28 December 2009, Editor's Office, Manchester Examiner

Henry Wilkins sat in his chair and took a sip of the brandy in his glass before commenting, "You certainly turned that meeting on it's ear, Gretchen."

Gretchen Guebler studied the editor-in-chief over the rim of her glass before replying quietly, "I didn't really do anything, Henry."

"Oh no, not at all.", the editor said with a little bit of amusement, "You said something to them beyond 'Hello' and poor Blair Kent about dropped her teeth."

She shrugged coyly, "Blair dentures? I never would have known that." She offered a small raise of the glass to him, "Good to have people like you around to keep me up on the latest, Henry. I'd surely be lost without you." Gretchen allowed herself a smile at that, which Henry returned with a laugh.

"You're evil, my dear." he said, leaning back in his chair with a creak, "I'm just curious as to why you picked chaplaincy as your topic. I think Father Micheals was a little surprised by your statement, to say the least."

Gretchen considered him a moment and took a sip of the brandy before commenting, "I don't think it's all that surprising, Henry. Chaplaincy is a vital part of the hospital community. Having spiritual support for the sick is almost as vital to the mission as medical care."

"Yes, but I thought that this was remedied when you and Father Micheals had your discussions in the 90's." He took another sip, "He's come an incredible way from being the dispassionate old crow he always was."

She suppressed a laugh, "It wasn't that hard to convince him back then, Henry. You just can't expect a priest to be convinced with a sound bite. You know that."

"Oh yeah. I just hope he doesn't think that you were attacking him."

With a smile, Gretchen said, "I think that the letter I handed him will make my points clearly enough. He's not stupid, Henry; he'll appreciate the fact that removing the license to evangelize from the forum will increase confidence in the services that he oversees." She sipped, "Besides, the more use that the chaplaincy program sees, the more funding his office gets."

Henry just chuckled in reply.

"Bottom lines are still bottom lines, Henry. I would think, given the concern that I have expressed for the hospital, in general, and Children's Services, in specific, that I'm not just some interloper looking to undermine anyone's mission."

The editor sipped his brandy and said, "Oh, definitely not. I'm just amazed by the reactions." He slipped into the announcer's voice, "The mild mannered Gretchen speaks! And Manchester listens." Then he laughed again quietly.

She waved it all off with her glass, "I own a tavern and do a little social activism every now and again. There is nothing stunning about that." She paused, "Besides, the last thing a sick person needs is to have one of these evangelicals come in and skirt boundary between emotional and spiritual support and testimony and preaching." She winked, "Nothing wrong with it, in it's place, Henry, but I think Manchester Mercy is one place that doesn't need it."

Henry Wilkins nodded approval, with a little laugh, "I guess you're dead on, again. The nuances are rarely that apparent." Then he changed the subject, "So, what are your plans for New Years Eve?"