| 2.12.2007 |
| Table of Contents |
GOSSIP
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posted by Me @ 3:00 PM  |
| All scripture used here are found in the
King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
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| 2.10.2007 |
| Transformed |
Helen left Tammy's house feeling good, feeling free. Helen knew that she was different now. She no longer had the desire to gossip. Helen had never realized it before, but Tammy could pray. Helen was amazed at how Tammy had prayed. With them gossiping so much, who knew what hidden talents the members of the Cafe Sisters had?
Helen thought, "God is amazing like that. When He cleans you up, you are clean." The desire to gossip was gone, completely gone. She felt amazing. She knew that she had to call a couple of people and apologize to them, and she had the desire to do so. Helen fought back tears as she drove.
She drove down Denton Tap Road on her way to Mary's house. Mary was the easiest of the remaining Cafe Sisters to convince. Helen knew that it was going to take God Himself to convince Angela of anything, so she was going to talk to the others first.
Helen pulled into the driveway of Mary's house. Mary was the only one of them that owned a house. The rest of them lived in apartments. Mary had the most money of the Cafe Sisters, too. She had won a wrongful death lawsuit after her brother was killed in a police shoot-out.
Helen stopped her car, put it in park, and opened her car door. She walked up to Mary's front door after getting out of her car and closing the door. Helen made it to the door and rung the doorbell once. She waited a few seconds, no answer. Helen rang the doorbell again and waited, still no answer. Helen shook her head. Lately Mary had been taking forever to answer her door. You usually had to ring the doorbell three or four times. You might even have to knock on the door. Helen decided to skip a step. She knocked loudly on Mary's door for a minute or two.
Mary shook her head. Was someone knocking on her door? She focused her ears on the sound coming from the direction of the front door. Someone was knocking on her door. Mary didn't feel like getting up, but she knew that the knocking wasn't going to stop until she went to the door. Her car was outside in the driveway, so the unwanted visitor would assume that Mary was there.
Mary stood up from the couch. She had to grab the arm of the couch to steady herself. She was dizzy. She let out a grunt and then composed herself. She walked towards the front door. She paused a few moments at the mirror that was in the hallway next to the front door. The knocking was getting louder. Mary yelled, "I am coming! Quit beating on my door like you have no home training!" Mary put her hand on her face. She couldn't believe that she had just said that. She hoped that it was one of her friends at the door.
She finished checking herself out in the mirror. She straightened her hair as best as she could before walking to the door. She looked out the peephole. It was Helen. Mary was half tempted to not answer the door, but Helen had probably heard her yelling.
Mary opened the door. Helen looked different. She was joyful. That was the only word that Mary could think of to describe Helen. Mary stared at Helen. Helen smiled widely at Mary, "Girl, are you gonna let me in? I need to talk to you." Mary had never heard Helen sound so cheerful. Mary made a face at Helen, "Why are you so happy? Did you get some or something?" Helen laughed boisterously and then said, "No, I didn't get anything. I just feel good because I have been delivered." Helen looked like she was about to go into a praise right out there on Mary's porch. That was all Mary needed was for her neighbors to see Helen dancing around on her porch. Mary grabbed Helen's arm and pulled her into the house, "Get in here before you go to dancing on my front porch. I don't need my neighbors calling the ambulance because they think you are having convulsions." Helen walked into the house with Mary's assistance, laughing all the way.
Helen walked over to Mary's couch, sat down, and placed her Bible next to her on the couch, "You need to quit. Don't get mad at me because I wanna praise the Lord. If you don't want to help me, move out of my way." Mary laughed at Helen for imitating her pastor, Bishop Anthony Powers' favorite saying. Helen smiled at Mary, "You need to laugh. You look tired." Mary sat down next to Helen, "Yea, I am. What is up with you?" Helen smiled, "I was over at Tammy's house talking to her." Mary made a face. She didn't want to think about Tammy. Helen smiled, "I found out what was going on with her. I also found out that I, well we, have been sinning. Girl, I got myself right with God." Mary glared at Helen, "You have lost your natural mind. What in the word are you talking about?"
