route and his vehicle could time it more closely. The Lawtons were familiar with the route, except for the last end of it, but had never driven it in a large truck before, which required extra gas stops, oil checks, etcetera. Even though they arrived within half an hour of their estimate, one of the church members had been complaining about the lateness and undermining the enthusiasm of others. This complainer would later turn out to be a chief belittler and troublemaker.
On arrival from another country with the truck, et al, and although a half hour late the attention of the twenty or so people present became focused on the new pastor and his wife. This was quite a natural thing, yet it was to the dismay of the complaining woman, who until now it seems had been the main focus of the group. In future, the Lawtons would see similar reactions to this on occasion. The cause of it was usually that when someone had done perhaps an exceptional job of some sort for the church, that person then felt qualified to be the main leader and decision maker in all things pertaining to the administering of the many and varied functions of the whole congregation. But expertise in one area of service, as good as it may be, and as much acclaim as they may receive for it, does not give a person license to be overbearing in all that goes on in a church. In time, rivalry for first place would set in - a rivalry in which neither Durwin nor Canda would intentionally participate. Overall though, the reception was a warm and joyful one.
“Within a few days the Lawtons, after receiving directions from a church member, set out in their car for the immigration office they were required to contact. The office was in the big city. They had driven in there a few times before, so it would pose no problem for them. They found the right building, paid the very expensive city parking rate, entered the building and proceeded to the required floor. It was early morning, around eight o’clock when they arrived, yet the line was already hundreds of people long. They were directed to get into the line and in turn would be taken care of by one of several officers at the long counter.
“It was after ten o’clock when they began to get anywhere near the counter. The lines between the cords going up and down the room moved slowly, but usually steadily. Ten employees worked the counter, each having an opening in the countertop metal rod barrier. In the background were two other women, who appeared to be supervisors floating around each to one-half of the area, overseeing the work of the others.
“As Durwin and Canda came down the line between the cords to near the lower end of the room, with still another up and down to go, the supervisor of that lower end caught site of them in the line. She quite noticeably bristled and looked harshly at the Lawtons for the longest time.
“‘Oh, Oh,’ whispered Canda to Durwin, in as unnoticeably a way as possible. ‘I think we are over dressed for here, or something. We may have trouble. Did you see the way that woman glared at us?’
“‘Yes,’ replied Collin, ‘I couldn’t help but notice. Perhaps we will end up in the area of the other supervisor.
“‘Hope so, Durwin, but she looks vicious,’ said Canda.
“‘We have our preliminary papers from the border crossing, and it’s just a matter of getting them processed,’ Durwin tried to sound reassuring. ‘She may not like us, but we should get through okay.’
“‘Hope you’re right,’ said Canda with a sigh.
“As the Lawtons slowly followed the line around the turn and up and down the rows once more, this woman, as she moved around her territory, continued glaring at them with increased intensity the nearer they came to being waited on. Coming down the final aisle was the worst, for then because of her location and theirs she could look straight at them. As she did she began to strut around with an air of authority all the more, occasionally slapping papers here and there, placing them down hard on the counter in a very perturbed looking manner.
“This supervisor was a very hefty, hard boiled looking woman, between fifty and sixty they guessed, with an upswept peroxide blonde hairdo and a very sour face. She was obviously down on the Lawtons for their appearance, for she had as yet no other criteria for which to take such a dislike to them. As awkward and overdone as her own hairdo, make-up and gaudy clothes were, she was very obviously concerned about her own appearance. Not having the taste it takes, however, she was plainly resenting the Lawtons who were dressed in a relatively modest manner, yet tastefully, and quite unintentionally stood out in the crowd there as they did most any place.”
Pausing in the story telling, Collin remarked, “This is an obvious and severe case of balloon puncturing.”
The group members laughed aloud, and Owen remarked, “Just by their appearance and presence, the Lawtons unintentionally punctured that supervisor’s balloon of undisciplined pride.”
“Yeh,” added Donna Coyne,” and I’ll bet she got plenty angry. I know what that’s like.”
“She did get very angry, as we shall see,” responded Collin as he continued the story.
“Durwin and Canda had been standing in line now for nearly three hours. Finally it was their turn. They were called from the end of the line to the wicket at the very end of the counter by the young woman working there. This woman was probably in her late twenties-a different generation and therefore not a pal of the sour looking supervisor who was supervising that same area of the counter. The supervisor was presently busy overseeing a transaction at another wicket. The Lawtons explained their case to the young officer at the counter and presented to her the papers they had received at the border crossing. She was very pleasant and efficient, examined the papers carefully and handed them back to Durwin. ‘From here,’ she said, ‘you have to go up to the twelfth floor. I will give you the room number and the name of the man you are to see.’ She wrote the room number and name on a slip of paper. As she tore it off the pad to give to Durwin the supervisor came roaring down. ‘What’s this,’ she growled as she snatched the slip of paper out of her hand. Then she turned to Durwin ‘Where are you from?’
“‘From Secundaterra,’ said Durwin.
“You have no business to be in this country, and I’d suggest you get back out of it,’ she snarled.
“As she began to say something else, the near mortified counter person shouted above her, to the Lawtons, ‘go and see Mr. so and so in room number such and such.’
“The Lawton’s got the message and after thanking the young woman walked away as the supervisor continued to sputter. It was a case of open and unabashed hostility by a belittler. No subtleties were necessary in this office. She knew she could openly do as she pleased and get away with it.
“Durwin and Canda went to the twelfth floor, found the room and the person they were to see. He, being a very cordial and helpful man, examined their papers received at the border crossing, approved their temporary immigration into the country for one year, and gave them another paper granting them permission to work.
“‘From here,’ he instructed, ‘you should go back down to the counter you just left and pick up a set of papers each, number such and such for permanent residency and come back another day with them prepared for submission to the same counter. You have a year in which to obtain your permanent residency.’
“‘Do we have to stand in line all over again today’ asked Durwin, ‘it took us nearly three hours there this morning?’
“‘No, not this time, but the next,’ replied the man. ‘For today I will give you a signed slip which will enable you to go directly to the counter, and hand in the slip. The counter person will give you the papers.’ He then smiled at the Lawtons. ‘Good luck,’ he said to them, ‘I wish you well.’ They were encouraged greatly.
“As
