The Slice: Enemy is Jennifer in disguise

On the way home from church, Shelley Davis’ 6-year-old grandson asked her if she knew the name of God’s enemy.

It was a puzzling question. So the Spokane woman asked the boy, whose name is Austin, to tell her the answer.

“Jennifer,” he said.

Davis conducted a quick inventory of her biblical knowledge. She decided the lad must have been thinking of “Lucifer.”

But there was no persuading the kid. “I just couldn’t convince him that he had misunderstood,” she wrote.

He stood by his position: God’s enemy is called Jennifer.

Finally, though, he budged. “Well, maybe his last name is Lucifer,” Austin allowed. “But his first name is Jennifer.”

“Reader interactive add-on: So what’s your opinion? When you think about the Jennifers you have known, what’s your call: nice or God’s enemy?

Lord knows, there are plenty of insipid celebrities with that first name. But is, say, J-Lo, God’s enemy? That seems a bit harsh.

And I’ll bet you’ve known some fine, upstanding Jennifers. I have.

Let’s let hippy-dippy ‘60s troubadour Donovan have the last word.

Jennifer Juniper, hair of golden flax

Jennifer Juniper longs for what she lacks

Do you like her, yes I do, sir

Would you love her, yes I would, sir

Whatcha doin’, Jennifer my love

“One small step away from the refrigerator: Wednesday is the anniversary of the first walk on the moon in 1969. It’s the perfect day to launch a self-improvement program.

You know. “If they can put a man on the moon, then I ought to be able to do 10 push-ups every morning.”

Or something.

Of course, no one actually says “If they can put a man on the moon…” anymore. But that’s beside the point.

“Follow-up: Last week a reader wondered what others would think about her policy of discouraging unannounced drop-in visits.

Responders staked out a variety of positions, from the laissez-faire “come over anytime” attitude to a strict requirement of advance notice.

But several suggested a compromise approach: Calling ahead and saying, “Hey, I was thinking of stopping by in about 20 minutes — that OK?”

“Warm-up question: Strangers walking by your recyclables bin early on pick-up day would have no choice but to conclude that….

A) You like your imported beer. B) The movie “Sideways” did not put you off merlot. C) Your home is secretly an old-school frat house. D) You like those 7-ounce bottles of Budweiser they sell at Huckleberry’s. E) Your family has been pounding that sugar water. F) Your body is a temple. G) Other.

“Today’s Slice question: What made you angry when applying for life insurance?