Page 7 of Sinned
“I think Katerina used the term ‘monkey butt’. As in your breath smelled like one,” Josie said as she laughed. “But good to know you’re also soft.”
“Ahh fuck,” Thomas said. “You tricked me. I should’ve known better than to say anything. Let’s talk about something else. Like the priest here for crissakes.”
“Yeah, Charles, maybe I’ll feel better about you going if we talk about it,” Josie said. “I know we grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school and everything, but being a priest is a really big thing.”
“It’s like Momma said, I got the calling. This is the right thing for me. It’s what I want and I can’t imagine anything else. I’ve been doing this for a year now, why is this bothering you?”
“What if you just haven’t met the right pussy?” Thomas asked.
“Grow up, douchebag,” I said. “It has nothing to do with sex. Yeah, I have to be celibate, but being a priest is more important than that. I feel so fulfilled in what I do. It’s hard to explain.”
“Nothing is more important than sex,” Thomas said.
“But why Sacred Heart?” Josie asked, ignoring Thomas. “I thought Father Liam would have pulled some strings to get you at St. Peter’s”
“He tried, but Bishop Mulcahey wants me at Sacred Heart. He thinks having a local will bring the parishioners back.”
“Nothing is going to save that church,” Thomas said. “That part of town is falling apart.”
“Such a shame, It’s such a beautiful church,” Josie said.
“It is, but Thomas is right. That whole area looks deserted. But people still live there and they go to church,” I said. “I think the best thing would be for them to get historical status and rename St. Peter’s School to recognize Sacred Heart, but there’s only so much I can do.”
“I’m sure you’ll make that church great again,” Josie said.
“After all the work I’ll be doing down in Peru, I’m hoping Sacred Heart will be a piece of cake.”
Thomas looked at his watch and clasped my shoulder. It was the closest thing to a hug we ever did.
“Take care of yourself down there,” he said. “And if you meet any naive, beautiful women looking to worship a husband, remember to give them my number.” He grinned widely as he leaned against the door.
“You’re such a dick,” Josie said as she got up from the bed.
“I still think he just hasn’t met the right pussy,” Thomas said.
“I don’t care that he’s our brother, you don’t joke like that about a priest,” Josie said as she punched Thomas in the arm.
“I’m not joking, I’m serious,” he said as he rubbed his arm.
I watched them go as they left my bedroom. It felt so final seeing them walk out and I thought I knew why. Since I agreed to go to Peru, I had this nagging thought that it would change me. I had faith that it was for the better, but I knew when I came back I would be a different man. I just had no idea how much I would change.
CHAPTER THREE
The humidity hit me as soon as I stepped off the plane. I collected my bags and spotted a stout man with a baseball cap standing by the doors. He held a sign with my name on it.
“I’m Charles McArthur,” I said as I approached him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Father. I’m Ramon Cartagena. It’s a two hour drive to Amaru.”
He reached to take my bags and I stopped him. I recognized his name as the man responsible for all the progress in these small villages. I wasn’t about to let him carry my bags for me. With one bag on my shoulder and pulling the other behind me, I followed him to his small car.
“Good to meet you,” I said. “I heard about all the work you’ve done in these villages.”
“Yes, but it’s never enough. I need more people to help, but there aren’t enough people who will work out of generosity.”
“I read about you in the New York Times. You are really making an impact out here,” I said as I put my bags in the trunk of the car before we hit the road.
“More of these villages need better access to water, electricity, and healthcare. When we have that then we’ll be able to get more teachers out here to help educate the children.”