bumping into Father Smith again

i run

into Father Smith at the liquor

store

and ask him

if he has

time for a quick talk

and confession.

sure he says.

let me buy this bottle

of wine

first and i'll

meet you in the black

van

that i parked

in the handicap spot.

look for the rosary

beads hanging from the rearview

mirror.

what? you parked in a 

handicap spot.

but you're not handicapped.

he gives

me a wink.

yeah, true, but sometimes

my sciatica acts up.

he pretends to drag

one black boot along the floor.

and why are you buying

wine?

don't you already have it

back at the church?

yeah,

but it's not that good.

you'll never find a bottle of

Vatican red wine

in a Michelin restaurant. 

you know what?

let's forget it, i tell him.

is Father Flanagan back from

Cancun yet?

i'll talk to him.