Overheard at Chipperfield's ... Part XXXVII ...

It was a quiet evening when The Rev, strolled in the door of Chipperfields. Clustered around the couches at the front were a number of the local paramedics along with Kriss and Anna. Spread across the table before them were piles of binders and textbooks. The Paramedics were helping Anna with her homework, Kriss was sitting with her fiance.

"Evening all," The Rev offered as a greeting as he walked by the couches.

A variety of greetings returned his, then everyone's attention returned to the books and binders on the table.

Behind the counter Bonnie was getting an order ready for a customer who was leaning on the counter, while Ross was busy behind the ice cream cooler assembling the third ice cream cone for a cluster of kids who had come in.

As Ross finished the order and handed it to the last kid, he looked up as The Rev sat down at the table in the corner where J-- was sitting, "Your usual?" Ross asked.

"Absolutely," returned The Rev as he watched the kids head out the door burdened with double scoop ice cream cones. His attention returned to Ross as he said, "Chipperfield's with a touch of cream ..."

"I got it," laughed Ross with a smirk.

As The Rev sat down, a sly smile had crossed J--'s face. He waited a moment then spoke, "So, I hear the Church is starting to rebuild this week?"

"Really?" answered The Rev, "that'll be news to the building committee and the architect."

"That so?" replied J--, as he took a sip of his coffee, "according to the gossip on the street, the Church is all gun-hoe and want to be in the new building by Christmas."

The Rev laughed, "Christmas of next year maybe," he stretched out the last word, "and of course we all know how accurate the gossip on the street is?"

"Yeah, did you hear I'm running for mayor?" Ross added as he came over set the coffee in front of the The Rev, and sat down himself at the table.

"Well, congratulations," laughed J--, "Does the current Mayor know?"

"Well, my guess is no," said Ross, feigning seriousness, "cause it came as a surprise to me too."

The three of them laughed, then The Rev spoke, "You know gossip and rumours are awful things aren't they."

"They can be fun," said J-- hopefully.

"But too often they are just malicious and hurtful," said Ross.

"That's true," said J--, "but they're fun when you know they aren't true and people are telling you that 'they heard it from so and so, who heard it from so and so, that this is what really happened ...' Then it's kind of fun to play along."

"As long as nobody gets hurt," added Ross.

"True enough," agreed J--.

"Too often though the gossip starts because somebody has an axe to grind, or just wants to make themselves feel important," said The Rev. "and truth becomes irrelevant."

"It's like all those stories in town about you?" laughed J--.

"Really?" asked The Rev. as he looked over his coffee, "Like what?"

"Oh, there's ssssoooo many," replied J-- smiling broadly, "I just don't know where to begin."

"How about with the truth?" said The Rev, with a smile.

"Yeah," said Ross, "that's a good place to begin."

"It's foreign and hostile territory for gossips though," said J-- still smiling.

"Ain't that right," said Ross.