Lies and Alibis Read Free Page B

tell us not to gamble, He could’ve done it right then.”
    Sydney gives me that one eyebrow lift thing that she does that makes her look just like our Creole mother and grandmother.  Dionne and I take after our father’s side of the family with our dark complexions, strong African features and long thick hair, but Sydney is a mama clone. 
    “Wow, Cami.  Grandma Banks would beat the snot out of you if she heard you say that.”
    I laugh out loud.  “I am grown.  Grandma is not going to lay a hand on me.”
    “ When has being grown ever deterred Grandma?  Just remind me not to stand too close to you.  When God smites you, I don’t want any parts of that.”
    “ Smite me ?”  I ask.  “You haven’t been to church since last Easter. If anyone’s getting smitten it’s you.”
    “ I watch on the internet,” Sydney replies.
    “ That is not the same thing and you know it.”
    The waitress comes to our table with a smile on her face.  “What will you ladies be having?”
    “ I’ll have grilled chicken salad with Ranch dressing,” I say.
    Sydney licks her lips and says, “I would like the chicken and waffles with a side of macaroni and cheese.” 
    My iPad signals that I’ve gotten a new email.  Normally, I wouldn’t dream of opening it at the table, but I’m having lunch with a doctor.  She’s currently scrolling through her text messages. 
    I send an email for our pastor authorizing an expenditure for the usher’s new gloves.  I don't understand why they need three hundred dollars for gloves.  Why do they need gloves at all?  It's not like they're handling food! Pastor Davis is too accommodating to the auxiliary heads.  They always want to spend money, but when it's time for the fundraising, they don't even show up at the meetings. 
    All of this makes my job all the more difficult.  I started off as the church secretary, but now I handle the accounting too, since the bookkeeper left and started his own business.  He'd taught me everything anyway, so it was a logical transition and nice raise. 
    Since Sydney is now texting like crazy, I go to the internet and check the results on the Georgia FIVE lottery midday drawing.  It could be time for my blessing!
    My hands tremble with anticipation as I pull of up the Georgia lottery webpage.  My heart rate increases as the page takes its time loading.  Beads of sweat pop out on my forehead.  I' m thinking of the electric bill I can pay, and if I win big, maybe I can take a weekend trip to Biloxi.
    Darn.  I only have the first three in a row.  A measly twenty bucks.  That's okay though, because at least it covers what I spent on the tickets.
    As long as I offset my playing with winnings, I'm sure Bryan won't mind my lottery, bingo and casino trips.  He'll really appreciate it once God gives us a huge jackpot of financial blessings.
    Lots of church folk think that gambling is a sin, but I disagree.  If I am faithful with my tithe and offering, then I don't think the Lord cares about what I do with the rest of the money.  And I do believe he's going to bless me and Bryan for our faithfulness. 
    Who says it can't be through a lottery windfall?
    And hey...you can't win if you don't play, right?
    Finally, Sydney locks her phone and sets it down on the table.  “Lunch is on me today.”
    “ You don’t have to do that.”  But I’m so glad she is.  See, the Lord is already blessing me.
    Plus, I’m not sure if my credit card has enough to cover this meal.  I used it at bingo on Monday night when my friend Liz won a thousand dollars on scratch off tickets.  She got so excited that it got all over me too.  I spent two hundred dollars on some tickets of my own.  I didn't win a penny that time, but I kept all the losing tickets in a bag.  Bryan and I can use them when it's time to claim losses on our taxes.
    Sydney leans across the table with her hands folded.  Her expression is all Dr. Phil-about-to-do-an-intervention. 
    “Is