Helen grabbed the Bible that she had brought with her and smiled, "We have been gossiping. Gossiping is a sin. I just thought we were "SHARING" information, but we have been gossiping and talking about people. I thought that because the folk we talk about were famous, that they were fair game, but the Bible says, 'Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge' in James 4:11. The Bible also says, 'An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire' in Proverbs 16:27. I never knew that sharing information was so bad. The Bible says, 'Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification that it may give grace to those who hear it' in Ephesians 4:29. God hates gossipers. Do you realize how many people's lives have been destroyed by gossip? I know I have destroyed some lives. Tammy and I prayed. I have repented and I have gotten things right. I have to tell the rest of the group about this. I know we all felt the same way. That's why Tammy has been acting silly. She knew that she was sinning and she felt bad about doing it. I understand why she did what she did because sin makes you feel bad after awhile. It feels good for a little while, but it gets old and you get tired of it. We have got to make are my girls and I don't want you all to go to hell."
Mary looked at Helen as she chattered endlessly. Mary had never seen Helen talk that much about anything. She was almost preaching. When Mary heard Tammy's name, she thought that she was going to be upset, but Helen sounded so sincere, that it touched Mary's heart. The things that Helen was saying made sense. They did talk about people a lot. She thought like Helen. They were just sharing information and they weren't harming anyone, so why did it matter if they repeated something that they had heard?
Helen continued, "We are even sinning by listening to gossip. The Bible says, 'If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds' in II John 1:10-11. I did not realize that we were sinning like this. We are not even supposed to associate with anyone who is gossiping according to Ephesians 5:11. I learned so much from Tammy. She must have done a study on gossiping or something because she had so many scriptures about it. She can't hang out with us anymore or else she will be sinning."
Mary shook her head. Helen was flipping through the pages of her Bible so fast, that it looked like the words on the pages were going to fly off. Helen was energized for sure. Mary had never seen the garrulous this chatty before.
Helen stated emphatically, "We shouldn't be talking about people. The Bible says, 'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers' in Ephesians 4:29. We are supposed to minister to people and pray for them, if we can't minister to them. I have a new prayer that I am going to pray each day, 'I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me' (Psalms 39:1). I wanna see Jesus in peace."
Mary interrupted Helen, "You need to slow down. Can't nobody understand all of what you said." Helen laughed. When Mary used improper English, she was agitated. Mary shook her head, "I don't see anything funny. You done came over here and told me that I was sinning and that I am on my way to hell. How am I supposed to react to that?" Helen looked away from Mary and then looked back at her, "You already know that we have an advocate with the Father and that if we repent, God is faithful and just to forgive us. You can get things right, all you have to do is repent."
Mary looked at Helen with amazement and then said, "When did you become the good Reverend, Pastor, Missionary Helen Ware?" Helen laughed loudly, "I don't even know. It's like there is a fire inside me about this. I gotta tell everybody. Maybe Tammy was the catalyst to get me to do this. Maybe this is my calling." Mary laughed, "You have a huge calling; to get the world to stop gossiping. It would be like you to try to do the impossible." Helen scowled. She hadn't thought about the task that she was taking own. She was just excited. She blew a deep breathe as she thought, "Maybe I shouldn't try to do what I am thinking about doing. I am not a preacher. What do I know about talking to people about sin?" As Helen thought that thought, Ephesians 5:11 came into her mind, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. " Helen knew what she had to do. She could not let fear sway her.
Mary touched Helen's arm, "Are you listening to me?"
Helen blinked her eyes, "Sorry, I was thinking."
Mary stared into Helen's eyes, "I hope you were thinking about not going on this crusade of yours."
Helen beamed confidently, "I know what I gotta do. I can't be scared and I can't worry about whether or not people will listen. There are so many Christians sharing information and they are just plain ole sinning. Somebody has to tell a dying world that Jesus still saves and delivers. If they Lord needs somebody, then here I am Lord, send me."
Mary laughed, "You are too crunk for me."
Helen beamed again, "I want you to go with me to talk to Angela and Karen tomorrow. I don't want to go by myself and I can't ask Tammy to go because Angela would probably try to kill Tammy. Will you go with me?"
