Driving home.
“How do you think that went?” My wife asked.
“Well enough, I think… I mean, what did you think?”
“Yeah, I think, yeah, it was good.”
“Good?”
“Yeah I think it was good, yeah, good.”
“Ok.”
...
“Because ‘good’ can mean a few different things, can’t it,” I said.
“Yeah, but I mean, you know, I thought it was good, you did well.”
“Ok.”
...
“Because obviously, this is quite a big thing, now, you know,” I said.
“Yeah, of course.”
“I mean, it will have an impact on the next stage of our lives, won’t it.”
“I know, I know, and that’s why it was good that you were, you know, good.”
“Mmmm.”
“So when will you know?”
“Later on this afternoon, they’ll call.”
“And that’ll be that.”
“That will indeed be that.”
“Well…”
“Well.”
—
Later that afternoon.
“Oh, that’s my phone!” I said.
“Oh, ok.”
“I’m just going to go in the other room.”
“Yep, ok.”
—
A few minutes later.
“Well, that’s it, its official,” I said.
“What, they said yes?”
“They said yes. And I said yes to their yes.
“Wow.”
“So that’s two yesses.”
“Well.”
“Which is, like, the maximum amount of yesses required.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
“So this is happening then.”
“This is happening.”
“Well…”
“I mean, this was always going to happen, that’s kind of the point of the last two and a half years, really,” I said.
“Yeah, I know, I mean, well, you know…”
“I know.”
“So, how do you feel?”
“Good. Yeah, I feel good. Yeah.”
“Good?”
“Yeah, good, I think. Good. Yeah I feel good, yeah.”
“Because good can mean…”
“Ok ok, yeah, I feel happy. And I feel relieved. And… I dunno, it’s a weird feeling.”
“Yeah.”
“I feel excited, you know, but it’s strange.”
“I suppose it’s strange because we’re really going.”
“We really are going.
“How strange.”
“I know.”
“So what happens next?”
“I don’t know… I’ve never done this before.”
—
Later.
“I suppose I’d better tell the neighbours,” I said.
“They’re not going to like it.”
“I know. Maybe I won’t tell them.”
“We’ll have to tell them some time.”
“But not today.”
“No, not today.”
—
So if you’ve read this far down you’ve definitely earned the right to hear my news - which is that after fifteen years living on the same council estate in Grimsby, on the 3rd of August 2024 I’m going to be ordained and inducted as a Minister of Word and Sacraments in the United Reformed Team Churches in the fair city of Hull. It’s not a big move in some ways, but it’s blummin massive in others.
In the, admittedly unlikely, event that you’d like to come along and celebrate this momentous occasion with me, you can bagsie a seat here. Or just email me if you prefer. That would be good. Really good, actually.
Congratulations Simon. Every blessing to you and your wife in your new environment.
Hull! That’s great news. Congratulations Simon.