Bingo

“Prinsburg, you say?—why my mother’s old college roommate was from Prinsburg, and my parents used to visit there every summer for a couple of days.”

“No!—who was that?”

“Alma Hoppema--or Heerema or Hielema or Hobbema.”

“You’ve got to be kidding—Alma Hoppema? She taught my daughter piano.”

“Ach, verdroit--what a small world. And you?”

“Grew up in Cadillac, but we live now in DeMotte.”

“Say, our son’s preacher is from Cadillac--just retired, I think.”

“Who’s that then?”

“Pastor Rupke, I believe—Ypke Rupke. Nice guy—full head of hair.”

“I know the Rupkes. His father was my Sunday School Superintendent.”

“You got to be kidding. And your kids?”

“Son went to Dordt, married a Posthumous, and they live in the Twin Cities.”

“Yeah? And where do they go to church?”

“Calvary.”

“They got to know my niece then—Sara Van Smacking?”

“I don’t believe this—last time we visited our daughter’s place up there, the Van Smackings just happened to be over for dinner. They’re good buds!”

“Isn’t that something!”

“Amazing thing happened that day—the Van Smackings dog just up and died. Grabbed a bone—we were having pork chops, you know?—grabbed it right off the table, ran outside with it, got it caught in his throat, and died. Boom. Very sad—right in front of the kids. Amazing thing. I can hardly talk about it.”

“What kind of dog?"

“Little shitzu.”

“Little shitzu? Where’d they get it?”

“Hey, wait a minute—somebody near Prinsburg, I think.”

“Had to be from our friends the Vlaardingerbroeks—I know the story. I know the dog. You were there?”

“We were. Saw the whole thing happen. Funny—I don’t remember that name though. You’d think I’d remember that name—Vlaar what?"

“Vlaardingerbroek. But it’s their daughter’s kennel now. Her name is Wilson, Kathy Wilson—Wilson’s Shitzus.”

“Wilson?—what a strange name.”

“I know, I know—but her husband went to Calvin.”

“Oh, great! So did my husband. What a small world.”

“Now, what were you saying about DeMotte?”