Part XXIX:

The Master's Touch

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     Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?”  Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

     Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”  ~John 20-23

     “Another Steelers' fan, thank God!” Alex yelled giving Jim a high five.

     Alex never ceased to impress Jim. He thought he may be angry with him but even if Alex was losing it for the moment he somehow managed to pull it together again. Jim knew his walk with the Lord was a fine one that went beyond surface appearances and he could gleam much wisdom from it.

     Meanwhile, at hearing Alex’s comment the guys booed some more and rained down napkin balls on them.

     “Real mature boys. You all had better help clean this mess before you leave,” Alex commented.

     “He’s so responsible…” Reuben told Sarah, “Where would we be without Alex?”

     “Home early in bed rather than of pickin' up trash,” Nick shot back in light-hearted disapproval.

     Alex then grabbed one of the napkin balls that fell beside him and threw it at Nick, “As if you don’t get enough beauty sleep as it is.”

     “You too Alex. See that, you chumps even have Alex takin' cheap shots at me. There's nuthin' wrong with good grooming in a man.” He then got up and said, “Let’s settle this once and for all and get an opinion that really counts…a woman’s.” Turning to Sarah for an allied he stood behind Charlie, put his hands on his shoulders, and asked, “If you had to choose between being seen out on a date with one of us which would it be, me or this hobo?”

     “No competition pretty boy, if she chooses you it’s because she wants to borrow yor clothes. Dude, it’s the Superbowl not a fashion show,” Charlie teased then grabbing Nick’s hands from his shoulders added, “Why Nicky, yor hands are so soft…do you even know what hard labor is?”

     Pulling his hands back Nick replied, “It’s called gloves Charlie. You should try it, may help smooth out some of the rough edges on yours, get rid of that prickly touch.”

     Sarah noted that they were like the two neighborhoods she had visited, in contrast to each other. Meanwhile the guys were silent as they waited for her response.

     “Oh, I don’t know,” she said, “I’m not accustomed to thinking of boys that way.”

     “Ha!” Reuben yelled, “I told you, the girl has smarts! Where you boys get your brains, the Wizard of Oz?”

     “She’s spunky too,” Jim added with admiration.

     Alex also enjoyed a good laugh at her response, “She’s not only a good receiver but she can hold her own on the defensive end.” He then leaned over again and whispered in her ear, “Well done.”

     Sarah was beaming and quickly turned her head towards him to say that she had a good teacher, but instead her forehead collided with his. “Ouch,” she cried out as she covered the spot with her hands.

     “Are you ok?” Alex asked with concern as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away to examine the spot.”

     “And then she goes for the headbutt!!! You got some moves girl!” Reuben yelled again and all the guys roared with laughter. Then turning to Alex he added, “Hey Alex, looks like one of your moves. She get that from you?”

     Sarah was still facing Alex but now held her head down. Alex could see that her shoulders were shaking with laughter and she was ok. Even so, he cradled her head in his arms and against his shoulder while saying, “Reuben, you’re a nut.”

     “She’s cute.” Reuben mouthed to Alex behind her back.

     “Well then,” Mike noted, “I guess we know who's her choice? Take note boys, chivalry always wins out in the end. Hey Alex, you come with shiny armor and a white horse too?”

     He smiled then looked at Sarah to see her reaction to Mike’s comment and noticed that her cheeks were red.

     Mike went on, “That is a prime example of what’s the problem in this community, too much focus on who's the better man rather than keeping an eye on our own walk. While you two boneheads are fighting about who's the man Alex is being a man by taking care of business. Alex, well done. You’ve obviously been coached by the Man, the Master Himself.” Then turning back to the others he added, “And that, my friends, is how the game is won.”

     “Why thank you Mike,” Alex said with humility and was clearly touched.

     “Did he just call us boneheads?” Nick asked.

     “Yeah, careful Mikey or we’ll have Sarah headbutt you too,” Charlie warned while giving Mike’s head a light shove.

     Mike chuckled, “As the saying goes, stay out of the kitchen if you don’t care for the heat.”

     “You guys are nuts!” Jim yelled, although he was clearly enjoying the exchange between them. 

     The guys all looked at him, then once again roared with laughter.

     “What?!” Jim asked baffled by their response.

     “It takes one to know one Jimbo,” Charlie shot back.

     Just then Junior had approached the table, “Daddy, can I have ten dollars?”

     “Junior, I was about to go looking for you, the game is about to start.”

     “It is? I was at the arcade with my friends but I ran out of money.”

     Reuben reached into his pocket and gave Junior a twenty before saying, “Sarah, this is my eldest son Reuben Junior,” then looking at his son he said, “This is Sarah, Alex’s friend.”

     “Hi,” Junior greeted.

     “Nice to meet you Reuben.”

     “Oh, you can call me Junior, everybody else does.”

     Sarah smiled at him, then turning to Reuben she commented, “He looks like you.”

     Meanwhile Junior had turned to Alex and asked, “So this is the girl?”

     Sarah was still conversing with Reuben, although she overheard the question.

     Alex smiled at Junior and shook his head yes.

     “Ok boys!” Mike yelled while pointing to the large movie theater screen in front of them, “The game is about to start!” They then turned their attention to the screen…that is, all but Alex who had glanced her way. He then smiled again before turning to the screen too.

Part XXX:  The Mark of Maturity