Father

The streetcars sped by spraying puddles of gritty water onto the sidewalks as pedestrians dodged with umbrellas and obscenities. The shopkeepers watching with jaded eyes at the drips and downspouts as children soaked themselves in their galoshes and rain coats while paperboys protected their trade beneath stoops and overhands still shouting the headlines to passers by. Beneath a red umbrella a woman in a deep purple trench coat was making her weekly trip to St Mary's on Broadway and 14th ignoring the leering comments as the area was better know for it's hookers than it's salvation. Listening to her heels clicking on the cement she often wondered why she had never bothered to buy a car, or take a cab.

Gliding smoothly up the steps she shook her umbrella and opened the large chapel door, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. It was always quiet on Thursdays as mostly devout elderly congregates were their praying for whatever problems they had. The occasional bum needing a place to sleep could be seen dozing softly in a back pew among the bibles and mauve upholstery in much need of mending. St. Mary's it would seem was the last point of light in the city.

Stepping into the confessional, she waited, flipping open her compact to touch up her powder and coral lipstick. Hearing the priest enter she crossed herself and bowed her head. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It's been six days since my last confession."

"Yes my child." Replied the priest calmly.

"Jin, I know it's you just stop being a priest this once. I need to speak to you."

"Fuu." The priest sighed. "I've told you call me when you need to speak personally. Do not draw me into confessional booths, this is a house of God."

"Jin," She faced the screen between them trying to see. She could catch just a glint of his glasses through the film. "Please it's important."

"My office, ten minutes." He said sourly.

"Thank you father."

"Shut it."

She waited, listening to Jin leave the booth before exiting herself. She walked back to the clergy offices, having memorized the way when Jin first began his life serving God. She'd never imagined when they were in high school that Jin would go into religious studies, much less become a priest. Either way, if there was going to be a priest in Saravelle she was glad it was Jin.

Opening the door to his office she smiled seeing Jin in his black suite with a clerical collar around his neck. Somehow it suited him. "Hi."

"Don't hi me. Come here." He opened his arms to embrace her in a warm hug. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in days."

"I told you Jin." She said sitting on the small couch and shedding her coat. "I've been sinning." She was wearing a black pencil skirt with a deep ocean blue button top. A hint of lace from the camisole underneath it peeked through the neckline. She looked polished save for her black pumps that were scuffed just above the toe.

"New job?" He asked.

"What makes you say that?" She retorted digging through her purse again.

"You look like a secretary."

She smiled and laughed a little as she took the sticks that held her hair out. "Thanks, but no, just a new shtick. The boss wants to try and attract a more classy clientele."

"Classy? In Saravelle."

"Yeah that's what I said." Fuu glanced at her feet in contemplation. She always hated talking about her work with Jin. It made her feel… "I get to dance to 'Hot For Teacher' ya know?"

"Mmm, Van Halen right?"

"Yeah." She sighed and bit her lip. "I hate this town."

"I know." He said sitting next to her. "I hate that you have to degrade yourself just to get by. Can't you find something better? I breaks my heart to see you this way."

"I'm trying." Fuu said fidgeting with her hair. "Most of the places in town wont offer half of what I make there. Sometimes the wage is good, but too few hours. Or lots a hours for next to nothing. At least you don't have to worry, you've got the best boss of all."

"Hmm? You mean Father McDaniel? He's a weathered old son of a bitch but I guess he…"

"No!" She laughed. "I mean God."

"It's not all sunshine and rainbows Fuu. Priests breathe the same air as everyone else in this town." Jin stood and walked to the window watching as the rain was starting to die. "It's getting dark out there, do you need an escort?"

"No, Azure is close by I'll be all right." Standing she moved to stand by him. "Jin, I really wish you weren't a priest."

"I know, but if I wasn't would you still care for me as much as you do?"

Meekly smiling she looked at him. He always made her feel like life could get better some day. "So, five hail Mary's and call you later?"

"Sure." He kissed her forehead chastely and walked her to the door. "Take care of yourself Fuu, keep trying. You'll find something better than dancing at Azure."

