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Show in my father's house/ 113 them in?" The front door rattled. Then he called out in a booming voice "Come in, brethren, come in! Either you're early or I'm late. Be with you in a jiffy." Doors slammed downstairs at Aunt LaVona's. My brothers' beds creaked upstairs. I got out of bed and tiptoed to the livingroom where the priesthood council sat in their white shirts and ties and Sunday slacks, waiting as my father opened the meeting called the School of the Prophets to discuss sacred things and secrets which the rest of the group couldn't hear. I listened, watching the men from the door-crack where they could not see me. Two of my father's younger brothers sat together, replicas of him: Uncle Arthur almost as tall and fervent, Uncle Lance almost as handsome and gentle. Other men filled the room: Brother Scott, with his balding head and black moustache and shadows along his cheekbones reminded me of cvas a modern Wyatt Earp. Brother ThoresonA an imposing man whose heavy body repelled thoughts of a Principle so demanding to the spirit, yet his devotion was as weighty. Brother Lampere, with his mischievous twinkle and good looks could pound the pulpit louder than my father. Brother Butchreit with his drawling cowboy charm and what my father called "maverick notions" sat in a hardback chair by the 'window- The last member of the quorum, Brother Goldberg sat with his head bent, lips pouting and knee pumping like a piston. |