With Malice Towards None

September 13, 1999

Denver, Colorado
Ten Year High School Reunion Dinner Dance
Outside the Main Entrance to the Marriott Denver Tech Center Hotel
Smoking a cigarette with an attractive blonde classmate

"I don’t remember you dressing so nice in high school."

"Well…thank you" I said.

"No. Really. You didn’t dress that nice at all."

"Well…thanks," I replied. "How many of those have you had?"

"Two or three" she said as she swirled the ice cubes around her gin and tonic in the plastic cup. Then she smiled and started to giggle. "Or was is seven or eight? Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Her laugh echoed out across the parking lot.

"Do you remember when you wouldn’t let me into your parties in high school?" I said, with a sudden coldness that surprised me.

She stopped laughing.

After a few seconds of silent reflection, beginning probably with clique-ish disdain but ascending to compassionate appreciation, she said "Did I do that, honey? Did I really do that? Boy was I a bitch in high school. I’m so sorry."

"That’s okay" I replied. (And it was.)

"You know, it took me a few years before I finally saw the light and let the Lord Jesus into my heart."

"Oh really…that’s interesting" I said. ("Oh boy…here we go" I thought.)

"Yes sir. I let the Lord Jesus in and the love came right behind him."

"So you’ve got the Love of God now."

"I’ve got the Love of God and the Love of a Good Man. There’s my man over there. See him? He’s got the jeans on. The one with the real nice butt."

"Oh him" I smiled.

"Yeah, that’s the one. The Lord brought that man to me and I thank Him everyday for it. That man over there is so kind to me, he’s good to our kids, and he’s great in the sack."

"Well" I said after a few seconds of silent reflection, beginning with a bit of snobbish disdain but ascending to compassionate appreciation, "You can’t ask for much more than that."

"You sure can’t" she said with a smile, as she stared at her husband. (And she was right.)

We crushed out our cigarettes at about the same time.

"Well, I’m gonna head back in" I said. "It was really good to see you."

"It was really good to see you, too."

(And we both meant it.)

Broadway Jim Jenkins

		With Malice Towards None
		September 13, 1999 Denver, Colorado Ten Year High School Reunion Dinner Dance Outside the Main Entrance to the Marriott Denver Tech Center Hotel Smoking a cigarette with an attractive blonde classmate "I don’t remember you dressing so nice in high school." "Well…thank you" I said. "No. Really. You didn’t dress that nice at all." "Well…thanks," I replied. "How many of those have you had?" "Two or three" she said as she swirled the ice cubes around her gin and tonic in the plastic cup. Then she smiled and started to giggle. "Or was is seven or eight? Ha! Ha! Ha!" Her laugh echoed out across the parking lot. "Do you remember when you wouldn’t let me into your parties in high school?" I said, with a sudden coldness that surprised me. She stopped laughing. After a few seconds of silent reflection, beginning probably with clique-ish disdain but ascending to compassionate appreciation, she said "Did I do that, honey? Did I really do that? Boy was I a bitch in high school. I’m so sorry." "That’s okay" I replied. (And it was.) "You know, it took me a few years before I finally saw the light and let the Lord Jesus into my heart." "Oh really…that’s interesting" I said. ("Oh boy…here we go" I thought.) "Yes sir. I let the Lord Jesus in and the love came right behind him." "So you’ve got the Love of God now." "I’ve got the Love of God and the Love of a Good Man. There’s my man over there. See him? He’s got the jeans on. The one with the real nice butt." "Oh him" I smiled. "Yeah, that’s the one. The Lord brought that man to me and I thank Him everyday for it. That man over there is so kind to me, he’s good to our kids, and he’s great in the sack." "Well" I said after a few seconds of silent reflection, beginning with a bit of snobbish disdain but ascending to compassionate appreciation, "You can’t ask for much more than that." "You sure can’t" she said with a smile, as she stared at her husband. (And she was right.) We crushed out our cigarettes at about the same time. "Well, I’m gonna head back in" I said. "It was really good to see you." "It was really good to see you, too." (And we both meant it.) Broadway Jim Jenkins