A New Day by Nancy Hopper

anyway.  No point in us carrying this discussion any further, is there?”
                  She gave him a baleful look.  “You just dragged me out here to dig at me where no one could help me.” she accused.  “You overbearing, insufferable beast!”
         Gary rolled his eyes, and turned to walk back toward the van.
         “ Disgusting, male chauvinist, puking pig!” she hurled at his back.
         At the piercing look Gary tossed over his shoulder, she shut her mouth.  He looked rather mutinous for a moment; and she did need a way home.
         She trailed him on the way back, having to stroll quite slowly; with nothing but his back to look at.  There was no conversation.
         As they climbed the path to the van, a huge, black and white bird with weird eyes and a thick, orange beak fluttered across the path before Tasha's face.  She screamed brilliantly.
         Gary turned, saw the bird flying away, and laughed heartily. 
         “ Oh, my God!  What the hell was that ?” she shrieked.
         “ It's just a Puffin.  It won't hurt you.” he assured her with mirth.
         “ A what?” she snapped
         “ A Puffin .” he repeated.  “They nest in the cliffs above the beach.  It was probably more scared than you were.”
         “ How reassuring.”  she growled.
         Gary just shrugged, and continued up the path.      
         Tasha’s slow burn had become a raging bonfire by the time he opened her van door, and steadied her elbow with an exaggerated display of chivalry.  She settled in, and smiled as a new tactic occurred to her.
         “ You know, Gary, I just don’t understand why you insist upon playing church.  You could do so much more.” she said matter-of-factly.
         “ More?” Gary repeated with a deep growl.  “Tasha, I don’t expect you to understand my dedication to the Lord, but it’s my whole life.  There is absolutely nothing I could ever do that would be more meaningful -- or have more value – than to serve Him and His people.”
         She widened her eyes.  “Well, then.  Why not go big, if that’s the way you feel about it?  You could be famous, you know, with your looks, and your beautiful voice.”
         “ Thanks, but bigger isn’t necessarily better.” 
         “ Hogwash!  I’m surprised at you!  I thought it was all about ‘saving souls for Christ’?  How could bigger not be better?  The more people who see you, the more people you can sell your religion to.”
         “ Tasha,” Gary warned evenly, “Let's just drop it.”
         “ Touchy, touchy!  Lighten up, Gary, I’m just trying to help you out.”
         “ I don’t recall asking for your help, Tasha.” he countered lightly.
         “ Well, excuse me!  I might have offered you a sizable donation, if you’d been decent to me.”
         To her chagrin, Gary laughed heartily.  “You’re serious, aren't you?  Do you really think you can manipulate me with your money?  Money doesn’t make up the Kingdom of God, Tasha.  People do.”
         Tasha glared at him, but her curiosity had been aroused.  So he didn’t want her money, then?  What preacher didn’t want money?”  She narrowed her eyes, and smiled.  Perhaps she could test his appetite.
         “ Tasha, don’t get me wrong.  Money is a great tool.  The thing is, that the Lord has me right where He wants me.  I don’t have to promote myself.   And, too, whatever is needed, He is able to provide.”
         “ He’s the God of everything, and all the resources in the world are at His disposal.  I have need of nothing.  So, I do appreciate your thoughtfulness for me, and your desire to help me in my career.  But to me, it’s not a career in the typical sense.  I’m just doing what I feel I have to do.”
         She smiled at him uncertainly, but it faded quickly.  This was a different breed of