I drove back to the café on Saturday and took inventory of what was to be done. Clint had hit just about every garage sale in Kerrville and San Antonio brining in an odd assortment of tables and chairs that added a slightly eccentric air to the café. I indicated to him my pleasure with a very simple thumbs up. That week we had a cabinet to make. The air condit-ioning was working little and the café had lovely interior halfway between a barn and cave that some old hippies had taken over. It felt cozy and comfortable.

Sunday began with a drive into Kerrville for church. Trinity Baptist was interesting. At Sunday school I could not help but feel talked down to. There was little interaction between the teacher and students and it came across as more of a lecture. The service was prim and proper Southern Baptist that I just felt uncomfortable within. It was far from cutting edge it was far from open it was just too blasted formal for what I had been used to and at Fry word of this service would guarantee that people would not come. The theology seemed right on the money though. I just did not like the presentation at all. Sunday we pondered what we had heard at church and just relaxed in the café Fry Street was not washing off me. I cursed Rob and I was begging to realize I had to love him though I hated him and the destruction he seemingly embraced.

Monday came and work began in earnest of the whole counter and pan storage area. We had a whole lot of lumber to cut to size and stain. Work progressed at a steady even rate. I drawing out the lines Clint cutting and both of us working together to stain the wood. We had the job about 60% complete. The following day I went to pursue a liquor license the waiting period would be a couple of weeks. The good news if Clint physically handled the beer I would never be in "possesion and sell it from a trough near a counter" When I got back.  Clint started work on the cabinet. Wednesday we both continued working hammering nails into place getting the counter and cabinet unit together. Thursday it was almost done. Friday we tiled the top of it. Saturday it was time for a big hunt for dishes,plates,forks knives coffee cups regular glasses for soda water etc. We hit and cleaned out three garage sales in Kerrville and one in Banderra. We got back early and got a good night's rest for the coming Sunday.

Sunday was another shot of Trinity Baptist Kerrville. Clint and I split and I went up to Denton for a couple days with Claire and he would handle the finishing touches on the café coke machine, cappuccino machine etc. I was having a really hard time getting used to the stuffy Sunday services at Trinity Baptist even though I really liked the guy responsible for singles, college and youth. Kerrville was slowly accepting change. I made it back to Denton in time for the college student service and it was a breath of fresh air that I breathed deep into myself. That night Claire and I hung out together at her house. We walked up and down Spencer road and the hints of wilderness on the eastside of Denton offered a sign of life despite the sprawl of the metroplex. I enjoyed her company.

The following day it was another shot of Fry Street and we had another bump with Kathrine. I wished she could see how stupid her boy craziness was and I just about freaked when I saw her put "Dust In The Wind" from Kansas on the Flying Tomato jukebox. I told her politely but firmly, "songs contain ideas and the way you are looking at the ideas in this song are incompatible with your professed Christian faith." Ideas were powerful things; I had seen the perversion of good ones lead to many a destroyed life and, I had seen incorrect ones take more then a few too. An old nerve struck raw, "I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes I have to turn my face until my darkness goes." That Rolling Stones song described the tension I felt but maybe now I should have let it all hang out and shown Kathy that sin was as real as Cobra and its bite every bit as deadly. She gave me some excuse and my frustration level continued to rise. Claire and I had another midnight chat on Spencer road. The following day was I was bound to Mountaineer days.

The drive was simple except instead of hanging a right on Interstate 10 heading westbound to highway 27's exit I went down 16 to down town and rode it eastbound as it was Memorial Blvd. I went down the loop at Schreiner and parked my car near the registration area. I was to be a guest of my new school for a couple of days.

I ran into Scarlett there. Scarlett and I had known each other off and on since Elementary. She had survived New Braunfels High School with some degree of sanity. Of course she was there for only 2 years after I had left. Erin's death was still on her mind after a suicide and murder Erin's death seemed like a couple life times ago. Kari's death was still a fresh wound. Scarlett was attractive big blond lean and athletic. She was not a believer and New Braunfels High had left a bitter taste her mouth. Brian another old cohort from Unicorn land had managed to remain indifferent. He was in speech and debate with me and was passionately unpassionate the fact that he remained indifferent was a testimony to his will more then anything else. The first night Scarlett and I watched the new channel fx and the show "Sound fx" if I remember right and saw Offspring for the 1st time. It was self centered and indulgent blatantly so even more then Green Day. The video was popular. Something was changing and America was becoming less angry or doing its darndest to distract itself from the doom looming ahead. I absorbed what I could from the shot into Schreiner and then headed back to the café after a couple days. It would soon be open.

When I got back to the café the reach in freezer was stocked the walk in had some burger meat and other assorted goodies. TABC had given us our license and Clint was beaming like a proud papa. The only thing lacking was some gourmet coffee and the following day he would make a run into San Antonio to get the espresso and cappuccino beans. I showered and slept and showered again anxious for the first day to begin.