"I hope so."

Closing the door behind her she wrapped her coat around her body. Luckily enough she worked the early shift. That got her home by midnight most of the time. Elderly women smiled at her as she walked through the inner sanctum, she wondered if they would smile still if they knew what she was. The rosary around her neck burned as though it's image would be blazoned on her skin. She felt like a lie. She couldn't even tell if she truly hated the dancing. Having sleazy men stare at her and stuff bills into her underwear. Their slimy dirty hands on her skin as they handed her money. The foul things they said when she explained that all she would do is strip and nothing more. The drugs the others did, the beer that always got spilled and the smell of the club similar to formaldehyde.

Shaking her head furiously she stopped and opened the door. The rain had ceased and all that was left was the after rain smell. The scent of exhaust and wet garbage, nothing like the smell of rain in the country. She'd smelled it once, when her father was around and he'd take her mother and her on trips to the farmlands. Back when she and her mother didn't live in a cramped inner city apartment. When Fuu hardly had time for school because of working at the diner with her mother. Back when going to church was fun and felt good. Now just walking past St. Mary's she felt horrible. Even being close to Jin was hardly a comfort. On the surface it was, but after leaving his presence she always felt like scum.

"Tomorrow." She said determined. "Tomorrow I'm quitting and getting a better job."

Looking up at the neon sign that read her fate she turned noting that you could still see the church from there. Did the patrons see it as they exited? Better yet, did they care? A man to her left was leaning on the wall. His red jacket tattered and his face cracked and bleeding. He'd either been mugged or gotten into a fight.

Kneeling next to him she pushed his ragged hair out of his eyes. "You all right?"

Pulling away gruffly he slapped her hand away. "The day…" He stood up wobbling on drunken legs. "I need help from a whore, is the day I die."

"I'm not a whore." She said defiantly. "And you're obviously okay so…" She paused as the man doubled over in pain vomiting on the side walk. "Sir, oh God, oh God." The vomit was dark, almost black. She'd never seen anything quite like it. It was as though he was puking up pure evil. "Oh God."

"Stop!" He yelled steadying himself again. "Stop saying that. Oh God. It's ridiculous."

"It's…not you're injured." She said reaching to him again.

"Stop it, I'm fii….." He started vomiting again. Hacking on the pavement he seemed to be straining just to stand.

"Stay here I'll be right back." Fuu ran into the club and headed straight to Vince, maybe she could convince him to let her have the night off. "Vince!" She called waving her hands at him. "Vince!"

"Hey, Fuu." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her into a small squeeze. "How are you dear, you look a bit flushed. You're not sick are ya?"

"No Vince I'm not. I need to ask you a favor though."

"A favor." He asked lighting his cigar. "What kind a favor?"

"Well," She ran her hands behind her head. "My…mother is sick and she needs me to take care of some things and…"

"Ah Fuu." Vince plopped into a chair. "You want the night off?"

"Kinda…please."

"I can cover." Phaedra said walking in. "I over heard you talking. I was just going to drop off Lindsay but I can come in early." Her Indian eyes sparkled under the lights as she smiled. Extra money was a good enough incentive to work.

"Thank you Phaedra." Fuu said hugging her.

"No problem sweetie, you work hard here, I got it, besides you got two days off after tonight, what's one more day?"

"All right." Vince said sighing. "Go on before I change my mind."

Fuu kissed him on the cheek and ran to the door. "Vinny you're a prince."

Outside the man in the red coat was leaning his forehead on the cold cement sighing contentedly. His skin was tanned and his hair messy with mats and stomach acid remnants. Fuu, trying to ignore the smell gently grabbed his forearm as she guided him down the street with her. He protested with grumbles and timid jerks, but soon gave up and followed as best as he could.

"I know somewhere you can go." She said softly.

"Huh? Whaddya mean go. I wer goin al...ready when ya strtd bugign me." He slurred as the saliva trailed down his chin. "Whats yer deal anyway?"

"What's your name?"

"Mugen...huiokfnd"

"Well Mugen...whatever you just said, I'm Fuu. Nice to meet you."