Mary made a serious face. She had no interest in trying to convince Angela that she was doing something wrong. Angela was crazy. On a road trip, Mary tried to tell Angela that she had made a wrong turn and Angela almost stopped the car and put Mary out. When Angela realized that she had made a wrong turn, she never even apologized. Mary wanted no part of Helen's death wish.
Helen smiled, "You don't want to do it, do you?"
Mary said, "No! Angela is crazy. I don't want to have to tangle with a tiger. I say we leave well enough alone."
Helen shook her head, "Have you heard anything I said tonight?"
Mary grimaced, "I heard what you said. But can't you find someone easier to talk to?"
Helen responded, "I am going to talk to Karen first. Is that good enough?"
Mary shook her head, "You are crazy. Tammy is too. She started this; I say we get her involved in this as well. She is the one who has all of the research. She should be here with you."
Helen stood up and went over to where Mary's phone was. Helen picked up the phone and dialed Tammy's number. After Tammy said hello, Helen said, "Hey girl. I need you to come over to Mary's house. We need to talk to her. Can you come?" Tammy responded with a yes. Helen and Tammy said goodbye and hung up the phone.
Helen went back over to the couch and sat down. "Tammy is on her way over here. God is going to work this out."
Mary was worried. She did not know what was going to happen once Tammy got over to her house.
Helen could tell by the look on Mary's face that something was going on with her. Helen prayed that God was touching Mary's heart and convincing her to change her mind about gossiping.Labels: Gossip |
| posted by Mrs. Boone @ 2:04 PM |
| All scripture used here are found in the
King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
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| 1.30.2007 |
| Tammy and Helen |
Helen drove over to Tammy's house. Helen had to find out what was really going on with Tammy. Helen was happy that Tammy’s apartment was only 10 minutes away from her; any further, and Helen would have been ready to cruse Tammy out by the time she arrived.
Tammy was pacing the floor. She had tried to get out of meeting with Helen, but Helen was persistent. Helen was like that, when she wanted something, she would not let it go until she got it. "Why wouldn't the Cafe Sisters just let her go?" Tammy thought as she paced. She did not want to have to explain herself, she just wanted to be let go.
Helen knocked on Tammy's door. Tammy hesitated before she went to the door. Helen knocked again, this time louder. Tammy shook her head and then went to the door.
Tammy opened the door. She smiled at Helen. Helen made a face and then walked into Tammy's apartment, uninvited. Tammy closed the door, "Come on in." Helen snarled, "Please! You are in enough trouble. Don't start anything extra!"
Tammy made a face, "I am not trying to start anything. Why am I in trouble?" Helen stopped, turned towards Tammy, and made a crazy face at Tammy, "Tammy please. You know you started some mess with that daggum email. I cannot believe you. That was just trifling. The message and the method. You didn't have the nerve to say it to our face. You had to use email. That's shameless, Tammy, just shameless!"
Tammy knew that she could have picked a better way to tell the ladies about her wanting to leave the group, but she did not want to have to face anyone. She shook her head and said, "You all are over-reacting to the email. It should have been taken at face value. Why is this a big deal?"
Helen stopped walking towards the couch, "What's the big deal? You have got to be kidding me!" Helen put her hands on her hips, "We are supposed to be friends and you pull some mess like this! How are we supposed to react to 'I NO LONGER WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU ALL?"
Tammy watched Helen as she sat down on the couch in a huff. Tammy made sure to sit on the couch on the opposite side of the living room. Tammy finally said, "I did not say that exactly."
Helen made a face, "Whatever Tammy. Are you going to explain yourself? This has got to be good."
Tammy leaned back on the couch. She had no interest in explaining herself. Why did these women insist on bothering her?
Tammy exhaled, "Do you ever get tired of gossiping?"
Helen starred at Tammy, "What kind of question is that?"
Tammy shook her head, "I am tired of talking about people. That is all we ever do when we get together. That is not right. I am tired of talking about people that's all."
Helen frowned, "So, not hanging out with us at all is the solution. Why didn't you just say…? 'I DON"T WANT TO GOSSIP ANYMORE!"?"
Tammy sighed, "I have said that before, you all just look at me like I am crazy and keep right on gossiping. I got tired of going back and forth with you all. I am tired of feeling guilty for sinning and that is what we are doing, SINNING. We keep sinning and then I repent and the process happens repeatedly. I am so tired. This is ridiculous."
