6:45 a.m. I am irritated with myself for waking up at 6am when I could have slept in. I kick my way out of the blankets on my bed and trip over a pile of laundry. Not a good start. I walk to the kitchen and put a pot of water on the stove.
Today I will be traveling down to Texas so I can infiltrate that church I'd mentioned in an earlier post. I sit down to the computer and dig around for a bit of information. A few minutes later, I click on some photographs from their official website. I think I figured out why this case has been worked 5 times without results. Judging from the pictures, I believe 99% of the parishoners are black. Don't ask me what the other 1% are. Probably Italians.
Sigh. It can't ever be easy.
Well, it would probably look suspicious if I went in there saying I'm intending to join. I change my strategy. I think I will pose as a graduate student in theology doing research on different sects.
I might even be able to videotape the service openly if he thinks I'm doing it for my doctoral thesis... hmmmm.
7 comments:
Or, you could tell them you're Mariah Carey's half-sister.
Don't forget to wear a large hat.
Sly - I've seen "Crowns" - one of the best plays that the Arena Stage did (in Washington.)
Polly - the problem with the graduate student approach is the possibility of opening yourself up to questions about your research. I couldn't BS my way through that. How about a student of architecture or something else (where they don't have expert knowledge versus your faking it?)
Higgy,
That is a good point and I'd considered it. I am quite versed in a couple of different religions, though, and if I pose as a scholar in one of those particular faiths, I should be able to convince him I'm legit.
Polly - you might also want either a student ID or a letter of introduction from a college to lend weight to your story. What if they want to check you out with the school you say you're coming from?
Call me paranoid, but I could see them doing so...
Sly is 100% correct (speaking from experience) visiting churches where we were the only anglos.
Higgy, I missed Crowns when it was here, but heard great reviews about it. I hope it returns.
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