Read Online In Times of Trouble by Yolonda Tonette Sanders - Free Book Online

friend coming over for dinner that would like to meet you. He’s a minister at my church.”
    â€œ He. . .” Lisa pretended not to notice her mother’s suspicious look. “Does Chanelle know him?”
    â€œYes and no. She knows him from church, but she doesn’t know we’re friends.”
    â€œThings must be pretty serious between you and this fellah if you’re bringing him home, huh?”
    â€œNot as serious as you may think. We’re taking things slow.”
    â€œNow you know I’m still partial toward RJ, but I realize that I can’t make the two of you get back together, so if things work out between you and this minister guy I’ll be happy for you.”
    â€œThanks, Mama.” Lisa didn’t understand why RJ’s name was even brought into the conversation. She was irked by the adoration her mother still had for him as if she had forgotten everything he’d put Lisa through. “Are you going to tell me what you were so cheerful about coming in the house?”
    Her face lit up and she reached down in her purse and handed Lisa a hundred-dollar bill.
    â€œWhat’s this for?”
    â€œI know you don’t need the money, but I thought I’d bless you since I got blessed. Girl, I won a thousand dollars on a scratch-off today.”
    â€œThanks, but no thanks.” Lisa gave the money back. “I don’t consider winning the lottery a blessing.”
    â€œHave it your way. I should’ve known you’d get all super holy on me.” Her mother puckered her lips and shoved the money back in her pocketbook. “You’re crazy for turning down free money. I’m going to pay my tithes on today’s winnings and I betcha Pastor Burlington won’t give me that back.”
    â€œMaybe not, but if he realized where it came from, I’m certain you’d find yourself being the main topic of one of his gambling sermons,” Lisa teased.
    â€œGambling ain’t really no sin; especially when you pay tithes on the winnings.”
    â€œWhat scripture you find that in?” She smirked.
    â€œI’m just saying. . .it’s because I’ve been so faithful in tithing that I win good money. I’m helping the church.”
    â€œAll good money isn’t necessarily God money. That’s like a dope dealer saying it’s okay to sell drugs as long as he pays tithes.”
    â€œNo, it isn’t. Gambling is a victimless activity, selling drugs isn’t.”
    Lisa rolled her eyes, figuring that after over four decades of her mother “walking with the Lord,” she ought not to be making excuses to play the lottery. “Victimless, huh? Tell that to the people who have thousands of dollars in debt thinking they’ll hit it big one day.”
    Her mother began to chuckle. “You know. . .we could go on about this all night.”
    Lisa laughed, too. “You’re right. How about we just agree to disagree for now. . .” She knew this wouldn’t be the last time they’ddiscuss this topic. They’d bumped heads about the lottery thing more times than Lisa could count.
    â€œI was going to give Chanelle some money, too. Are you going to have a problem with that?”
    â€œNo, go ahead. Just don’t tell her where it came from. She’s not here, though. She’s still with RJ.”
    â€œI figured she’d be back by now.”
    â€œHe didn’t have a set time to bring her home. I told him I’d be gone most of the day. Since it’s getting late, I guess I could call and tell him I’m here.”
    â€œWell, I’m about to go upstairs and go to bed. I’ll give Chanelle the money in the morning. Good night. . .”
    â€œThe same to you. Hey. . .”
    â€œWhat?” Her mother paused on the bottom step.
    â€œThanks for asking me before giving the money to Chanelle.”
    â€œGirl, I’m