Part XXXVII:    

Dinner Invitation 

www.ambassadorsforJesus5.com 

A friend is always loyal, 

and a brother is born to help in time of need. 

~Proverbs 17:17

     The next day Reuben caught up with Alex by the plaza where he was vigorously working on the landscaping.

     “Things are really coming along on this end Alex," Reuben noted as he took it all in.  

     At hearing his voice Alex paused and wiped the sweat  from his brow, “Yes it is, isn't it?  I’m glad it shows.  Has a warmer feel to it, doesn’t it?” he inquired as he stood back and scanned the area himself with satisfaction.

     “I’ll say," Reuben was impressed.  "Looks more colorful. It was nice before, but now it feels more welcoming.”

     “What’s wrong with your voice?” Alex asked. “It sounds hoarse.”

     “Soar throat. This is nothing, I could barely speak yesterday,” he croaked as he put a hand to his throat.

     Alex smirked at that, “Probably all that yelling you did at the game. Serves you right for giving me such a hard time.”

     Reuben was doing all he could to hold back his laughter.  "Hey, what are friends for?" he stated without remorse.  "Besides, you know I'm only joking.”

     “I know, and Sarah really enjoyed it. She’s under the impression that you guys are nice…and fun. I didn’t want to ruin her night by telling her the truth.”

     “Oh, you know you love us!” Reuben exclaimed calling his bluff. "But speaking of Sarah, I told Maria about meeting her. That did it, she’s really on my case now about having you two over for dinner and you know how Maria is…"

     Alex took the liberty of finishing the sentence for him, "When she gets something in her head. Yes, I know.”

     “She’s been driving me crazy wanting to know all about her. So I held my ground and told her, ‘Maria, we are men. We don’t need to know all them details you girls make such a fuss about. I don't know where she lives, what church she goes to, where her family comes from, her blood type, the type of laundry detergent she uses…and that was just the beginning bro," he shared expressively with his arms flairing all about, something he often did when he was excited. 

     After pausing for a moment to catch his breath Reuben went on, "She then smacked me on the shoulder and yelled, ‘Why not?!  Alex is your friend!’ Like if I was some bad friend for not prying into her personal life.  So I was like, 'Maria, are you for real?!'  Well I must have asked in that way that really drives her nuts.  You know, with the arched brow and shocked look."  

     He moved in closer as he spoke and put on the look to give Alex a candid view.  Alex couldn't help but laugh at how his eyes bugged out and his lips perked."

     "Then I said, 'It was the Superbowl and she was a Packers' fan, that's all I needed to know!'  So then she smacked me on my shoulder again and said, ‘Forget it Reuben, just invite them over for dinner this Saturday, Ok?’ So I caved and said, ‘Ok, I'll ask again, just stop abusing me woman!’ Sorry bro, I tried.”

     “Alright, I’ll ask her," Alex assured him through a chuckle.  "Just to save you from more abuse of course," he stated derisively. 

     “Of course,” Reuben echoed.

     Then with his own dose of excitement Alex did some sharing of his own.  “We are going out this Saturday, but I’ll see about dinner at your house later on.  He then hesitated for a moment, his countenance changing as he added quite seriously, “Reuben, I’m a whipped man.”

     “Tell me something I don't know,” Reuben replied not surprised in the least by the news. “That was quite obvious at the game.  Feels good being whipped, doesn‘t it?” he asked with a hand on Alex's shoulder.

     “When she smiles I turn into jello…and she smiles a lot. Which pretty much means I’m jello a good deal of the time I’m around her…” he said looking like a happy but defeated man.”

     “Hey, nothing wrong with that. The first time I met Maria I knew I was in trouble in a whole new way.  That was it for me, but she knows when it comes to decisions I wear the pants in the home…” Reuben stated firmly with his chest sticking out.

     “And you put it to her in that charming way? Alex asked wryly.  "I have a hard time believing that swept Maria off her feet and won her over...and after that descriptive story you just told...”

     Reuben was grinning now, Alex knew them all too well. “I’ll admit there were some big challenges in the beginning,” he confessed. “Maria can be a fiesty one, which I'll admit I had liked about her, yet I was pretty head strong too back then.  We had our own share of headbutting, if you know what I mean…but I knew she was the gal for me and I wasn’t about to let her get away. She thought I was some hoodIum and player, but I wasn't so bad, don't think. My mom, bless her heart, was always praying for me. I really believe those prayers really helped keep me out of serious trouble. I had a few run ins with the law but nothing too bad. Anyway, when I met Maria I had been a Christian for about two years already and had changed alot, although it took time for Maria to see that as my reputation followed me for some time. It wasn't easy winning her trust. She was a good girl brought up in church which kind of intimidated me and...