Helen thought for a second. "Tammy was so right. They were constantly gossiping about people. Were they really sinning? What was the big deal about "SHARING" information about a few famous folk? That was the chance they took, being celebrities."
Tammy said, "Are you ignoring me?"
Helen blinked. "No, I am not. I am thinking. We only talk about celebrities. What is so wrong with that? It is not our fault that they do crazy stuff and get found out.
Tammy smiled as she thought, "Church folk sure can justify their sin." Tammy looked at Helen, "It is not for us to talk about them. We are supposed to pray for them. James 4:11 says, 'Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.' Would you want folk talking about you if you got caught up in something?"
Helen said, "No, I wouldn't want people talking about me, but I wouldn't be doing stuff where I could get caught. That's on them to do what's right."
Tammy could not believe her ears. She starred at Helen. "That was so hypocritical. How can they be expected to do right, but we don't have to? Gossiping is sin. Backbiting is a sin. We are sinning and WE NEED TO STOP!" Tammy could not believe that she had just raised her voice. Apparently, Helen could not believe it either, from the shocked look on her face.
Helen grimaced, "How long have you been feeling like this?"
Tammy looked sad because she had bee feeling like this for far too long. She told Helen, "Girl, for too long. I always feel like crap after I leave you all and we have talked about people. I try hard not to gossip with you all, but it is hard. I got myself into this mess by telling you all the things I knew. I should have never done that. The stuff I knew, I didn't even want to know, but I knew. I want out of this mess now, and the only way out is to stop hanging with you all. I love all of you all, even Angela. I want to keep hanging out with you all, but I can't do that if we keep talking about people. I have to do this for me. I don't want to go to hell for talking about people. Of all things to go to hell for, talking about people ain't worth it. I just wanna be right."
Tammy stood up, grabbed her Bible, went over by Helen, and sat down beside her. Tammy opened the Bible and began to show Helen scriptures that pertained to GOSSIPING.
Proverbs 16:27 says, An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire.
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy, in Psalms 101:5.
A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different, in Ecclesiastes 10:11.
Proverbs 18:8 says, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Helen just sat there. She could not believe her ears. It was a mouthful. They were only "SHARING" information. They were not hurting anyone after all. They usually only talked about celebrities or well-known people. It was not their fault that famous folk put themselves out there and did stuff they had no business doing.
Tammy stared at Helen. Tammy hoped that her words had hit home with Helen. After all, Tammy was only saying what the Bible already said. It was probably too little, too late. All the gossiping she had done, was there forgiveness for her? Tammy prayed that God touched Helen's heart.
Helen shook her head. She was trying to sort through everything that Tammy had said and read. Helen thought, "That girl is making a big deal out of nothing. It ain't even that serious."
Helen's mind went blank for a moment. A picture of her sister popped in her head. Helen rumored how a rumor that her sister was pregnant almost caused her sister to commit suicide. Helen started crying as she thought, "Lord, we are doing wrong."
Tammy was staring out her patio door when she heard Helen crying. Tammy turned and looked at Helen. Tammy asked, "Are you okay?" Helen said, "No, I am not. Girl, we have been sinning."
Tammy began to pray with Helen. They prayed for over twenty minutes.
When they finished praying, Helen asked Tammy to write down the scriptures that they had read earlier. Helen was on a mission to save the Cafe Sisters. Even if she could not keep the group together, she wanted to get the other girls to stop gossiping.Labels: Gossip |
| posted by Mrs. Boone @ 10:07 PM |
| All scripture used here are found in the
King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
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| 1.25.2007 |
| Collier City |
Tammy started her car. It was 5:38 PM. She was late leaving her job because her manager had asked her to work on a project that was not due until the following week. Tammy's manager was like that. The manager always had to have everything done a week ahead of time. The manager got on her subordinates nerves, but upper management loved the woman.
Tammy pulled out of the parking lot. She had a long drive home, being that she lived on the western end of Collier City, and she worked on the eastern end of Collier City. It was a long drive, but a scenic ride.
Tammy pulled onto the street and got into the flow of traffic. It was busy still. She put her Carver Boone CD in the CD player. Regardless of the dirt she knew about Carver, she still enjoyed his music ministry.
