That's the way prayer do. It's like electricity, it keeps things going.

Mother calls up the stairs to ask what in the world I'm typing up there all day and I holler down, 'Just typing up some notes from the Bible study. Just writing down all the things I love about Jesus.

And you call yourself a Christian,' were Hilly's words to me and I thought, God. When did I ever do that?

I'm tired of the rules," I say.

She already got the blue dress on I ironed this morning, the one with sixty-five pleats on the waist, so tiny I got to squint through my glasses to iron. I don’t hate much in life, but me and that dress is not on good terms.

Lord, I never seen blue hair on a black woman before or since. Leroy say you look like a cracker from outer space.

I'm sorry, but were you dropped on your head as an infant?