Bringing in the Thieves by Lora Lee

Author:Lora Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks Inc.
Published: 2019-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Where were the kids? I stood in front of the church Thursday evening tapping my foot while I worked on controlling my nervousness. I hadn’t been back inside the church since the night of the murder. Miss Nettie had told me the baptismal services scheduled for next month had been canceled until further notice. Seems some of the church members felt the baptistery needed renovating, whatever that entailed.

In light of the recent social media blitz regarding the alleged murder and my TV debut in the local reporter’s video at the church, The Joyful Noise had been requested by the deacons to present a mini-preview of their musical concert. Right now those seven men were waiting in the conference room, and my singers were nowhere in sight. Nowhere!

I couldn’t believe the kids were throwing away all the hard work they’d done by not showing up. Didn’t they understand the importance of tonight’s audition? I took one more look down the empty street before I turned and walked up the steps. The deacons had been waiting ten minutes. I owed them an explanation. With a sigh, I pulled open the door to the sanctuary.

“Yo! Teach! Wait up!”

I turned around at the shout. Six teens in camo-type clothing advanced toward me like an assault battalion on a mission. I grinned in spite of my annoyance at their late arrival. They were supposed to practice their songs after school and meet me here tonight at seven. From what they were wearing I was pretty certain they’d been shopping for outfits to wear, instead. I couldn’t help smiling at the oddly assorted bunch. In my heart, they were my motley crew.

I motioned for them to hurry, relieved that they’d shown up at all. At our last rehearsal, my popularity rating took a dive when I suggested using gospel songs as the group’s identifying brand of music. Their shocked expressions were enough to let me know how they really felt.

Bruno, Granville, and Wesley, wearing baggy pants and camo-printed shirts, waved and shouted hellos. Behind them, J’Nell, Joy, and Rosella hurried to catch up. Their identical Goth-black knit tank tops, ankle-length camo-print skirts, and black rubber flip-flops were only outclassed by the green, glittery polish adorning their fingernails and toenails.

J’Nell and Joy had very different fashion tastes for twins. J’Nell sported a nose ring, smudged, dark eye makeup, and black streaks in her blond, spiked hair. Joy’s appearance was softer and innocent of any makeup. Her straight, darker-blond hair was shoulder-length and pulled back with a green plastic headband.

Rosella, much smaller and younger than the twins, had to hike up her skirt to keep it from dragging on the ground when she ran. A dark cap of tight, springy curls covered her perfectly-shaped head, complimenting her beautiful café au lait skin. A few more years and Wow! She’d be a knockout beauty.

“I see y’all have been shopping at Twice Loved again. Great outfits, by the way.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” The girls whirled around in unison, twirling their skirts.

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