He had lived in Thailand almost all his life at the Guadalupe orphanage after father Patrick had picked him at the orphanage gates when he was just a tiny baby. Father Patrick had been like a father to him since his day one, and he even gave him a name, Lance Alessandri, it wasn't thai origin because he thought the baby didn't look Thailand descent.
The orphanage had been under the nuns of st. Francis and most kids normally ended up in the convent or seminary and the sturbon ones were transferred to strict orphanages. Lance was no different, he was a good number of times caught in slumber when it was time for morning prayers, eating the nun's food at the convent and sometimes imitating the priests in front of other kids. Some nuns wanted him transferred so badly but father Patrick loved him and always laughed at his jokes, he sometimes moved out with him to neighbouring islands for missionary visits or retreats to different parts of the world, he had actually been a big influence to his soon coming deaconship status and his way to the seminary, something many nuns thought he would never accomplish, but lance had always wanted to follow father Patrick's footsteps. He was just 24, going to be the youngest deacon, a status which was assured of him in a few months. Father Patrick usually invited him to the island to spend the holidays, so he was one with the islanders and most called him 'Al'(Arl) cause his name was quite long and his other name 'Lance' was sort of too foreign.
Just like his father figure, Lance was quite an influencer and Many people always waited outside after mass to say hello or ask him to say a simple prayer for them. He had a warm smile, very dark hair whose fringes covered his forehead almost touching his eyelids and a deep voice, always having alot of jokes, he was an inspiration to all ages, they always said so whenever they met him outside church after mass.
He loved the island, it was fresh, peaceful, had the best ocean waters and the people had charming hearts, he couldn't wait to become a priest, it was his biggest dream to be the shoulder to the hopeless souls and also travel for different missionary work around the world especially Rome,..... as for now, being the seminary president, he happily involved himself with anything father Patrick asked him to do, beginning with taking over the youth meetings or activities.
He had had a bible study with youth that morning and he had prepared all the verses and scriptures that would get them involved cause he knew they expected him to be fun obviously, he usually was. They were like about 40. Father Patrick trusted him with many responsibilities and sometimes moved around to check on them, if he was free.
Lance was in his chambers reading some inspirational books, father Patrick came in, he rarely did,
'Back to your habit of reading?' He asked with a smile
'..someone once told me it makes great priests' he replied after he had made a slight bow to him and showed him to a seat
'you really can't wait to become a priest, i see' he said jokingly with an observing nod 'if it could happen this summer, i would be the happier, please father'
'Its not entirely up to me but the bishop and the tasks you carry out, speaking of which, how was the bible study?, ...was caught up, didn't pass by'
'Very fun as usual, they're smart young people and they love Jesus' he replied as he handed him a cup of coffee to which he mummered a thank you
'Was the Adams girl present?, I dont know if you've met her yet, she's a daughter to Charles Adams, you recall him?'
'Muriel Adams, i didn't see her there, does she ever attend?' Lance asked
'Rarely...., father Patrick placed his cup on the table....Charles insisted i should introduce her to the church' he continued before some silence swept in.
'Go over to his place..' Father Patrick continued after a sip of coffee
' who?'
'Charles..., try explaining bible studies to her, poor soul, she needs Jesus'
'You personally have tried several bible studies with her and she's rarely even showed up, am not saying she's damned, but maybe it's not right timing' Lance replied in a calm though determimed voice.
'Son, we are made for the lost sheep, actually refer to her as a lost sheep we're trying to bring back home...'
'Let someone with a higher rank take on that task..'
'..that's your assignment this summer, if you succeed, I'll have a word for you with the bishop'
'If I fail..?'
'You dont want to hinder your deaconship at its due stage' father Patrick's voice slammed back, 'thanks for tea, be blessed son' he got out, Lance just stared at the door for a while, he knew he couldn't argue against father Patrick but he hadn't known priesthood wouldn't come easy, besides, what was inbetween his long awaited moment of leading at the altar?,... preaching the word of God to an ignorant pagan?, obviously not. This summer had to mark the end of his years as a seminarian.
