see you at mass on Sunday?

Father Smith stops

by with

an apology hot dish

of linguini,

i'm just a stones throw

away from

St. Bernadette's, so

he didn't have to walk

far, and the plate

stayed warm.

i ask him and if he wants

wine. red please he says.

sitting after pulling to the

side his long black gown.

i get him a glass

of pinot noir.

thanks for meal, i tell him.

my pleasure, he says.

i just want to apologize

for things, for how

it all went down.

i had no idea of the demonic

forces you were dealing with.

pfffft, i say, taking a bite

of the pasta.

hmmm. delicious.

and meatballs too.

yeah, I used Mother Theresa's

recipe. not many people

knew what a genius

she was in the kitchen.

she could have gone to heaven

and become a saint on

her red sauce alone.

have you ever looked at a picture

of her and the priests

around her.

tubbies, all of them.

sumo wrestlers,

and all because of her cooking.

so anyway.

sorry for everything and i appreciat

that instruction

manual on exorcism that you gave me.

we're cool, i tell him.

we're good now.

have a nice walk back to the chapel.

do you mind if i take

the wine with me?

nah, not at all, take the whole

bottle.

peace be with you, he says.

see you in church Sunday?

ummmm, maybe.