Margaret told me about Pope Francis' edict and we couldn't help but laugh. What would happen if a refugee was dropped into the middle of the Burg? Here's our take on it, we hope you enjoy. This story will probably run three chapters. Let us know what you think, we love hearing from you!

PS - All the Characters you recognize belong to JE. The mistakes are ours.

Morning Edition Trenton Times:

Pope Francis Tells Catholic Clergy: Take In Refugees, Or Pay Taxes Like Everyone Else

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Father Matt, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Sorrow Church, met the gaze of each of the members that would be most likely to help the Church in this time of need.

"Ahem," clearing his throat to quiet down the gossipers, he began by leading them in prayer and a joyful song.

It was afterwards he got down to business. "Our Catholic Leader Pope Francis has made it very clear to all the churches everywhere that we're to take in refugees or we'll end up losing our tax exempt status. Lord knows we need that status to continue operations."

Mutterings were heard by Father Matt, most of all the 'why me?' of a certain person followed by a 'what a pip of a time we'll have!' which led him to regret calling the Plum home.

'Suck it up and get this over with,' he more or less thought to himself.

"So, we've taken in a man who needs to be hosted for awhile until Hamilton Township can take him for a longer period of time. All we need to do is show he was with members of our parish and we're good for the tax dodge, I mean tax exempt status."

Father Matt continued on, pacing back and forth as he shot baleful glances at those he chose to help the church out.

"I've got a list of when to expect your 'guest' and I'll ask you to show him around town like he was a visiting member of your family. Take him to the store, maybe the park. A movie shouldn't be out of the question as some of you have young children, that would also be good for interactions, as he'll be married once he and his fiancee' find aslyum somewhere in the United States."

"Pick me! Pick me! Why, we've got an extra bedroom just sitting there, it would be ideal for him to stay just with us," Helen said jumping up almost vibrating with excitement over the prospect of a single man for a house guest. 'Who knows,' she thought to herself, 'sometime or another Stephanie is bound to show up for a meal or something.' Never giving a thought to the fact the man had a fiancee' waiting to be reunited with the refugee.

"Nonsense, why Helen Plum you should be ashamed of yourself. Yes I know that look on your face, you're going to try to get the man and Stephanie together aren't you? I've seen it before when you and I tried to get her and my son married off. Forget the Plum home Father, I've got extra bedrooms as well," Angie Morelli told everyone.

"Um Father, you know Eddie and I have a extra bedroom as well. The boys have doubled up in the two rooms so we're open to taking your young man in. Maybe he'll see how fun it is to have children in America. We do have wifi and all the trappings he can get used to," Shirley Gazzarra said.

"Actually, all three of your families have been selected to help the Parish out in our time of need."

"Angie, you can expect Saul at your house tomorrow morning at 8 am sharp. Please treat him like you would a member of your family. But, whatever you do, don't let him run around with that boy of yours, Joseph. It's been quite the scandal since he lost his job and all. In all my years of treating the poor and downtrodden, I've never seen anyone so depressed over his ahem, unfortunate condition that everyone is talking about, that and his drinking."

"Father! No one can prove he has genital warts," Angie said with her face turning red in humilation. In a more subdued voice she continued, "But of course Saul will be more than welcome in my home. I can take him shopping for clothes, poor man doesn't have much I'm assuming."

"Thank you Angie for your support, the Church is glad to leave Saul in your care for two days and nights. Then onto the Plum home for the next two, followed by Shirley and Eddie's home for his last days and nights with us. Remember, treat him like family." As the three families left, Father Matt crossed his fingers and raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Lord, I hope that this experience teaches each of them some humility. They're going to need all the help they can get."

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Angie Morelli woke up early monday morning and spent her time cleaning. By the time Father Matt knocked on the door at 8 am, every surface of the house gleamed. She straightened a nonexistent wrinkle from her apron and opened the door. "Father Matt, how nice to see you. Please come in."

She looked at the man who followed Father Matt into her home. He was a few inches under 6 feet tall, and looked extremely gaunt. Angie plastered a smile on her face and gently took his arm. "You must be Saul. My name is Angie and I'm just thrilled to have you here." She led him towards the kitchen. "You must be starved after your journey. Let's get you something to eat."

After coffee and danish, Father Matt stood to leave. "I'll be back to pick him up on Wednesday morning. Remember, he doesn't speak much English, but try to make him feel like family."

Angie took Saul and Bella to the Quakerbridge mall. At the shoe store, There was a long line of customers waiting to be rung up. Bella looked at the people in line and singled out her victim. "Myrna Sklar, what a surprise. Is your boy Marty still trying to find a 'woman'?" When she first started to talk, half the people in line dropped their purchases and ran for the door. Myrna stood still with a deer in the headlights look. "Would you like me to fix his problem for him?" when she said that, she pointed to her eye, implying that she was going to curse him. When she did that, the rest of the customers cleared out of the store in record time. Saul watched from the corner of his eye as Angie crossed herself.

