Life, Etc. -- Seven

          Megan awoke Friday morning to a cold, damp apartment.  During the night she’d heard rain every time she turned over, and now looking out from her deck only reinforced her sense of gloom as low clouds and a gray haze covered the horizon.  And for dessert we’ll have Roland Fisher….

At 10 a.m. sharp, Mr. Fisher walked through the door of the Book ‘n Brew.  “Hello, Mr. Fisher, could I get you a cup of coffee?”  Gilly gave a low growl as the man walked over to the counter.  I’ve always had great confidence in Gilly’s character judgment….

Taken aback by the greeting, Roland cleared his throat and mumbled, “Ah, thank you, make it black.”

As Megan walked to the coffee maker, the front door opened and in walked  Stephen Forbes.  O brother!  Now I really get bombarded!

The pastor smiled and nodded.  “Well, Mr. Fisher, fancy meeting you here!  I came in yesterday to meet Megan.  Isn’t this a great shop?”

Mr. Fisher looked at him aghast.  “Pastor, I don’t think you’ve probably seen the entire store.”

“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.  But I intend to look further this morning.”  At that the pastor walked to the back of the store.

 

Megan brought the coffee to Roland Fisher and offered him a seat behind the counter.  “Mr. Fisher, we can talk until a customer needs help.  I thought Chris would be here, but he has a bad cold.”

“Yes, of course,” he responded.  “Let’s get started.  I am here to show you from Scripture that many of the books you have in this store clearly do not contain truth.”

“That’s right, Mr. Fisher.  I have a very large fiction section.  Fiction writers are known as professional liars!”   She smiled at her own joke.  No laughter came from him.

“No, no, Mrs. Meagher-Levy.  I’m talking about the New Age/Metaphysical section as well as the books on Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and several others religions that have no part in God’s kingdom.  They are all the work of Satan.  You must get rid of this heresy immediately.”

OK, Megan, this is your time to be the mature one.  Keep your cool! “Mr. Fisher, there is such thing as the First Amendment of the Constitution.  I am not promoting other religions.  I am just providing reading material for people to choose from.  Everyone in this country can make their own choice about what they want to believe.  It would be foolish of me to think that I have the right or power to decide for someone else what they can or cannot read.”

“But, Mrs. Meagher-Levy, don’t you see the responsibility you have as a book store owner?  Some people believe that if a book is available, then there is truth in it.”

“Mr. Fisher, I give people more credit than that.  I believe most people have a basic intelligence and they can decide for themselves.  I plan to keep the books I have in here, and also intend to purchase more as customers request them.”

Slowly Megan saw a change in Mr. Fisher’s expression.  He still appeared angry—jaw clenched and reddened face—yet she also detected something else as his eyes became large and starred back at her.  His body appeared to slump.  For all this aggression and hostility, Mr. Fisher’s world is threatened—perhaps my standing up to him is something he’s not used to, thought Megan.

 

She suddenly felt an intense sorrow for this man who wanted to appear so self-assured.  In fact Mr. Fisher reminded her a great deal of her grandfather—a man so filled with anger, who finally fell apart when he realized he no longer had anything to control.

When Roland Fisher stood up—he moved like an aged man.  “Mrs. Meagher-Levy, I will be back,” he said but without his former conviction.  Slowly he walked toward the door--defeat written in his body language.  Megan watched him leave, and then turned to see Stephen Forbes come around a long set of shelves toward her.  He smiled guiltily at Megan.

“A part of me wanted to come to your defense, but you stood your ground so well I didn’t know if I’d be a help or hindrance.”

“Well, to be perfectly honest, when I saw you come in I thought I’d

have two to battle.   You see, I have no intention of taking any books off my shelves unless a customer purchases them,” Megan stated in a firm tone.

          The pastor looked at his watch and started for the door.  “Megan, I’d really like for us to talk about all this, but I just remembered an appointment.  May I call you and set up a time?”

          “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.  I am not going to be intimidated.”  Again Megan’s voice sounded firm though she was aware of a thickness gathering in her throat and a stinging in her eyes.

           The story continues...