3 Father Adair Chooses Seattle

"We are born.

We die.

We rot.

It's all one big cosmic joke." - Father Mathias

Sister Katherine checked her cross and made sure it faced forward. She patted it. She thought it bad luck to let it twist with what she thought of as the front facing inward. Whenever she met another of the Church she touched it for reassurance.

Sister Josie, who knew about her reasons for reaching for her cross, said, "Katherine, it looks just fine." Josie checked out the window for the third time because she had her own behavioral grooves worn deep over the years.

"Josie, we'll hear him drive up, don't worry."

Sister Angelina, by far the oldest of the three, was sitting with her hands on her lap. She had seen many priests come and go and wasn't excited by one more coming or going.

Josie said, "I have a good friend inside St. Anne's and she tells me this one is full of real fire. She said…she said from last year he's been filled by the Holy Ghost." Josie whispered even though there was no one but the three waiting outside the Bishop's office, "He's got the fire and brimstone of an old time Baptist." She nodded. "A Southern Baptist. My friends says he preaches like he's seen the gates to Heaven and Hell and can make the hardest non-believer tremble."

Katherine noticed Josie was trembling now.

Angelina shook her head. Katherine saw and ignored it. Angelina was getting very old and a bit touched.

Josie turned from the window and said, "He's here. He's here. Let's go."

Katherine helped Angelina to her feet. The three made their way to the reception area where they could greet the new priest before they ushered him in for a formal welcoming by the Seattle Bishop. They got there a bit late. Angelina couldn't walk fast to begin with and she wasn't inclined to hurry now for this new priest. And several others including a young priest were already standing in front of them. It was OK. Katherine was chosen to escort this new Father Adair to the Bishop's and the three would have their time with him. Katherine and Josie would be working with the priest at his new church. Angelina was the oldest sister and thus by local custom was always among the first to greet and escort the new priest to the Bishop's office.

Angelina waived her hand towards a hall chair just in front of the reception foyer and Katherine guided her into the seat. She would wait there and they would gather her up on the way back. The Father was inside now smiling and shaking hands with the people come to greet him. The Father was personable and showed interest in each person to whom he was introduced.

Sister Katherine stood off to the side with her most demure hands-before-her pose. When the others had said their hellos the young priest brought the new Father to her. She smiled broadly and bowed slightly as she introduced Sister Josie and then the two turned to introduce Sister Angelina sitting a few feet to their rear. The Father beamed toward Angelina. Angelina however had her hand to her mouth as if she was catching sight of a ghost. She stood her face hard, stern. The Father approached her with a hand extended but she did not move to take it. How rude and from someone of Angelina's normally unshakable sense of decorum. She sat back down looking to the floor. The Father came closer, hovered over and asked, "Sister. Are you OK?"

Angelina looked startled and pulled back from the Father. "I'm fine, just fine."

Katherine smiled and said, "Father please come this way. The Bishop is looking forward to meeting with you."

"And I him." The Father frowned a bit and then the three walked toward the Bishop's.

Katherine and Josie left the Father with the Bishop and returned for Angelina. She had not moved. She was talking to herself and studying her hands or maybe the floor. Catching sight of them Angelina stood and walked toward them.

Katherine asked, "Sister what happened? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. Just fine."

"Why didn't you…"

She looked each in the eye in turn and whispered, "He's been touched by Death."

"What?"

"I smell something of the Dark on him."

Josie looked from Angelina to Katherine and shrugged. Josie asked, "Sister. What does that mean?"

Angelina would say no more. She shook her head and said, "I want to go to my room. I want to pray."

Josie offered to help her. Katherine would wait for Father Adair to emerge from the Bishop's office.

She caught the sister's muttering as she was led away. "Death is within our walls this day. God help us."