The children played at the top of the stairs. They laughed as the coin bounced down each step, and finally it landed heads up at the bottom. One of the children raced down, plucked the coin from the floor, and ran back up the stairs two at a time.

The cycle started again.

One tossed the coin, and they both delighted in its clinking. The other child then popped up, jumped down each step giggling every time her sandals slapped against the platform to retrieve the coin. Though the game was simple, the children enjoyed it.

"Do it again!" squealed the younger child. The coin rolled down the stairs catching the sunlight. The child clapped, and started down after it holding firmly to the rough banister.

As the child reached down for the shiny coin, he looked up to see a man standing over him.

The man had very dark skin, not much darker than the little boy's. His nose was huge and flat. The boy was sure he'd have to use both hands to grasp it. Running his tongue over his fat pink lips, the man then smiled down at the child.

The older child made her way down the steps, and stood next to the little boy. She looked up at the man noting his fancy clothes and gold rings.

"I'm the new pastor," the man said slowly to the children, "Pastor Brown."

The name was plain, and the girl had hoped the man's name would be as fancy as his clothes. She frowned, a small downturn of the corner of her lips as her gaze fell to the man's fine leather shoes.

"Hello Pastor Brown," the children murmured in unison.

Pastor Brown flicked a comb out of his breast pocket, and raked it through his thick curly hair. Then, kneeling towards the two, his smile so wide it was going to split, he scooped up the shiny silver coin, and dropped it into his pocket.

The children stared up at him, and he placed a dingy brown coin in each of their hands. Giving the two a wink, Pastor Brown sauntered away as the children glanced from each other to their dull pennies, frowning.