Responsible
Arrival (Alex)
Alex
Alex carried the last box into the little house next to the church. He was panting, exhaustion running through his body. Ms. Welner, an elderly, unmarried woman who helped him with the household, was with him, she had already begun unpacking the things Alex had brought in. It wasn’t much since Alex’s predecessor had left most of the furniture in there, but all the things from the kitchen were still needed. It was a small house but it was nicely situated, the church grounds with some grass and trees next to it. Alex would mostly live on his own but Ms. Welner would clean for him regularly.
Sam, Alex’s cat was also going around. Alex hadn’t brought it; Sam had belonged to the former priest who had died and now Alex had sort of inherited it from him. Alex wasn’t really a cat person, he preferred dogs, but he was looking forward to having a companion.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Alex asked Ms Welner. She nodded. Alex set up the kettle and prepared the teabags. He would hold his first service later that day and before that, he wanted to unwind a little. He already had prepared what he would say, how he would greet people, so he would just listen to some Blink-182 (contrary to popular belief, many priests do listen to music other than church- and classical music) and try to de-stress by playing the guitar.
“So, Ms. Welner, are there any important things about this place which I’m supposed to know about?” Alex asked.
“Well, there is something you might want to know,” she said with a tiny, squeaky voice. “Your predecessor, Leopold, was very much liked here. So people might be a little reluctant when it comes to accepting someone new,” she said.
“Well, I’m sure that should pass with time. Anything else?” Alex replied confidently.
“Nothing that I can think of,” Mr. Welner replied.
They both sipped their tea in silence. When the elderly lady was finished, she got up, touched her grey, curly hair to make sure it was still in place and left. Alex was left on his own.
He spent the next two hours getting lost in the music produced by his guitar, and before he had even noticed, it was almost time to be in church. He quickly put on his chasuble, heavy, green clothing for priests. He grabbed his notes and left, almost tripping over the hem of the long clothing. It was too big. He’d have to ask Ms. Welner to make it smaller.
He entered the sacristy, the room to wait before mass. He recapped his text again. 7 o’ clock. Time to do this service!
“Good evening. I’m Alex Gaskarth and I’ll be your new priest. I’m very honoured to be here and I’d love to get to know everyone a little bit, so whenever you feel like it, don’t hesitate to come p to me for a little chat anytime –except during service.” He winked and people were smiling and laughing, as he had hoped. There were many persons in the small church; they probably wanted to see the new priest.
He announced some organisational things before going over to the actual service. As time passed, he felt more at ease. Everything went without any big problem and Alex was very proud of himself.
When he was finished, he watched as everyone left. Many were smiling, his sermon had been thoughtful and humorous. Only one person stayed behind a little longer than the rest. He looked sad, shoulders slumped, looking down.
Alex didn’t really think about it, he was discussing leaving church with someone from the village. It was interesting and so he forgot about the boy with the blonde stripe in his black hair, the sleeves of his hoodie pulled far over his hands.
After the discussion, he got to the little house, stripped and showered. It had been a successful day; he had moved, held a mass and got to know people from his new community.
That evening, he went to bed early. His dreams were weird but there was someone who was always in there. Alex’s subconscious had already taken up his feelings for the boy and made them into pictures.
Alex carried the last box into the little house next to the church. He was panting, exhaustion running through his body. Ms. Welner, an elderly, unmarried woman who helped him with the household, was with him, she had already begun unpacking the things Alex had brought in. It wasn’t much since Alex’s predecessor had left most of the furniture in there, but all the things from the kitchen were still needed. It was a small house but it was nicely situated, the church grounds with some grass and trees next to it. Alex would mostly live on his own but Ms. Welner would clean for him regularly.
Sam, Alex’s cat was also going around. Alex hadn’t brought it; Sam had belonged to the former priest who had died and now Alex had sort of inherited it from him. Alex wasn’t really a cat person, he preferred dogs, but he was looking forward to having a companion.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Alex asked Ms Welner. She nodded. Alex set up the kettle and prepared the teabags. He would hold his first service later that day and before that, he wanted to unwind a little. He already had prepared what he would say, how he would greet people, so he would just listen to some Blink-182 (contrary to popular belief, many priests do listen to music other than church- and classical music) and try to de-stress by playing the guitar.
“So, Ms. Welner, are there any important things about this place which I’m supposed to know about?” Alex asked.
“Well, there is something you might want to know,” she said with a tiny, squeaky voice. “Your predecessor, Leopold, was very much liked here. So people might be a little reluctant when it comes to accepting someone new,” she said.
“Well, I’m sure that should pass with time. Anything else?” Alex replied confidently.
“Nothing that I can think of,” Mr. Welner replied.
They both sipped their tea in silence. When the elderly lady was finished, she got up, touched her grey, curly hair to make sure it was still in place and left. Alex was left on his own.
He spent the next two hours getting lost in the music produced by his guitar, and before he had even noticed, it was almost time to be in church. He quickly put on his chasuble, heavy, green clothing for priests. He grabbed his notes and left, almost tripping over the hem of the long clothing. It was too big. He’d have to ask Ms. Welner to make it smaller.
He entered the sacristy, the room to wait before mass. He recapped his text again. 7 o’ clock. Time to do this service!
“Good evening. I’m Alex Gaskarth and I’ll be your new priest. I’m very honoured to be here and I’d love to get to know everyone a little bit, so whenever you feel like it, don’t hesitate to come p to me for a little chat anytime –except during service.” He winked and people were smiling and laughing, as he had hoped. There were many persons in the small church; they probably wanted to see the new priest.
He announced some organisational things before going over to the actual service. As time passed, he felt more at ease. Everything went without any big problem and Alex was very proud of himself.
When he was finished, he watched as everyone left. Many were smiling, his sermon had been thoughtful and humorous. Only one person stayed behind a little longer than the rest. He looked sad, shoulders slumped, looking down.
Alex didn’t really think about it, he was discussing leaving church with someone from the village. It was interesting and so he forgot about the boy with the blonde stripe in his black hair, the sleeves of his hoodie pulled far over his hands.
After the discussion, he got to the little house, stripped and showered. It had been a successful day; he had moved, held a mass and got to know people from his new community.
That evening, he went to bed early. His dreams were weird but there was someone who was always in there. Alex’s subconscious had already taken up his feelings for the boy and made them into pictures.
Notes
Look! :)
Please leave some feedback! c:
-Laura
@that_band_nerd
Haha aw, no stress, naps are great! Have a nice nap c:
6/20/14