Tammy let the must primate her car and her spirit as she got settled in for the long ride home. Carver's music was blessing her soul already.
Tammy finally reached the interstate after 10 minutes of driving. She set the cruise control once she got into the flow of traffic and coasted. The first 30 minutes of the ride was usually easy because she was going in the opposite direction of the traffic, which was cool.
She enjoyed the scenery of Collier City. The skyline was full of elegant office buildings, tall, short, and medium height. Some were at an angle, some were straight, and some had curved domes. The buildings littered the terrain with all kinds of earth tones.
Collier City was an excellent city to live in. It had a rich history and plenty of money. It had an excellent art district and boasted of one of the best public school systems in the state.
Collier City had been around for over 150 years. It started small, but grew rapidly. The founders of the city insisted that each citizen of the city contribute to its upkeep and appearance, no matter what their lot in life. It was the law in Collier City; you had to keep your domicile neat. A reward was given to anyone who reported a ghastly looking residence.
The city was home to four of the largest churches in the state. Highway of Glory Pentecostal Church, Wheatly Street Church of God in Christ, Rainer Avenue Baptist Church, and Grace African-Methodist Church. The pastor's of the churches were known all over the state. With a combined membership of over 400,000 people, these four churches held some power in the city. Oddly enough, all four churches were predominately African-American in membership.
Collier City had the richest government of the state. The mayor was a former lawyer and judge. The city council was comprised of former lawyers and business people. The city had a population that supported the government wholeheartedly.
The city usually had a voter turnout of over 85% at each election. The city spent a lot of money on voter registration and voter care. They had free bus and van services for its residents to get to the polling stations. Each high school student that was turning 18 had to attend a mandatory assembly at their school where they were talked to about the importance of voting and then given the opportunity to register to vote. Collier City was a city that loved its citizens.
The city boasted of a beautiful bridge that was located at the entrance of the city. The bridge hung the length of the part of the Maddocha River that sat in Collier City. The bridge had been a tourist attraction of the city for many years.
Collier City had architecture unlike any other city in the state. The city had been designed by young, innovative architects from its inception. The best architects in the state came from Collier City. It had the best two universities in the state for engineering and architecture. The Who's Who of architecture had traveled through Collier City.
The downtown landscape was filled with tall buildings shaped in various shapes. It was often fun for children to give the buildings names based on their roof shapes.
"That's the lipstick building."
"That's the pencil building."
"That's the fan building."
The residential areas of Collier City were just as beautiful. Many of the houses had the same style, but the colors ranged from white to red to purple and pink. Even the lower income areas of the city were kept up and clean. That was the law in Collier City. "All lawns had to be neatly cut and well-maintained. To help with this effort, young men ages 13-16 were recruited, trained, and paid to mow the lawns of anyone who requested them. These young men were highly trained and many of them went into the landscaping business.
There were so many programs available to the youth of the city that it had the lowest gang and crime rate in the state. Most of the churches in the city had youth programs that were coordinated with the city's youth programs. Juveniles in Collier City did not like to get into trouble because they would have to face the toughest juvenile court system in the state.
The adult crime rate was low as well. Adult criminals were tolerated even less than juvenile criminals were. Traffic violations had been at a record low for the past 5 years. There was a traffic court judge in town and he did not play around when it came to giving traffic violators stiff penalties.
The apartment homes in Collier City were wonderful. The apartment complexes had to be kept up as well as the individual residences were kept up. Apartment complexes received fines if they did not meet the standards that the city government had established.
Collier City was an excellent city to live in.
The easy part of Tammy's ride was over. She exited off the interstate onto the county highway. Traffic was bumper to bumper. This was normal on the highway on Friday evenings. Tammy could never figure out why this was. You would have thought that people would leave work early on Fridays.
Tammy removed the Carver Boone CD from the CD player to replace it with Oscar Eastman's CD. Oscar was a better singer than Carver was, but Tammy preferred Carver's style of music. Tammy shook her head as she thought about how many times she had ran Carver and Oscar down. She was an awful person. She listened to their music and dogged them out without a second thought.
"God, please forgive me."
Tammy fought back her tears. She needed to see clearly to drive home in the traffic.
