“Brother Weeps, someone told us that you know a holy way to argue. Is this true?” asked a novice.

The brother chuckled. “I suppose it is, yes,” he said.

“Would you teach us?”

“I learned it from listening to my granda and his life-long friend Tito argue when I was a small boy. My granda used to take me with him to the village square twice a week. He would get supplies and buy me a candy stick. When we were there he would sit in the shade and talk to his friends and to acquaintances and visitors. When it came time to go home, my granda would stand to leave. And every time, like clockwork, like a ritual they knew by heart, Tito and my granda would begin to bicker.

One would say, ‘Peace be with you.’ And the other would say, ‘No, peace be with you.’ And the one would say, ‘No, I insist, peace be with you.’ And the other would say, ‘No, I insist, peace be with you.’ And the one would part saying, ‘Well, I leave you now in peace.’ And the other would say, ‘Well now, you go in peace.’ Then, my granda and I  would set off in one direction for home. And Tito would set off in the other direction for his home until one would turn and say, “Safe way home.” And the other would turn and say, “You be safe.” Then we would turn toward home again and walk some more until one of them, almost out of sight by now, would turn and shout, “God be with you on your way.” And the other would turn and shout, “God be with you on your way even more.” And this is how it went for years.

Dan Miller, All Rights Reserved, ©  2020.