CHAPTER I

In ancient times, during the pilgrimage of Jesus through this world, it used to be thought that not everyone was worthy of being in the presence of God, therefore, few people could enter the temple, and if somehow, his soul was corrupted, he died when entering the holiest place. I do not know when we were allowed to enter a temple, a church, a mosque, or any place that is called sacred.

Currently, everyone believes that if they attend a church, it is because they are clean, which, if I may say so, is a vile lie, no one who attends a church is without sin, but why go? No healthy person visits a hospital, so where else could a sinner go? They judge without expecting to be judged, they point out who they believe is not worthy of being there, and they do all of this, even knowing that it is a sin, so, I ask, what kind of people should a church be filled with?

I would not be here if I were not a vile sinner either, you would not be here today if the lust of the flesh were not so seductive.

Nobody is exempt from sin and if so, as Jesus said: cast the first stone, without sin, there is no forgiveness, there is no penance or repentance, there is no salvation.

All devout Christians live believing that they are worthy to be in a church, which really should be full of sinners. If we meditate on this reflection, we cannot deny that sin exists and it feels good to fall into temptation, then deep down, aren't we all a little sinner?

***

Being four o'clock in the afternoon, Father Smith was preparing to load his bags into the car, he had changed his black cassock for a slightly tight dress suit that highlighted his elegant figure, and he was heading to the back of the warehouse to pick up a trunk, there are also some things that the church had discontinued, such as a confessional in the far—right corner. Moving the heavy trunk, he heard a noise coming from the confessional, so he moved closer, already knowing what he could find there.

—Get out—he ordered, standing in front of the curtain. Some murmurs and laughter were heard and not receiving a direct answer, he decided to draw the curtain and discover them on the spot.

—Oh! —The woman covers her bare chest with her shirt because she hadn't had time to get dressed —father.

—Get out, both of you— he points outside. —Now! — he orders.

—I thought you were packing right now —confesses the perpetrator of that act.

—I thought you would be doing the same— he answers, —and you, madam, didn't we talk this afternoon about the unseemly acts I witnessed with the sacristan?

—I'm sorry, father —she looks down —when I heard he was going to leave, I came immediately, I wanted to say goodbye.

—The definition of farewell that we both conceive is very different, don't you think? —She doesn't answer — I beg you to leave.

—And what will happen to my penance?

— Adulterous women were stoned; do you want us to do that? —she denies —good night then—he tells her to come out.

—I'm going to miss you — she addresses the sacristan.

—And me too — he kisses her hands.

Father Min caresses his frowns as they say their goodbyes, she leaves the room and then glances at his companion.

—Really? —Crosses arms.

—I won't see her again —the father hits him on the head —Ay! —He complains and backs away.

—I don't spank you properly because I don't have time to deal with you anymore.

—I was about to go upstairs to pack when she found me.

—I don't care how it happened, come on up, we're leaving in twenty minutes.

—Relax your forehead Johan, you'll get wrinkles — he smiles. The other makes a move to hit him when he has no choice but to walk away.

—Did you do what I asked you to do? — he asks, making the other stop in mid-run from him.

—This morning — he replies without turning around.

—Tyler...

—I know, I'm sorry, I'll try to fix all this.

—Your parents want it to.

—I don't care what they want.

—What about me?

—You know how to take care of yourself, even if you don't admit what we already know, you won't be able to keep it hidden for long— he walks away, —not when the right person shows up.

Johan conjures up a sigh and returns to the task that had brought him here in the first place.

...

After loading everything into the car and dragging out Tyler, his sacristan, he sets out for his new home, his new penance.

Tyler was rummaging through the glove box when Yoongi slapped him.

—I told you not to do that.

—You never know what kind of things you can hide in a place like this.

—It will be a long trip, please behave yourself.

—I know how to behave when there's no one in sight to see me.

—It should be the opposite, but I'm asking a lot of you, I think.

—What's Missouri like? — he blurts out as he places his feet on the glove compartment.

—Warm, I was there years ago.

—I hope the people there are as kind as they say.

—They're good, but...

—But?

—You cannot do what you do here, we will work with many people who would not see your extracurricular activities well.

—I'm not going to change who I am; you know I'm not doing this because I want to.

—No matter how you do it, your parents want you here and somehow the bishop thinks it's best for you, so do me a favor and behave yourself, at least for a few months, until we know who we're dealing with.

—I don't understand, won't you do the same thing you did in Iowa?

—The father I am going to replace had many ministries and people in charge of him, he also gave marriage advice.

—It sounds boring.

—It seems so, but I can't refuse to work with them. Also...

—Is there more?

—The church works with the monastery that is behind the temple, so there will be nuns working in the gardens, in the service, and...

—And?

—The father took care of the orphans, and that, my dear friend, will be your job.

—Are you kidding?

—It'll keep you busy so you won't be looking for zippers to get down.

—It sounds boring.

—I can't spank you, but I can punish you. Mr. Song's wife called yesterday and said that she found evidence that her husband is sleeping with other men.

—Well, it's not like she doesn't know what's in her husband's closet.

—Stop doing that

—Do what?

