The Day Before El Tap

Chapter 9 -

It was late when Davy went to Danny’s and Davy knew Danny was having thoughts similar to what he was experiencing, because even as late as it was, Danny was outside in one of the white oak rocking chairs slowly moving back and forth.
“It’s getting too big, isn’t it?” Davy asked.
“Yep.”
“But it’s doing good.”
“Doing good, hell, it’s doing great.”
“You want to let’s find an elementary school and go back to punching bullies in the nose.”
“You know the answer to that as well as I do.”
“Yep, I know. It would be nice.”
“What’s wrong with us?”
“I don’t know, Davy. Every kid in seminary dreams of one day having a church with people lined up out the door begging to get in.”
“Yep, and we’ve got it, and don’t want it. We must be sick, really sick.”
“You remember how thankful those people at Greenwood Village were after we took care of that gang?”
“Oh yes, I think about it all the time.”
“You think about the party the night they gave us the church?”
“Obviously, you do too.”
“Oh yes, my God, oh yes.”
“Couldn’t we just slip away and –“
”No, Davy, I believe it’s gone too far. The church and all it stands for are too good, too big. I believe it is our destiny.”
“Destiny,” smiled Davy, “Who would have ever thought we would have a destiny?”
“Billy-Bob has two guys who want to join us.”
“Are they any good?”
“He says they are and Bubba agrees.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
“Me too,” agreed Davy. “You know, one day we are going to have to find a name for this new fangled faith, or religion, or whatever it is, did we ever decide which it is?”
“Not that I recall, and you’re right. We need to call it something and I’ve thought about it.”
“What did you come up with?”
“Not a thing. All the good names are taken.”
“Yep.”
“I don’t like Catholic, too much baggage there.”
“True, and Baptist has too many negatives.”
“I love ‘Church of God’ but that shouts uneducated and backwards and all that speaking in tongues crap.”
“True, besides, it’s taken. You got any drinks in the refrigerator?”
“Just stocked up. Go get you one.”
“Think I will,” said Davy as he stood and went inside.
When he came out, he popped the top on a can. “You know, Danny, what was the sweetest most innocent name you’ve ever seen on a church. I mean a name that was so innocent that it’s entirely pure.”
“I would have to say ‘Saint Davy’s and Saint Danny’s Baptist Episcopal Church’.”
“And I would agree. And, it’s grown what, a thousand fold since that night?”
“At least.”
“So if it works, don’t fix it.”
“Very true, but I’m not an Episcopal priest any more, I don’t guess. And I assume you are no longer a Baptist minister–“
”And you know something, Danny, I don’t give a damn. Bubba’s not a bishop any more, Billy-Bob and Dominick haven’t been ordained and I’m sure the new guys who talked to Billy-Bob aren’t ordained. That’s seven of us who aren’t anything. But you know something? Jesus had a dozen guys who weren’t anything. I think it was a pretty good example to follow.”
“Are you saying the Baptist Episcopal Church seems to be doing well?”
“No, Father Danny, I’m saying the Baptist Episcopal Church seems to be doing very well. And, as far as our titles, you were made a priest. I was made a minister. And if I recollect correctly, it was Father Daniel West, not Father Daniel West of the Episcopal church–“
”And it was Reverend David Tate,” said Danny, “Not Reverend Davy Tate of the Baptist church.”
“Right, Father West.”
“Right too, Reverend Tate.”
“I believe we’ve answered our question about our titles.”
“It does sound like it, Father West. The guys can call themselves whatever they like, whatever they’re comfortable with.”
“Sounds good to me. Reverend Billy-Bob of the Baptist Episcopal Church and Father Bubba of the same organization.”
“Is this a new milestone, Preacher Tate?”
Davy just smiled.
“I still wouldn’t mind busting a drug dealer or a pimp or two every now and then.”
“No, that certainly does have some appeal.”
“So, every now and then we’ll maybe bloody some bully’s nose?”
“Every now and then.”
“Should we buy a gun?” asked Davy.
“I don’t think so. The bullies are the ones with the guns. We don’t want to be bullies do we?”
“No. God gave us a brain. Let's use it.”