“Oh?”
“Yes. I recently joined a Lutheran church.” She held up her hand. “You don’t have to join, obviously. But it’s important to me. And I can’t date someone who doesn’t understand.”
“You’re still Christian, huh?”
“This church is pretty great. Female pastor.”
“Oh?”
“Right? I was shocked, too! Things are so different from how I grew up and the last church I was in. I’ve got this friend named Mick there who moonlights as a ‘drag queen.’ Maybe we can go to one of her shows sometimes.”
“Sounds pretty progressive for protestants. You sure they’re not Unitarians?”
“They’re a fun bunch. Exactly what I needed for some volunteer opportunities that make me feel like I’m doing… something. Anyway, we’re doing a ‘Trunk or Treat’ thing this weekend, if you would like to come help out.”
“Oh, well, that’s…”
“Absolutely no pressure. No proselytizing. Just a fun place for kids to dress up and play some games for candy before the main event on Halloween.”
“Thel, I haven’t done a church thing since I was a little kid and didn’t have a choice.”
“Just come meet them, huh? I bet they’ll love you.”
“I’m butch as fuck, Thel.”
“So? So’s Pastor Liz’s sister and some woman named Tina. Only issue I have with her is that I tried to sit in her row the first time I went, and she chewed me out like I needed my hand swatted. So, we don’t really get along, but she and her wife fit right in. Plaid flannel and all.” Thelma had learned that it was a big lesbian fashion thing now and couldn’t wait to collect some for winter.
“Well, maybe…”
“Oh!” Thelma pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’ve got one of these now. How about you give me your number? I can text now!”
“That’s… adorable… and a Nokia?”
“Tell you what.” Thelma approached, the natural flirt in her finally flexing some muscles now that she and Gretchen were talking again. “Let’s exchange numbers. You come with me this Saturday. And I can almost guarantee you’ll get a kiss for your troubles.”
“Okay, but…”
“Hm?”
“I gotta kiss you on church grounds. Dunno, Thel, there’s some part of me that’s gotta be transgressive if I’m going out with a church girl. Macking on her there would besodope.”
Thelma had no idea what those words in the last sentence meant… but she got the message, loud and clear.
“Can’t wait.”
“Wouldn’t mind doing some other things behind that church, too.”
Thelma took a step back before Gretchen could brush a hand against her. “Can’t wait,” she repeated in a sultry whisper.
“My God, woman… the things I could do to you…”
Thelma choked on what that did to her.Sandy once said something just like that.“You remind me of someone,” she said.
“Who? Don’t say your late husband.”
“No, no. Just… someone I enjoyed sleeping with. Someone with a death grip like the Devil who wouldn’t let me go.”
She winked. Gretchen almost passed out on the pavement, and that was the image Thelma took with her to her bedside prayers that night.
