People and their problems were complicated, and spouting scripture at them had never seemed like an appropriate response to Denny. Pastor Johnson had advised patience and listening.

“They solve their own problems,” he had said. “You act as a sounding board, and in time they’ll figure it out for themselves.”

Desperate for further education on the subject, Denny invested in a library of counseling and psychology texts, which further confused him, for they presented a wide range of theories and techniques. With the questioning of Freud’s theories in the seventies, the field had been blown wide open, and there were models from passive to direct intervention to active confrontation. There were so many techniques and approaches to counseling these days, it would take years to explore all the possibilities.

Ida’s presence reminded him that he had made a mess of it with May McCorkle. Never mind. She had said that without his help she would never have had the courage to go to A-B Tech. That was good, wasn’t it? But what else would she say? All he remembered was the look on her face that day when Charlie arrived and saved his hide. What should he have said to May that day? How does any counselor handle a direct approach from a client? He hated that he had taken the coward’s way out. Denny assumed, incorrectly, that it was concern for May that brought Ida to his office.

Ida twisted her handkerchief into a knot, untwisted it, and twisted it again.

Perspiration coated Denny’s upper lip and dampened his armpits. He waited. Lord, but waiting for someone to speak was hard.

“I done gone and done a terrible thing,” Ida said.

Denny leaned forward. “I’m listening.”

“I done lied. I boldface lied in God’s church.”

“You lied? What did you lie about?”

“I didn’t tell no one that I was scammed good as the next one. That scammer fellow talked me out of a lot of money, too.” Her face vanished behind a large, plaid handkerchief, and she blew her nose. “I been sick regular with first one thing and then another. It’s gonna kill me if I don’t confess.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, I done said it.”

“Did anyone in church ask you directly if you had been scammed, Ida?”

“Well no, they didn’t.” He knew nothing of her conversation with June and Eddy, and she wasn’t about to tell him.

“You didn’t lie, then,” he said.