She grabbed her cellphone and dialed Helen's number. Helen did not answer the phone. Tammy started to call her mother, but that would not work at all. Tammy would have had to pull over on the side of the road and cry if she talked to her mother.
Tammy looked at the outlet mall as she drove by it. The mall was massive. Every store that you could think of was a part of the outlet. The mall was the best thing about Tammy's daily drive home; she could stop by the mall on her way home.
Thinking about shopping, made Tammy feel better. Soon, Tammy had driven past the mall and all she had to keep her company were the office buildings, trees, and sounds of Oscar Eastman.
Oscar's voice was tormenting her more than ministering to her. She was tired of being tormented. If only she had not talked about Oscar as if he was a dog, she would not be enduring this torture. She clicked the radio button on her stereo. She could not take anymore of Oscar.
"Lord, have mercy. Why is this man tormenting me?"
Oscar's latest song was playing on the radio. Tammy had to wipe her eyes. She did not even know Oscar Eastman, why was she feeling so guilty.
Tammy pressed her brakes because traffic was at a standstill. Traffic usually slowed down at this time because she was near Restaurant Town, which the area was called because there were 16 fast food places and 13 restaurants in the area. Most drivers were trying to get over to the right-hand lane so that they could exit and get to the restaurants. Tammy could never figure out why people waited so late to get over; three miles earlier, there was a sign that said, "Restaurant Town, 3 Miles Ahead," on the side of the highway.
Tammy thought about stopping and getting something to eat, herself. She was not hungry, but she did not want to go home. She did not do it, though; she was in the far left lane and she did not feel like wrestling with the traffic. She journeyed on home.
After 20 more minutes of being on the highway, Tammy came to her turn. She made the left turn off the highway to the street that would take her home. She had another 15 minutes before she got home.
She wondered what disaster awaited her at home.Labels: Gossip |
| posted by Me @ 2:45 PM |
| All scripture used here are found in the
King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
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| 1.24.2007 |
| Karen Valwood |
Karen Valwood hung up her cellphone. She did not have her hands free set with her, so she did not want to talk on her cellphone any longer, Collier City had a hands free law and did not want to get a ticket, since the city had been cracking down on people driving while talking on their cellphones. She wished that she would remember to bring her earpiece with her. Karen should her head as she made a mental note to leave her earpiece in the car from now on.
Karen looked at her mocha chocolate colored face in the rear view mirror of her car. She had a small pimple on her nose. She hated to get those. She knew she had eaten too much chocolate lately. Nevertheless, she could not help it; she had a thing for Almond Joy candy bars. She had the candy bars stashed everywhere; in her purse, at her desk, and because it was cooler outside, she had them in her glove box in the car. She needed on today. She reached toward the glove box, opened it up, and grabbed an Almond Joy. She had to straighten her car back up in the lane because she was veering into the left-hand lane. The guy beside her made a face at her. She smiled at him as she mumbled, "Jerk!"
Karen was going crazy, thinking about the email she had received from Tammy.
Dear Karen,
I am writing this letter to do several things. First, to apologize for telling all of you all's business the other day. I should not have done that.
Second, I no longer want to be a part of this group. Of the past few weeks, hanging out with you all is not fun. All we do is talk about people. I am tired of talking about people. It was fun at first, but now it is just down right wrong. I am at fault, too. I should have never told you all the things I told you. It felt good to be the one that knew everyone's business, but now, I do not even want to know my own business much less anyone else's business. I took a long look at myself in the mirror and I did not like what I saw. This will probably cause me all kinds of trouble, but I am willing to take that chance because I want my soul to be saved.
I wish only the best for you all. I mean no harm by this letter. I will not cause you all any harm. It is my hope that you all will cause me no harm. I have asked God to forgive me. I am asking each of you to forgive me.
Be Blessed,
Tammy
How could Tammy have written such a crazy email? Karen certainly did not understand what Tammy was saying. So what, they "SHARED" information about various people from time to time. It was not as if they were hurting anyone. The Cafe Sisters kept the information amongst themselves. They never told anyone outside the group, at least, Karen had not told anyone. What was the harm?
