We made it to New Rainbow inside of fifteen minutes as traffic was still light.  The church had already begun filling with congregation members so, quickly, Gerry and I made our way towards the front pews.
   When we passed the statue holding the urn of anointing oil, I stopped to anoint myself.  Gerry mimicked and I smiled.  "See, Gerry," I whispered, " you do know how to show contrition."
   "Um, excuse me?  I mean I have been to church before!  I just ain't never been to this one."
   We took our seats and I looked over to Gerry, "Are you okay?  Can you see from here?"
   "Kye, I mean damn!  Am I blind or something?  We are sitting in the front of the damn church!  Relax!  I'm fine!  Smch!"  When he sucked his teeth, I noticed his mouth.  "Gerry, why did you put so much gloss on your lips?"
   "Girl, that ain't gloss.  I got too much anointing oil on my finger, so I rubbed the excess on my lips."
Appalled, I opened the clasp on my hand purse and handed him a tissue, "Gerry, rub some of that shit off your lips!"
   "No!  And stop cussing in church, Kye!"
   "Gerry, wipe it off now!"
   "I said no, gotdamnit!  Now hush and leave me the fuck alone!  Church is starting."
   Sandy delivered the church announcements, as well as the visitors' greeting.  Then, she walked her signature sashay back to her seat in the pulpit.
   "Oooo, Kye!"  Gerry leaned over to my ear.  "Did you see them pumps she had on?  You know it took at least ten people's tithes to pay for them!  They're fierce girl!"
   "You ain't never lied," I giggled.  "Now hush!" and turned to him with an index finger placed over my lips.
   "Alright, alright!" he whispered back.  "I just thought I'd give you something to think about since I know they'll be passing a collection plate around at some point.  Oh, and just so you know, all I can spare is five dollars.  Matter fact, three-fifty; I need the rest to buy me a newspaper when we get out of here."  All I could do was sigh.
   Next to arrive at the altar was Deacon Harding.  He led the men's music ministry.  "Good morning church!  It's time to stand up and give praise!"  Then, he turned from the podium to face the choir and gestured the men to their feet by lifting his hands.
   "Oh, I feel…"  Deacon Harding opened in song, and the men joined in, "like praising, praising Him!"
   "Oooo, Kye!  We know this song!  Remember?  Nana's church choir used to sing this one all the time!"  Gerry rose from his seat and participated in praise with wide flamboyant hand claps.
   Somewhere, midway through the song, Gerry had spotted Alex, among the sea of purple chorus robes, and nudged me, "Oooo, Kye!  Look at your silly man up there trying to fake like he's really singing."  Gerry waved an arm in the air and caught Alex's attention.  Then he mouthed, "Nigga stop front'n!  You're not really singing.  What you're doing is called lllll-lip-uh sssss-syncing-uh!"  All I could think to do was hide my face in my hands.
   After the choir's performance, before he sat back down, Gerry took a second to glance over his shoulder at the pews behind ours.
   "Uh, lookahere, Kye.  Just that quick, right behind us, I counted fourteen."
   "What?"
   "You heard me; fourteen!"
   "Fourteen what, Gerry?"
   "Fourteen sexy men checking me out, girl!"