Sunday, May 31
THE SERVICE ENDED, and Rory’s family shuffled out of their pews.
“What a lovely service,” his mother said.
“It was very nice,” his father agreed.
“Okay, let’s get home,” his mother said.
“Mother, Father, I need to talk to the priest. I’ll meet you at home for lunch,” Rory said.
“Is something wrong?” his mother asked.
“No, nothing wrong. I’ll see you at home.” Rory kissed his mother on the cheek and shook his father’s hand before heading back into the church.
“Don’t be too long. I’ve invited the Jenkinses for lunch,” his mother said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Rory moved through the side aisles to avoid the crowd of people leaving the church. He went to sit on the bench next to the door for confessionals. The priest opened the door and walked inside. No one else seemed to want to confess this morning, so Rory went in.
The large room held a desk and chair, two small wooden-backed chairs, a basin with holy water, statues of various saints, and a large cabinet against the back wall.
One side was for those proclaiming their sins while the priest sat on the other side. Rory slipped in. The booth was tight around his girth, and he knelt toward the dark screen. It was claustrophobic in the room, the air dry and musky.
“Good evening, my child. Our Lord is watching over you and will bless you on this day. How may I assist in helping you redeem yourself?”
Rory placed his fingers in the holy water next to him and signed the cross. He spoke the words engraved in his mind.
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been twenty days since my last confession.”
“I see, my child. What sins do you wish to confess today?”
“I am guilty of the sin of lust in my heart and my mind.”
“Have you acted upon this lust?”
The touch of Bernard in the pool at Sarah’s party gave him a partial erection. He couldn’t control it, but he didn’t fight against it.
“No, Father, it’s just thoughts.”
“Well, we cannot always control our thoughts. It is good that you have realized this is happening and have restrained yourself from acting upon these desires. Please, tell me more.”
“The lust I have felt…” Rory hesitated. Speaking the words out loud made them true. He would have to admit to what he desired. His stomach tightened.
“The road to healing begins with confessing our sins. So please, tell me the lust of your heart and mind so that you may begin the healing process.”
“I have lust for one of my close friends,” Rory said.
“Does she not desire you?”
“It is not a she, Father.”
“Oh, I see. Tell me all that you remember.”
“I met back up with an old friend, one from school. We met up at his father’s barbecue in April. We spent time together at the park and last weekend we went to a movie together. Hanging out and reconnecting has been such a wonderful experience, especially after our estrangement the last six years.”
“Okay, seems most innocent. But I feel there is more to this.”
