B. Handy
Copyright B. Handy 2012
Published at Smashwords
Confessional Sins
By B. Handy
I took tentative steps through the silent church. Each pew was in its proper place with a hand-me-down Bible in every slot. I felt the hem of my cassock catch on a familiar bench. With a stumble, I tugged myself free of the old splinter.
“God damnit.” Out of nervousness, I rolled my eyes and made the sign of the cross over my chest. I’d lost my faith to the holy deity long ago, but old habits did in fact die hard.
While checking my cloth for any signs of a tear, I heard the front door open; another confession was en route. Heaving a sigh, I made my way to the hallway near the pulpit, then slipping into my side of the confessional.
Sliding back the small window, I felt the other door open as a stranger took a seat opposite me.
“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been four days since my last confession..." There was a long pause before the voice continued. "I've acted upon my thoughts of being with a man and I told a lie to that man."
I shifted closer to the divider. "Go on, my child."
"He told me it was our secret and I promised not to tell... but I couldn't help myself. I told a friend about what we had done. He told me that he had done it too, lotsa times, and that I didn't need to be afraid... The Bible says it's wrong though. What should I do, Father? Can God forgive me?"
I nodded. "Of course, He forgives all who only ask forgiveness from Him. It would be wise to tell no others about what you've done, as the lie is your true sin committed. It is wrong to spread gossip and you wouldn't want to get in any trouble, right?"
A pair of blue eyes peeked over the window, a young boy's silhouette shaking his head. "No, Father! I'll be good and I won't tell anyone else about us."
I gave a grateful smile. "Good boy. For your penance, I want you to recite one 'Our Father' and ten 'Hail Mary's. In the name of God, I absolve you of these sins."
"Thank you Father Jeffrey!" I heard the nine-year-old scamper out of the booth in a hurry.
Peeking out of the door cubby, I stared lustfully at my favorite choir boy as he ran the length of the hallway.
Not even He knows I'm a motherfucking monster.