I bought a cedar chest at a local thrift store and it is missing some veneer (no, that is not what this post is about). As I was picking up the chest, a man was inquiring about a couch; he wanted to know if it were leather because he wanted to cover a chest with leather.

Since he was a "refinisher," I asked him where I might find veneer. Before he could answer, the young man who was loading my chest said, "Try Hobby Lobby."

I replied, "I do not shop at Hobby Lobby."

The man wanting the leather laughed uproariously and asked, "What are you, an atheist?"

I replied, "As a matter of fact, I am."

The look of incredulity on his face expressed more than words could; he expected me to protest, "NO! I AM NOT AN ATHEIST." I thought his eyes were going to bug out of his head.

He stood for a second, speechless, and then asked, "Let me ask you one thing: do you believe in the devil?" The question was inane, of course.

"No."

"At least you're honest," he replied.

He wanted to engage in a debate but I was not interested. The chest was loaded and I drove away.

People read into other what they want them to be; he assumed that I was Christian because I was friendly. Atheists are not friendly, ya know: they are gloomy and bitter and wear the Mark of Cain on their foreheads (mine is covered by my bangs).

Cedar chest: $60.

The look on the man's face: Priceless.