Karen laughed as she thought about the name Tammy had given their group, The Cafe Sisters. It was a cute name, too. They even had t-shirts with the name on it and a logo that Karen had designed herself. How could Tammy not want to be a part of the group anymore? Tammy was the one who had made the group fun. Before Tammy joined the group, all Angela, Helen, Mary, and Karen ever did was sit around and talk about people. Once Tammy joined, she insisted that they go do stuff. The Cafe Sisters started going shopping, going to museums, going to festivals, and going to sporting events. It had been fun. However, within the last few months, they had resorted back to their old ways, going the Cafe Ultra and just talking about people.
Karen shook her head as she thought, "Lord have mercy. Tammy is right, all we do is gossip. Good grief. I can't blame her for wanting out of the group. We are shameless."
Karen yelled, "Watch out, nut!" at a car that was moving over into her lane.
She could not believe that Tammy was right. Karen shook her head. She was half-tempted to call Angela because Angela would have reassured Karen that they were doing not wrong. "Man, I can't stand that cellphone law," Karen said aloud. She was expecting someone to give her an Amen, but no one did.
Karen thought about the dynamics of the Cafe Sisters. Angela Hines was the alpha female. She always had to have things her way. Before Tammy joined the group, Angela always got her way because the other three ladies were scared of Angela. But Tammy, she was not scared of Angela at all. Karen was amazed at and in awe of Tammy for that.
Helen Ware was the comedienne of the group. Helen could diffuse any situation with humor. She had diffused many arguments between angel and Tammy. Helen was closet with Tammy. They hung out together more than any of the five women. This was amazing, because Helen had a hard time being close to any woman since her childhood and life long friend had died two years ago.
Mary Regal was the mediator of the group. She was always getting everyone to calm down and apologize to each other, whether they wanted to or not. Lately, though, Mary always seemed tired and sickly. Karen had asked Mary on more than one occasion was she sick. Mary always replied, "I'm alright. I'm just a little tired. That's all." Karen never really believed Mary. Within that same time, Mary had been getting closer to Tammy. Maybe that was Tammy's ploy, to break up the Cafe Sisters. Who knew what was going on? Mary and Tammy acted as if they shared a secret no one else knew. Mary was a sweet person. Karen did not want her to be hurt by Tammy.
Tammy Andrews was the spiritual compass of the group. She always had a scripture, sermon, or inspirational note for the group. Angela proudly referred to Tammy as Sister Mother Evangelist Preacher Goodness Almighty. Everyone in the group but Tammy found it funny. Tammy shrugged the name off, just like she shrugged off most of what Angela said. Tammy remembered everyone's birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days. She always sent them a card in the mail. Tammy even sent "Just Because" cards to everyone, including Angela. Tammy was cool like that.
The thought of loosing a friend like Tammy almost made Karen cry. Tammy was a good friend. Tammy had never told any of the secrets that the ladies had confided in her. Life without Tammy was going to be rough, very rough.
Karen, Mary, and Helen could always side with Tammy and push Angela out of the group. But that would start a war unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Angela was mean spirited and she was good at getting back at folk she thought had done her wrong. Plus, Tammy would not let them do that. Tammy would rather leave the group than to start a fight. Tammy was cool like that.
Karen thought about herself. She was the quietest person of the group. She rarely had much to say. She was soft-spoken and did not like conflict that much. But that did not matter much to Karen because she took more pride in her role as the group's cook.
Karen was an excellent cook. Her waistline was proof of that. She was famous for her hand-made pizzas. Everyone at her church and job were always paying her to make them pizzas. One more than one occasion, Tammy had suggested that Karen open her own pizza joint, but Angela always dampened that dream by saying, "That girl can't run no business. She ain't nothing but a cook. Quit filling her head with nonsense!"
Karen shook her head. The more she thought about it, the clearer it became, Angela needed to be the one leaving the group, not Tammy.
"Why is this happening now? Why had Tammy chosen to do this now? What was going to happen to the Cafe Sisters?"
All these questions ran through Karen's mind. This was going to be a mess, a big mess. Karen purposed in her heart to come up with a way to save the Cafe Sisters.Labels: Gossip |
| posted by Me @ 10:30 AM |
| All scripture used here are found in the
King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. |
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