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Okay, Okay Corral

by Alan R. Wolcott

(Frank and Ernest are spending a Saturday afternoon trolling and talking.)

Frank:

(casting & trolling) So, Ernie, are you ever going to get around to telling me why you asked me to go fishing today? We haven’t done this in years...and you’ve been too busy to go see the Expos, take a hike, or even come over for dinner after church. Everything okay?

Ernie:

Okay.

Frank:

Okay, okay?

Ernie:

Just okay.

Frank:

Okay, but not okay, okay?

Ernie:

Yeah.

Frank:

I see...well, (scratching his head), maybe I don’t. Frankly, Ernie, you’ll have to be a bit more specific.

Ernie:

Okay. (pauses)

Frank:

This is beginning to remind me of Abbot and Costello!...So, let’s get to first base at least. Is everything okay between you and Bertie?

Ernie:

Bert and I are okay. The job’s okay. The kids are okay. The house is okay. Even the neighbor’s dog is okay...and the fishing’s okay—see, I got another one (pulls in line).

Frank:

(enthusiastically) Okay!

Ernie:

No, Frank, just okay. Don’t you see? That’s the problem; it’s just okay. I’m no longer living on Sesame Street.

Frank:

You hooked me there old buddy, and on an old joke to boot.

Ernie:

Let me be frank, Frank. I’m bored. When Bertie and I first got married, when I first got the promotion, when the first kid was born, when I first became a Christian, when we first met you and Anne...but now it’s like we’ve left Sesame Street...It’s okay, but life seems stale lately, I feel like Oscar the Grouch!

Frank:

(casts and reels) Hmmmnh. “Okay,” but not “okay, okay.” I think I’m getting the picture. Take heart old buddy, part of that is just growing up. Of course Sesame Street looks different, you’re taller and the perspective is different. But that doesn’t mean you have to move on, or move out, or give up, or perm your hair and start wearing an earring, okay?

Ernie:

Huh? Be frank, Frank. You lost me.

Frank:

A couple things have helped Anne and me break out of the doldrums and humdrums. One is being part of an active small group that forces us to keep our spiritual lives sharp. Knowing that every week or so someone will be in my face to ask me what I’ve been getting from my Bible reading, prayer and study has kept me at it. And keeping at it has made me aware of how much God intervenes even in our day to day lives. Just this week I was reminded that God created this all (expansive gesture), down to giving those walleye a hankering for these leeches (holds one up). Now that’s attention to detail. It’s hard to be bored with Jesus’ fingerprints and footprints always so fresh before me. One of these days I’ll see him...For starters, why don’t you and Bertie join us? Our next study is Friday at 7.

Ernie:

Okay. We’d be Muppet heads not to.

Frank:

The second thing...I’ve begun to see that life is about reproducing. It’s how God allows us to share in his creativity. The challenge is what we’re passing along.

Ernie:

Okay.

Frank:

It can be our boredom, or our way of peeling potatoes, or just our genes and our address—123 Sesame Street. Or it can be our values, our faith, our commitments...I’m working with a couple apprentices, sort of like Paul did with Timothy...it’s a great challenge! You might give that a try, too, old buddy.

Ernie:

Okay.

Frank:

Okay, okay?

Ernie:

Okay, okay! Let’s fish.