My church youth group had taken a spring break trip to Louisiana to help build and rebuild houses in the Baldwin area. The day before we left to go home, we all took a trip to New Orleans to see the sights. Near the end of the day, we had all gathered by the Riverfront Mall. While waiting for the last few people to arrive, I noticed an odd man, wearing rubber wading pants, goggles, and talking on a cellular phone. As I watched him, he began walking towards our group, until he was right next to me.
“You want to be on the radio?†he asked.
I said, “Sure.†(Keep in mind that this entire time I was just trying to impress this girl I had met while on the trip, Beth. That's her in the green shirt.)
As he walked me down to the large fountain, he explained that he was planning on collection some money from the fountain and giving it to a local charity. He then handed me the phone, and two people from the radio station asked me where I was from, how old I was, etc. as they man prepared to collect money in the fountain. When they were done asking questions, I handed the phone back to him, and began to walk back to the group, when he asked if I’d like to help. Again I said that I would, and I hopped in the fountain and began collecting money. After a few minutes, a few more people from my group jumped in the fountain and joined us. After a few more minutes, a security guard sped up to us on a bike, and began to yell for us all to get out of the fountain. As the radio guy tried to explain what was going on, we all got out, and the security guard told us all to follow him to the mall security office.
After receiving a detailed speech about the evils of trespassing & thievery, and the sanctity of mall fountains, we were all allowed to leave. A few people from my group then told the radio guy that I was the pastor’s son, which lead to another round of questions from the two people back at the radio station. The money was returned to the fountain, and the radio station agreed never again to steal from the mall fountain. About a year later a ship rain aground right into the side of the mall, severely damaging a large section of the mall. Coincidence.. I think not.
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