didn’t notice that the group had become quiet. As he took a swig of his beer, Brad handed him a book.
         “Jon’l, happy birthday. This is the book I was telling you about, with all the lyrics from every Eric Clapton song ever recorded.”
         Jon’l received the book and assessed it quietly.
         “Well thank you, Brad. That’s very nice of you.”
         As he read the cover, he realized all eyes were on him. He looked up. “I feel kind of like a celebrity right now.”
         There were nervous chuckles as he returned to the book cover.
         “Man, two hundred songs? He’s as bad as the Beatles.”
         The group remained awkwardly quiet. Jon’l wondered why everyone watched him so intently. After looking over the front cover, he turned to the back side. Then leisurely, almost in slow motion, he opened the book. Everyone held their breath.
         Just then Ben Jeffries, Brad and Nancy’s neighbor, was sweeping pine needles off his patio in the next yard when he was startled by an eruption of shouts and laughter from the other side of the fence. There were uproarious conversations. Someone shouted, “I knew it!” and someone else yelled, “You owe me five dollars!” As the group carried on, Ben resumed his task. And as he did, Lucifer smiled knowingly.