The "Playboy Magazine" Story

It was an ordinary day. I had just come home from teaching at MTHS and needed to make a delivery to our church, St. James Episcopal. From time to time I would print envelopes, bulletins, stationery, brochures or what ever was needed for the church. I had a few boxes of envelopes with me today and came home to pick up my youngest, Tad, who enjoyed riding with me to church for my deliveries. We parked behind the church in the lot reserved for church personnel. I guess I fit into that category today. After walking through the historical archway next to our rectory, we entered the front door of the parish house. Up the few steps and into the parish house office where Evelyn B. greeted us and made a big fuss over Tad as she always did. I looked across the hall and saw our minister, Rev. Stan I. in his office. Stan was a favorite with all our kids. He always had a story to share with them. He was also a big baseball fan and his father had been a professional umpire for some years. He looked up from his reading, saw us in the hall and motioned for us to come into his office for a visit. Tad seemed interested in sharing something with Evelyn so I headed over to see Stan by myself. I sat in a chair in front of his desk and we began a conversation. Shortly, Evelyn entered his office holding Tad’s hand and announced that Tad had something he wanted to tell Stan. “OK, Tad. What would you like to share with me today?” Stan asked him. “My Dad has a magazine with naked women in it!” was his reply. Wow!! What to do. Needless to say, I turned about 10 shades of RED. I have absolutely no recollection of what I said or did next. I do remember walking in the door at home and telling my wife I think I am in trouble at church. Luckily this was on a Monday and I had six more days for everything to cool off at church. Sunday rolled around and we made our way to church. Sat in our same pew we always did. After the Children’s Sermon, the kids left for Sunday School. It was at this time that the lady behind me touched my shoulder and said, “I hear you have an interesting magazine at home.” I felt myself turning crimson and I turned around to see many smiling, almost laughing faces looking at me. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.