     "So, what are you saying, you were afraid of a girl?" Alex mocked remembering how Reuben had mocked him about Sarah."

     "No bro, I wasn't afraid of her, but her father and brothers, now they were scary. They were constantly referring to her as "mi nina" that's "my little girl" in Spanish, or "mi hermana, my sister", never letting me forget it. I don't think her father liked me in the beginning, but her mom did and her father came around with time. And Maria was brought up more in the home you know, but she was street smart and was determined not to be played, yet I was more than willing to do what I had to do to win their trust and her heart. Took alot of patience but it paid off big time.”

     “You did well Amigo. Maria is a great catch,” Alex commended.

     “Tell me something I don't know,” Reuben repeated with pride. “This Sarah, she seems like a great catch too. I can tell. I’m pretty good at first impressions...and it's not just because she's a Packers' fan, but that helps." 

     “Yes,” Alex agreed smiling. “I think so.”

     “So I'll tell Maria you’re going to invite her to dinner." 

     Alex nodded before adding, “I don't know who to be more concerned about, you or Maria," he playfully mocked.

     "What are you talking about?  She did great with the boys.  She'll be fine," Reuben declared with confidence.

     "Yes, but that's child's play compared to Maria.  You remember that dinner with her cousin?" Alex reminded him.

     "Oh yeah, she was really excited about that one, the idea of having you in the family really had her going.  Bro, even I was feeling bad for you," he stated but failed to convince Alex as it was obvious he was trying real hard not to laugh. "But no worries, I'll tell Maria to behave."    

     Alex couldn't help but let out a chuckle himself.  He really did love Maria even if her determined attempts to marry him off made him nervous.  "I was going to call Sarah last night to go over the plans for Saturday but I had a long day. I‘ll call her soon and ask her about dinner afterwards."

     Reuben nodded in agreement before saying, “Just don’t leave her hanging too long, women hate that. I learned that one the hard way. Before I became a Christian I used to leave chicks hanging all the time and boy did I pay. One even came knocking on my door and when I opened it she threw her phone at me.”

     "Get out." 

     “Bro, I kid you not." Reuben stated, his eyes growing wide.  "So I hear this loud banging and I'm thinking, 'Who is knocking on my door at this hour.'  I mean it was past midnight, yet it seemed urgent so I got up and opened the door and there she stood armed with a phone.  Her face was so red I knew I was in trouble.  Sure enough she starts waving the phone in my face and screams, ‘You know what this is?!  Use it!’  Then she flung it right at me. Got me good too.” He then parted his hair and pointed to a spot on the top of his head. “I still have the scar, see?”

     Alex was in stitches, “Reuben, you got that scar when your hammer fell off the ladder and landed on your head.”

     “No, the one by it.”

     “Oh yeah,” Alex noted while examining the area more closely, “Sorry about that."

     “No problem…Hey, you remember that day with the hammer?”

     “Of course I do, I’m the one that took you to the clinic.”

     “Oh yeah, that was you, wasn’t it?”

     “Yep, that was me.”

     “I had a nasty bump too,” he said rubbing the spot as if the thought of it made it hurt again.

     “I think it all them blows to the head caused some brain damage. I’m glad I didn’t take you up on that offer for advice on women. Hate to burst your bubble bro but with the exception of Maria that is clearly not your department. Got anymore colorful stories about your former dating experiences?” Alex asked sarcastically but in reality he was enjoying it.

     “A bunch, but it’ll have to wait for another day. I got work to do. Call her soon ok?” Reuben pressed while pointing once again to the scar on the top of his head.

     Alex chuckled, “She doesn’t come across as the phone flinging type to me yet I will, I will. Now quit pestering me and go!”

     “Alright, I’m going. Yep, you’re a whipped man. Welcome to the club.”

     As he was walking away Alex called out, “Reuben!”

     Reuben turned around and Alex continued, “You’re right, it does feel good.”

     “Told you so!”

     “Give my love to your better half. Thank God for Maria!”

     “You know, she says the same thing too. You two been talking about me behind my back?” Then flashing him a smile he turned and continued on his way.

Part XXXVIII:  The Deep