In fact, I had never gone once. Tammy urged me to try it out when I finished sixth grade, but I resisted. “I’m almost older than the eighth graders,” I pointed out. “And I’m definitely taller than them. Besides I’m used to being around much older kids because of my cousins.” “Those are all the reasons you could provide the junior high group with some leadership, Frannie,” Tammy replied, unswayed. “Plus it would be good for you. You could work on your shyness.” The last thing a shy person wants to do is work on her shyness. I ignored Tammy. Church for me consisted of sitting beside my aunts and uncles during the main service and staying far away from people my own age. Tammy was more successful in recruiting me to help her occasionally with the little kids, and this summer she signed me up to scoop ice cream on the last day of Vacation Bible School. We set up the table on the patio separating the sanctuary from the church offices.
