Part 28 (1/2)
She reaches back into her bag and grabs a pad of paper and a charcoal pencil. Opening the pad, she brushes the page three times with the back of her hand and begins making bold strokes. F.M. sits up straighter in the driver's seat.
Kate smiles at him. ”Relax.”
”Easy for you to say. You're not the one being stared at.”
”F.M., do you ever take that hat off?”
”To shower, to sleep, and in church. That's it.”
”You go to church?”
”Of course I do. Don't you?”
”Nope. Never been.”
”Not even when you were a kid?”
”Nope.”
”Wanna go with me on Sunday?”
”I hope you're kidding.”
”It's fun.”
”Fun? Church?”
”Afraid to find out?”
”Not me.”
Everyone gathering outside the Baptist church is very dressed up. Kate, still in her now very wrinkled club clothes, feels awkward and out of place. F.M. is still wearing jeans, but his hat is off, his hair combed neatly, and he has a sport coat on. They are walking toward the entrance to the church.
Kate clutches at F.M.'s arm. ”I don't think I can do this.”
”Why not?”
”Look at me!”
”You look fine.”
”What I look like is weird next to these people.”
A black woman approaches, wearing a large hat, gloves, and a frilly dress-her Sunday best. She's smiling. ”Hi there!”
”h.e.l.lo.” F.M. flashes his grin in response.
”Haven't seen you two around before.”