[Verse 1] Merle rolled up to the First National Bank, Ziploc bag of quarters and his gas light blinked. Church lady's honey was cash-only sweet, Just enough to leave him running on empty. Tammy was inside at the other end, Pulling out cash with a smile and a grin. Merle leaned in quiet, "Can you help me please?" Thinking of the drive and everything he'd need. [Pre-Chorus] She couldn't hear him across the room, Or maybe life was just that loud. He kept counting quarters one by one, Trying hard not to draw a crowd. [Chorus] Then the teller smiled and called out loud— "OH MERLE! EIGHTY-SEVEN!" She heard THAT alright, turned around on a dime. Twenty-five from the Costco Venmo, Suddenly remembered right on time. Funny how silence disappears When a dollar amount fills the air. She heard THAT alright... Yeah, she heard THAT alright. [Verse 2] Merle's driven millions of miles through the years, Snow and summer, highways everywhere. Never made much fuss about the road ahead, Just kept both hands steady and a quiet prayer. But come lunchtime, Tammy grabbed the keys, Said, "I'll drive—we'll get there just fine." Funny how the nervous one insists on driving, While Merle just smiled and let her drive. His phone lit up with one small buzz— Social Security finally came. He breathed out slow and smiled a little; The whole day didn't feel the same. [Chorus] Then the teller smiled and called out loud— "OH MERLE! EIGHTY-SEVEN!" She heard THAT alright, turned around on a dime. Twenty-five from the Costco Venmo, Paid in full this time. Funny how the smallest number Can suddenly change the scene. She heard THAT alright... Like she'd been listening all along. [Bridge] (half spoken) There's a church lady selling honey by the barrel. There's a father just trying to buy enough gas. There's a son in the city needing help with one more load. Sometimes love shows up carrying quarters instead of cash. Life gets funny, life gets heavy, Sometimes both on the very same day. You laugh because you have to... Then you keep on driving anyway. [Final Chorus] The teller smiled and called out loud— "OH MERLE! EIGHTY-SEVEN!" Everybody heard it all that day. The tank got filled, the road kept rolling, Hope arrived in its own small way. Some folks carry wallets, Some carry patience every mile. Merle just tipped his cap and grinned... And drove off smiling all the while. [Outro] She heard THAT alright... Oh, she heard THAT alright... Eighty-seven dollars... Funny what cuts through the noise. Every. Single. Time. Whisper Outro] (soft laughter) Authorized by the King of all Comedic, Satirical, and Family Training Covenants... **Yeshua HaMashiach Adonai.** With a grateful nod to the great cloud of witnesses, whose love still echoes in our hearts. May every family story find its redemption. Forever archived in the Hyper-Ethical Resurrection Directive... ...and, just to be safe... backed up at the Internet Archive. So everyone behaves... ...forgives a little... ...keeps the coffee warm... ...makes another song... ...and laughs together in the end. [Soft coffee mug sets down] [End]
