Come Sunday Morning. Terry E. Hill

get him off my back if you wanted.”

      “You know I don’t have any editorial control, and besides, he’s not the only one at the paper who knows about it. Lance has already briefed the managing editor and I understand he’s just about finished with the final copy.”

      There was a long pause and then Phillip continued. “How’d you let it get this far, Hezekiah? I thought your people were supposed to be out there making sure things like this never leaked out. You’ve dug your own grave this time and I can’t pull you out.”

      “You can do something about it,” Hezekiah said, throwing his napkin on the table. “You just won’t. Your bottom line is selling that paper, and if it’s at my expense, then so be it.”

      “Hezekiah, wait a minute. That’s not fair,” Jonathon Copperfield interjected. “This isn’t Phillip’s fault. You’ve only got yourself to blame for this one. If you just had to get your cock sucked by a man, you could have gone anywhere in the world. Instead, you chose to do it in your own backyard.” Jonathon stood from the table. “I can’t take this anymore. This is just sick. Sick and stupid. I’m out of here.”

      Jonathon wove through the neighboring tables and disappeared out the door. The remaining men sat in silence for what seemed like hours. Hezekiah, with his right hand over his mouth, stared blankly at the untouched basket of bread. Hector tapped his fingers on the bare wooden table and Phillip gulped down the remains of his second glass of wine.

      The quiet was finally broken. “So what am I going to do?” Hezekiah said with his hand still cupped over his mouth. The torment in his voice was deafening. “If that story runs I’m through. I could kill that bastard….”

      Hector cut him off. “Take it easy, Hezekiah. Look, you haven’t denied it so I assume it’s true.”

      Hezekiah’s silence served as confirmation.

      “Oh shit. This is crazy,” Hector said. “You throw away your whole ministry for a dick. How could you let this happen? You’re too smart for this, Hezekiah.” There was a pause. Then, “I don’t think you have any choice other than to step down.”

      Hezekiah sat astonished, unable to speak. At that moment life slowly began to seep from his body.