Go Back to the Church

Sunday, and after everything that happened on Saturday, you need to go for a walk. You’re later than you were last weekend, deliberately so, such that when you reach St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, the congregation are leaving. You quickly spot Anissa among them.

She’s dressed once more in style, white blouse with ruff, a black jacket on top, long black skirt, and slick, black stockings, high heels, hat with veil same as last weekend. Like last weekend, she’s surrounded by men, sons and husbands and grandfathers, all bewitched by her beauty.

You stand and admire her as she heads to the carpark, surrounded by this coterie of admirers. When she heads to her Renault Clio, you turn to take another path. There’s someone blocking it.

It’s the priest who spotted you last time. Up close his thin face looks thinner, his long, sharp nose looks longer and sharper, his sharp chin a chiselled point, his sharp cheekbones like saws. He has you in his penetrating blue eyes, above a sneer of a smile.

“I saw you last time admiring her, and I wondered whether you’d come again. She has that effect on most men.”

“I was just walking by, father.” You think catholic priests are called father.

“Of course you were. I looked for you before the service, but you weren’t there. No, but you are here after the service. But not during it. You should come in. All are welcome.”

“I’m not religious. And even if I was, I’m not Catholic.”

“But she is.”

“Who?”

“Don’t lie to me. It’s unbecoming to lie to a priest. You know who we’re talking about. Miss Anissa De Gaulle. Since she started attending my flock has increased. There’s contests in the aisles for who can sit close to her. And she doesn’t notice. Her faith is so strong that she wants to become a nun. She wants to deny to men, what all men lust for.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging. She is a fine woman. She just doesn’t see it that way. But she listens to her priest. I’m very influential to her.”

“I think you’ve got the wrong person, I’m just out for a walk.”

“Don’t you want her, Mr Smith?”

“You know who I am?”

“I know who you are. You’re the talk of the town. I recognised you the moment I saw you. New teacher at St Perpetua’s, colleague of Anissa. You’ve seen her at school. You can’t help but chase her outside it. You passing at this time is no coincidence. You want her. I can help.”

“I…”

The priest chuckles.

“I’m Father Norris, and as I said before, I have influence. I can show you how to win her.”

“That’s not very priestlike.”

His response to that is a deep chuckle, that doesn’t sound like a priest’s laugh. “I have her best interest at heart. She thinks she’d be happy as a nun. We are men of the world. We know she wouldn’t be. She isn’t built to be a nun, however much she thinks she is. She just needs to be guided on a surer path. And I will be the man who does it. Do you want to be on that path as well?”

“Why?”

“Can’t I say I have her best interests at heart. Or are you a cynical atheist? Then let’s say I have certain desires, and I believe you can help me with them. And the upside for you, is that in helping me, you’ll get closer to her.”

“What help do you need?”

“Nothing at the moment. I need to prepare the ground. But once I’ve prepared it, I will ask for your help. Trust me, I’m not asking you to do anything illegal or immoral, I am a priest. I just need some help. There are groups in this town working against the church. I want you to help me subvert them.”

“How will you contact me?”

“I’ve already got your phone number.”

“You have?”

“Yes. The whole town council got it when you were hired. The priest of St Paul’s is always on the Town Council for guidance.”

Is that normal? Doesn’t sound kosher to you. Sounds decidedly suspicious. You never knew the town council and the school were that closely integrated.

His smile follows you as you head back home. The smile is unsettling. What he told you is equally unsettling. You don’t know whether you want to take his offer. Even a beauty like Anissa might not be worth it.