Karen loved Paterson, especially when people would greet her as she rode her bright red bicycle, its gleaming exterior adding a sharpness to her stride. She was the darling of everyone, it seemed, her yellow raincoat sailing in the wind as the slick rubber of her bike tires splashed against puddles collecting rain.
Among the people who adored her was the parish priest, Father Tom, who was somewhat of a father figure for Karen, especially since her own father, Mr. Dom Spages, was not an active figure in her life. She knew only life with her mother Catherine, an elegant, trim brunette who doted on her youngest daughter, and her older sister, Alice, whose morose demeanour could not have been further from Karen's innately sunny disposition.
Karen loved her mother dearly, but living with Alice was an unpleasant experience for the sandy-haired girl. Alice was often mean, stealing Karen's dolls and comics to act out. Indeed, as Karen prepared for her First Communion, jealous Alice had taken it upon herself to filch Karen's white veil, nearly ruining it in the process, much to innocent Karen's dismay.
Luckily for her, Father Tom had arranged to give her a special Communion present.
Together, Catherine, Alice, and Karen went to visit the kindly priest, who greeted the three with a warm smile, inviting them into his home.
"How do you do, Mrs. Spages?" Father Tom smiled, holding open the door.
"Fine, thank you, Father. And yourself?" A neat Mrs. Spages answered, swatting a stray strand of hair from her face, which bore a kind of vintage beauty.
"I couldn't be better, especially since I have a present to give little Karen." The priest answered, nudging the small girl gently with his elbow.
"Is it cookies?!" Karen asked, excited, bouncing on her heels. Father Tom usually harboured cookies for his visitors, and the Spages were regulars.
"No, it's even better!" Father Tom answered, leading the two girls and their mother to his dining room, which was elegantly decorated with handsome wooden furnishings.
"What could be better than cookies?" Karen wondered aloud, taking off her yellow raincoat and taking a seat at one of the chairs.
"This." The Father took a small box from his pocket, opening it. Inside was a thin gold necklace, a comely cross glittering in gold. "It belonged to my mother, and is very special to me. Now, it belongs to you."
Karen's eyes widened upon peering at the lovely gift Father Tom had given her. Her own father had never given her anything, becoming estranged from the family since as far as she could recall. Having this token of adoration was, to her, very special, and she would cherish it forever.
"Thank you, Father Tom!" She chimed cheerful, clapping her hands.
"You're not to put it on until the ceremony, do you understand?" Mrs. Spages chided, grateful to the priest for his eternally kind attentions, as being a single mother in a city like Paterson was difficult.
In the distance, seemingly forgotten by all, glowered adolescent Alice, jealous of the doting attentions her small sister received. Soon, she thought, it would all come to an end, and the little brat would scarcely suspect it.
For now, however, all was mirth at Father Tom's table, the usual cookies retrieved for everyone's enjoyment.