It was raining hard and the driving was slow and cautious. As they continued to forge their way, they approached a huge billboard set off a little way from the highway. “Oh my.” Sister Betty craned her neck to see through the downpour and the rapidly moving windshield wipers. “It looks like somebody won the South Carolina Mega Lottery. Our schools can use the assistance. It’s about a hundred and sumpthin’ million win from what I can tell.” “Saying it’s for the schools is just an excuse to have folks gamble away their hard-earned money,” the reverend said sharply. “God doesn’t approve of gambling. The Bible says not to throw your pearls after swine.” “But God . . .” The subject lit the reverend’s hot button and he refused to let Sister Betty sway him when it came to that subject. “There are no buts,” he said. “Imagine if I took the church’s money and spent it on lottery tickets to help get us out of this fix?” Sister Betty felt she’d chew a hole in her bottom lip to keep from saying her piece.
