A Dirty Trick

Two years ago when the church I was attending decided to have a photo directory printed, I dutifully signed up for a time to have my picture made and smiled my best smile for the camera. Heck, I went all out and even bought a set of pictures for Mom, Dad, and all the G'rents. But, this year, when our church announced plans for a pictoral directory, I turned on my selective hearing and chose to ignore the announcements about signing up for times to have my picture made. Then, when they had an unknown lady from the photography company call my home to make me aware that I had not signed up for a photo op yet, I accidentally erased the message before I could write down the number to call her back. With photos scheduled less than a week away, I really thought I was in the clear. Then, tonight, I was home alone for a quiet evening of watching TV and cookie baking, when the sucker punch came. My cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but I had no reason to suspect anything amiss, so I answered it. A sweet sounding elderly gentleman's voice greets me, and identifies himself as "Mr. Weir from Meadowridge Baptist Church." The name doesn't ring a bell, but I know that I don't know everyone, so I continue listening to find out how I can help him. He then mentions the name of a friend's dad, a leader in our senior adult Sunday School department. He says, "Mr. Ballard and I are putting together the church pictoral directory project, and we are contacting all of our members who have not signed up to have their picture made to be sure you get into the directory." Caught! "Yes sir," I reply politely, so he coninues, "You see, Kristen, it's important for people like me who don't have such a good memory to have a picture to put with a name so that we can get to know the members of our church. I know you want to help us out with this." The problem was, he was completely sincere. He didn't even know he was foiling my plan. It was a dirty, dirty trick.