Joyful Noise Page #4

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One-hit wonders are unfairly maligned.

I'm fond of "Walk Away Rene"

by The Left Banke.

Walter, I swear your train of thought

makes all local stops.

Go ahead, eat your breakfast.

- Mail came.

- Give me mine.

Okay, take it easy.

The man writes every week.

You act like it's the Fourth of July.

Why don't he just text or e-mail

like everybody else?

Mm.

Bow your heads. Heavenly Father, thank you

for this food which we are about to receive.

Love letter?

From my father.

He's stationed at Fort Kail.

Oh, I thought he got out of the Army.

- He went back.

- Pssh.

Don't know why anybody

would wanna leave you.

You grew up like you were

on fast-forward.

Like one of them stop-motion

movies of flowers.

Please.

And the way you sing. Oh!

I used to think church music was all corny,

and then you get up there and it's like:

- I never heard anything like that.

- Mm-hm.

Hey. You know I'm a musician too.

What do you say, huh?

We hit the road, start a band...

...make some babies

that look exactly like you.

Oh, you got a nice smile. Always di...

- Oh.

- Oh, my gosh, are you okay'?

I have to go.

I'm gonna be late for school.

- Wait, hey. Can I meet you after?

- I have choir practice.

Oh, I'm gonna get in that choir.

Right.

- You'll see.

Mm. That's nice.

That is a lovely hat, Vi Rose.

Thank you, Pastor.

I didn't expect anyone to notice.

Like your hair, G.G. You worried

you're not gonna be seen from space?

Could you pass the butter, please?

Feels downright strange

sitting here with y'all and not Bernie.

- He was our rock.

- Thank you, Pastor.

I keep looking out my window expecting

to see him out on that big old porch.

But, so far,

he hasn't made an appearance.

Times like these,

we feel his loss even more.

Amen.

So, Vi, how is Marcus keeping himself?

Just fine, thanks.

- Two years is an awful long time to be away.

- Crazy, you ask me.

I mean, who rejoins the Army

for a second time at age 35?

Someone who's out of work

and wants to feed his family.

All right, Olivia.

- And wants to serve his country.

- It's confusing, that's all.

- What you trying to say?

- Well, it's not just me.

The whole town's confused.

It's none of this town's business

about me and my husband.

Well, it is a small town, Vi.

And people do care.

And if you don't like that,

maybe you should move to New York.

My mama told me if people swept

in front of their own doors...

- ...this whole world would be clean.

- Hell, yeah.

- What?

- Ha-ha.

Apologize for your language,

young lady.

I'm sorry.

It was just surprising when he left.

That's all.

Yeah, to all of us.

There have been more

one-hit wonders in hip-hop...

...than in the entire 30 years of music

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