Gerald kicked himself for being late. He passed through the cathedral doors some three minutes after the service had started which meant that the procession led by the choir were already in their places. He hated missing the prelude played by the organ as people filed in to their pews, sat quietly praying or meditating before the service began.
It galled him all the more because this evening it was his very good friend Dorothy Ochola who was playing. Nevertheless he enjoyed singing the first hymn, as he knew it well. Sometimes they sang hymns that he had not heard of at the Presbyterian church he frequented. So now he sang full-throatedly hardly noticing that the people around him turned inquisitive eyes towards him; they were too polite to turn their heads fully.
He and Dorothy had gone to the same primary school many years before, but had been parted in their later education. He had, after high school, gone to Australia for his degree and stayed on for the second one. He then worked there for ten years before deciding to return home.
Some two months before he had attended this evensong service for variety's sake and spotted someone he thought might be his old school friend. After the service he had waited outside the choir room until she came out. Dorothy recognised him instantly unlike his own uncertainty. They had clung to one another noisily. Over the next few weeks they had seen each other many times.
The congregation were bade to sit for the reading of the Collect, Psalm and the Epistle. He followed this last on the Bible app on his phone, taking opportunity to send Dorothy a text congratulating her on her playing. The Choir did a rousing Easter song, accompanied by the organ as usual. He loved this evensong service because it was packed with music. In all, seven hymns were sung, much to his delight.
At the end of the service he strolled to the organ console to give his congratulations to Dorothy. To be selected to play was a high honour, as there were four regular organists who were all very highly accomplished. He gave her a tight hug and kissed her tenderly. She had to go into the choir room to change out of her vestments before they could leave.