Ego Te Absolvo

A troubled child seeks forgiveness in a place of cynicism

The priest took a deep breath. James Heatry was in the other side of the confessional. Good Lord, he half thought half prayed. Just let this little demon tell me his sins so I can get him out of here before he taints my soul! He thought for a moment, then appended his prayer: Well, SOME of his sins. We don't have all day, Lord. Amen.

Father Lowry looked through the screen and saw the young miscreant, his forehead soaked with holy water. The priest rolled his eyes, straightened his scarf (he smiled, remembering the instructor at the monastery yelling at him that it was a stole, not a damn scarf!)

"Speak your sins, son, that God may hear and forgive."

"It wasn't me, Father!"

Father Lowry blinked. "Wasn't... what wasn't you, James?"

"Garrett said I threw the brick, but it was him, and I got a detention anyway, and I didn't rat him out, but I don't want to go to hell because I didn't break the rectory window!"

Lowry had to keep from chuckling. Despite his troublesome nature, James reminded him of himself a little bit.

"James, you're not Judas Iscariot for telling me who threw the brick. I already knew." He hadn't known, but he wanted to put the boy at ease. That was his job, after all.

He could hear James' sigh of relief. "You mean God's not gonna burn us up for it?"

This time, Father Lowry laughed out loud. "No... Goodness no, son! Just be more careful. Now; is there anything else?"

James was quiet for a few minutes. "James?"

"Nope, nothing yet, Father, but I'll bet I see you again soon!"

And with that, he was off down the aisle, calling to Garrett to go play— at the other end of the brickyard.

NOTES: ▶︎

Word Count: 300
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the words water scarf brick

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