Myrna shook her head, horrified. "No, thank you, Bella. Lovely to see you, sorry, I have to run." As she was talking, she started backing towards the entrance. She set off the anti-theft alarm before she realized that she was still holding the shoes that she forgot to pay for. When an employee came over to help her, she thrust the shoes at him and ran.

With an evil cackle of laughter Angie, Bella, and a rather surprised Saul paid for their shoes in an empty store.

Their next stop was Sears. This time Bella found Evelyn Nagy in line. "Evelyn, I hear your daughter won't be needing any of the products she makes for a while, no?" Instead of running this time, customers stopped and whipped out cell phones to record what could be an interesting conversation. Everyone knew that Evelyn's daughter worked at the personal products plant. "Is she still seeing her supervisor? I heard he was married."

Evelyn broke down in tears and fled from the store. Once she was gone, Bella looked around at the assembled crowd. As soon as she started to pull down her lower eyelid, everyone else ran for cover while Angie once again crossed herself. Once they were alone, Angie turned to Bella and said, "That was good gossip, why did you go and waste it?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "I heard you tell Helen about that last week. If Helen knows, then everyone knows. That woman can't keep her mouth closed." Once again, there was no line at the register.

Once they were finished at the mall, they stopped by Giovinccini's for some deli meat. Bella pushed Angie and Saul out of her way when she saw Stephanie Plum at the counter. "You broke my Joey's heart for the last time! I'm gonna curse you good!"

She was already pulling her eyelid down and Angie was beginning to cross herself when Stephanie looked over at her. She folded her arms across her chest and said, "You've already cursed me twice this week. I told you that Joe and I broke up a year ago so if he's heartbroken you should check and see if any strippers left town suddenly."

There was a collective gasp throughout the deli. Bella's eyes went as wide as saucers. She gasped and sputtered then said, "You're the devil!" Bella spit over her shoulder. "If I had my gun here..."

"Joe took your gun away from you the last time you shot at me, didn't he?" Since she and Joe were still dating at the time, she knew that he did. She also knew that he hid it in the property room at the TPD so she couldn't get it back. Gina handed Stephanie her order, so she walked to the register. "Have a nice day, Bella. Go find someone else to terrorize."

When they left the deli, Angie drove over to Joe's house. They walked in to find Joe sprawled across the couch in sweatpants, with pizza boxes and dirty laundry everywhere. Joe looked up when they walked in and said, "Ma, I'm out of ham." Just as she was patting the bag she held, Saul walked out from behind her. "Who the hell is this?"

Angie picked her way to the kitchen. "This is Saul. He's a refugee from Syria. Father Matt wants to show him what life in America is like, so of course he's staying with me. I've got your ham right here, along with some other things from the deli."

Angie and Bella walked towards the kitchen and Joe looked Saul over. Shaking his head he asked, "So, how do you like being a Morelli?"

Saul shrugged his shoulders. "Is confusing. The old lady points at her eye a lot, and Mrs. Morelli crosses herself."

Joe snorted out a laugh. "Grandma Bella loves scaring the crap out of people, and Ma's just protecting herself." He finished off the beer he was holding and set it on the table with all the other empties. He pushed a pizza box off of the recliner and nodded at the seat. "Take a load off and watch the game. The Mets are up by two and Ma will bring out lunch in a minute."

Angie brought them sandwiches and cleaned up the mess while Joe taught Saul the finer points of Baseball. By the time they left he still didn't know much about the game, but he did learn how to curse at the umpires. After the game they went home and Angie made Eggplant Parmesan for dinner. The dish was a lot different than the maqlubbeh he was used to at home, but it tasted good and Angie was thrilled when he asked for seconds.

By the time everyone went to bed, Saul was exhausted. He was also pretty sure that the whole family was crazy, but he kept that opinion to himself. He was just starting to fall asleep when his door opened. Joe stood there drinking a beer. He looked at Saul and said, "Shit, you aren't going to sleep now, are you? Get dressed and come downstairs, but don't wake Ma up."

Saul did as he was told and found Joe in the kitchen, eating some of the leftover dinner. Joe made a face, but finished the piece he was eating. Once he was done he said to Saul, "Frigging eggplant."

Saul winced but said, "It is very different than how my Ola prepares it back home, but it is not bad."

Joe shrugged. "You married?"

Saul shook his head no. "We are to be married as soon as Ola arrives."

Joe snorted. "I'm sure getting married is fine and all, but you want to see everything that's out there before you commit. Of course, the wife will cook, clean, and raise the kids, but you need to find someone to take care of your needs."

Saul looked puzzled. "Ola will take care of my needs."

Joe laughed quietly. "Okay, Saul. Uncle Joe is going to teach you what it really means to be a Morelli man. It's time to get you a Goomah, and I know just the place."

As they were walking out the door Saul asked, "What's a Goomah, and where are we going?"

Joe smiled and clapped him on his back. "You'll see. To the Boobie Bungalow."