Muriel was in her room reading her third volume crime novel by her window, ... how she appreciated the rays of sunshine that lay through the window, it was rather a beautiful sight especially for her book reading adventures. Charles' voice calling her from downstairs distracted her from completing her line about the mysterious detective, sunny, perhaps the only person that could claim was close to a perfect man.
He always interrupted her at a wrong time, and it was always the minor of reasons, if it wasn't showing her off to an old friend, then it was showing her some stuff he had bought from the market and was sure she had never seen before or he simply intended get her from her room and just have a look at her or hug her.... she walked down the stairs lazily thinking of the overwhelmingly intelligent detective, trying to picture the whole robbery scene that was in the novel.
'Dad should it always be be wrong timing, why....' her voice fading, her eyes met Lance who was sitting across charles,
'your the main topic here, come sit' Charles beckoned to her as he pulled a chair next to him, she was still wearing the look of perplexity.....such a loud mouth...she was sure lance was here to gossip to her dad about all her mischief of missing community work and sleeping around all the time during choir practice.... she thought with a sigh as she leaned against the rail at the last stair
'you're not sitting?' Charles asked
'am ok, this isnt a big issue to discuss seated' she replied trying to look rather serious.
'Honey, father Patrick won't make it today but luckily that doesn't mean your classes shift too.'....charles was all smiles before he turned to Lance.... 'this is my daughter Muriel, actually as i said you could begin today, right here' Charles was visibly happy. 'Thank you sir..' lance stood up shaking hands with Charles, Muriel suddenly broke into a sarcastic laughter as she moved close
'Dad, i haven't decided upon this, you didn't ask me whether this is actually something i want, right?' Her voice matched with her expression, 'you want to argue about this, seriously?' Charles was looking at her, matters concerning the church or father Patrick were the only ones where they had different opinions yet Charles decision was final.'dad, please, don't force me into this' she pleaded, it usually worked. 'baby, you could drop it after sometime if you're not satisfied with it,but for now, you're gonna give it a try, ....its better than reading those books all day' he replied before he kissed her head, he then excused himself, he had some yoga classes to catch.
'So you're gonna study from..?'lance asked as he pulled out his pocket bible. 'Get yourself occupied with anything' Muriel replied as she opened her novel, walking upstairs
'Ms Adams, dont make this harder for both of us, please...'
'Please what?' She interrupted him suddenly with a sharp glance, he didnt know what to reply, he actually was avoiding a worse reaction ' i guess I'll talk this out with Mr. Adams himself..., have a good day' he was turning to get out
'lets use the library' her words came out fast enough before he got out, he closed his eyes for a second, how he had wished she had stood her ground till the end, he was thankful she had cast him out and was going to refer her to a different priest or deacon.
Charles rarely used this library, it was just a place where he kept his trophies of the earlier days and a few photos of his late wife. The old furniture was still same as most of the things when they left. Lance said a short prayer before he opened some pages and began interpreting some verses, she seemed a serious person and he didn't want her to think he was wasting her time by bringing in any off-topic stories , is she understanding?, am i going so fast?, does she always stare at people that way, or is something wrong?, thoughts randomly shifted in his mind, and she just stared at him thinking why he was giving in much to something he also didn't want to do, he tried to make some few jokes and she just sighed...,
'We could try another way to do this,are you getting anything am trying to say?' He asked after he had noticed a number of sighs
'yeah yeah, everything'she replied with a nod, she couldn't help laughing in her mind...lol, was he even understandable??, she thought, her mind was far, she remembered she had been sitting with one of her novels this whole time, she put on her reading glasses and opened her book. She had only read a few lines ' Am sorry, you cant read that now, please' lance's voice was firm though trying to sound gentle, was he really serious?, she looked up
'look no one is here, you dont have to pretend you want to do this, actually, be yourself, relax a little' she wore an assuring smile, they could make a deal to have each others back,..... if he wanted.
'Hand it over, I'll return it after' he was serious than she had seen before, she wasn't going to give in but he actually threatened to get out. He had just created a hard lump, she made it a routine to sit, watch him talk then intentionally sleep off to which he would assume she's tired and he would find his way out. He wasn't bothered by her behaviour though he hoped someone in a higher rank than him would be able to change her mindset.
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love y'all *