You sure missed a great sunrise.

“Good morning, Boss,” Pete said. “Sleep well?” “What?” Roger asked as he sat up. “What time is it?” “I don’t know. I sold my watch. You sure missed a great sunrise.”

THE MISSIONARY BY JOSEPH SALING 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 67

Every time Laura called her brother Roger for a favor, he reached for his wallet. Laura’s favors were never cheap. The last one cost him $500 to bail out an 80-year-old man who’d been arrested in Main Street for fighting. Laura swore it was a case of mistaken identity. Minutes after he was released from jail the man had a heart attack and died.

“How much?” Roger asked.

“No. This isn’t going to cost you anything.”

“Sis, I’m swamped. Can we cut to the chase?” Roger put the phone on speaker. He was going through the Truman Fox Inn event list. “Just tell me how much you need and how soon you need it, and I’ll tell you if I can or can’t.” 

“Roger, I’m not asking for money. If things go right, you’re going to thank me.” 

“If things go right.” Roger sighed loud enough for L…