you're breaking up,' she said.

'I know so, baby, I know so!' he lied.

'Baby, I gotta go, I love you!' she said making kissy sounds into the phone.

'I... I'll see you soon baby,' he said putting the phone down.

'I can't do this again. I'll just die! In fact I might choose to die before I do this again!' he thought to himself. 'But she was so happy.' He sighed. Sundays were gonna suck big time for him from now on.

'Honey, I've got some big news for you,' he said.

'Oh? What about?' she asked.

'I got a job as a copywriter at HELP!' he exclaimed.

'OH MY GOD! I'm so happy for you! When do you start?' she gushed.

'Early next month. But...' he paused.

'But what baby?' she asked.

'Its real far away. I won't get to see you as often now that I'm working full time.' he said sadly.

'Oh... yea...' she realised.

'I'll call you all the time. And we can sneak off during weekends when you're free.' he placated.

'It won't be the same tho.' she said mournfully.

'We'll manage tho won't we?' he asked.

'Yea, hun, sure thing.' she said half heartedly.

'I'll come pick you up after college to celebrate,' he offered.

'I can't baby, exams coming up. I miss you tho,' she sighed.

'What subjects? I'll tutor you,' he offered.

'No, no no.... you're not getting away with that. With you around there's no way I can concentrate.' she grumbled.

'When do your exams end?' he asked.

'At the end of this month.' she sighed again.

'Oh. That means I won't get to see you before I start work.' he realised.

'We'll work something out. Baby steps remember?' she tried to sound optimistic.

'Baby steps.' he agreed.

He put down the phone feeling uneasy. Maybe he shouldn't take the job afterall. Maybe she didn't want him to take the job. But it was what he always wanted to be. A copy writer. This was a chance he couldn't miss. Not even for her.

Sighing, he lit a cigarette and lay down on his bed. 'I miss her already,' he thought.