—To believe that you will not have consequences for what you do.

—Oh yeah, hell and stuff you believe in.

—Don't play games with me, if you fail me again, I'll send you to the bishop. — Tyler stiffened in his seat.

—Would you do that?

—If you leave me no choice, yes.

—I'll try, I promise.

—That's what I expect of you.

Tyler turns to look out the window, ignoring the conversation, indicating to Johan that he has had enough.

—You said something about a house.

—You will have a small apartment.

—And you?

—I'll stay in a little house, near the church, but I don't think I need it, it's just local policy.

—Well, at least I'll have more privacy.

—You will not always be at the service of the church, your duty will be with the children, I already told you.

—Less responsibility and more freedom, I'm already like Missouri.

[...]

Arriving at the place, a young woman was waiting for them at the house.

—Welcome —she approached the car —Celeste, nice to meet you. You must be the father Smith.

—Johan, you must be Father Benny's niece.

—That's right, I offered to clean the house for you and of course to wait for you.

—Tyler Kent, my pleasure— he greets.

—Well, I'll leave you to rest, just to remind you that the cleaning lady comes on Sundays and the gardener is here on Saturday mornings without fail.

—Yes, of course, thank you very much —he hands him the keys and smile —I'm very sorry about your uncle.

—Thanks, I hope you like Missouri, see you later. — She walks away from her and gets into her car.

—Go get the bags —he orders Tyler.

—Why?

—Your punishment begins here.

—It can't be serious —he denies as she goes for what was requested and Johan enters the house.

Once the things were inside, Yoongi poured himself some water.

—You'll stay upstairs, your room is the one on the right, just until I resolve your apartment.

—I thought you were ready.

—I'll watch you for a few days.

—Is that part of your punishment too?

—Could be— he retreats to the small library and office.

Both had to rest, the next day was full of things to do, and neither had any expectations about what it would be like to meet their new collaborators.

...

In the morning, they were both walking in the church garden when the mother superior intercepted them.

—Father — she greeted him, —it's a relief to have you here finally, everything is a mess without Father Benny's, but we hope everything gets better with his arrival.

—I hope so too, mother.

—Did they know each other? — Tyler asks.

—We've been exchanging emails for a few months— she replies, as she walks away from he, waiting for them to follow her.

—Did you know this for months? — he asks to whisper.

—Not about us here, they wanted me to support them with the children and we talked about that, then the father thing happened and the bishop made the decision.

—Do not lie to me.

—I don't, but while you're here, you're going to do a good job, or I won't be able to defend you anymore, do you understand me? —Johan walks away from he and joins the mother superior as Tyler goes for a walk through the chapel.

—I thought they would arrive this morning, but Father Benny's niece... may he rest in peace, said you arrived last night.

—We had everything ready, there was no reason to wait.

—I hope you can start your work as soon as possible, there is much to do.

—I'm here to help mother, in any way I can.

—This afternoon the Jenkins couple will come, I told them that they should speak with you before arranging their counseling schedule, they are very distressed.

—What about them?

—They have been wanting to conceive for many years, but they haven't been able to, it's a pity, a baby of theirs could fix the marriage and solve all the problems they now have.

I see you know them very well.

—Everyone here knows his story, we are very close, they will come at three to meet you.

—I will make space to receive it.

—I'll let you tour the place then, make yourself comfortable, we'll serve lunch in the dining room of the main hall if you'd like to join us.

—Of course, we'll be there.

...

After setting everything up in his new office, Yoongi poured himself a coffee and waited until three in the afternoon arrived. He wasn't used to giving such advice, but he wanted to support the couple and would do what he could to help.

He must have known that what they say is true, hour three has a kind of curse on it, there are many stories and anecdotes about paranormal things that happened in that hour, but until then, he had not experienced such a thing, until this very moment, when his curse that measured one seventy—nine crossed the door, but how could he know that this man would make him a completely different person...

A sigh came out involuntarily upon seeing him arrive.

—Welcome— he shook his head, —I was waiting for you.

—We are very happy that you can receive us, I know you must be tired because of the move.

—No problem, I'm here to serve you. I'm Min Yoongi.

—Jannet Jenkins and he, is my husband... Jackson.

That man had not evoked any word since he arrived, but his mere presence was imposing, calm, serene, and very gloomy, he seemed lost and disoriented, like someone who did not want to be there.

—My pleasure — he said before shaking hands with Johan. He just nodded and invited them to sit down.

He listened to his conflicts and problems for a long time, and although it was only Mrs. Jenkins who spoke, her husband only nodded from time to time when she asked something. The afternoon seemed eternal.

—So... when could they come again? Make it comfortable for you.

—We're accessible on Wednesdays at three in the afternoon. — Of course, it had to be at three.

—Sure, I'll clear an hour of my Wednesday afternoon for you.

—I thank you very much for your time, we look forward to seeing you then.

They both said goodbye and left the place, Johan had a strange feeling in his stomach, something he hadn't felt in a long time, since that time when his mother had discovered him kissing his best friend when he was twelve years old.

As I said at the beginning, aren't we all sinners?

***

Thank you!