Sunday service ended and the parishioners slowly filtered outside. Each stopped to speak to the minister, who stood at the door of the church as people passed by. He greeted the Becks, Kirstin and Steiner, three other couples, and then Dr. Werner and his wife.
“An interesting sermon,” Steiner said as he and Kirstin stood on the pavement in front of the church. The morning was brisk; autumn had arrived.
“Yes, it was,” Kirstin said, eyeing Dr. Werner as he left the church, his wife stopping to talk to another woman. She paused, letting them reach her.
“Kirstin, how is your ankle?’ the doctor asked as they approached.
“It’s doing well,” she said.
“Hello, Doctor,” Steiner said. “How are you today?”
“Not looking forward to winter,” Werner replied. “But then, who is?”
“Professor Beck,” ca
