December 6 – Father Christopher<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree, wholeheartedly,\u201d Jade said, smiling down at Zoey. \u201cI\u2019m so happy that we could get to know you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zoey stepped back, and Jade looked out over the crowd. \u201cWho would like to go next?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When should we go? And should we go together?<\/em> Schrodinger looked up at Molly. All three of them had chosen an ornament to put on the tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m thinking more towards the end,\u201d Molly said. \u201cAnd yes, we can all go up together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several of the townsfolk had stepped up, and soon the tree had more ornaments. Each time, Molly and Schrodinger were shown the images of the stories that were attached to each one. Then Father Christopher, the priest of the little church Molly had gone to for service since she\u2019d been a child, came up and offered his choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m another one who came from out of town,\u201d he said, turning to the others. \u201cI too was welcomed in as if I\u2019d always been here, and although I\u2019ve been offered other parishes, I\u2019ve never once considered leaving. But when I received the invitation for this, there was only one ornament that I knew I had to bring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He held up a shining brass ornament. It was about the size of a tea saucer, and held the cut out scene of a church in the snow. \u201cWhen I was a young priest, my very first parish was not in an rural setting. In fact, we didn\u2019t have snow at all\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The now-familar grey fog surrounded Molly, and when it cleared, she and Schrodinger were standing on a strange city street. It was hot and full of people rushing around, the din of hundreds of thousands of living bodies all around them. Schrodinger\u2019s ears went back and his eyes widened. This is NOT the Cove!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Molly agreed. \u201cI think this must be\u2026\u201d Her voice trailed off as she watched a younger version of Father Christopher stride up to the large church that rose up from a patch of dry grass. This Father Christopher had no grey in his dark hair; indeed, the hair on his head was long and held back from his face in a braid with a multi-colored string tying it up. Instead of the long pants and soft sweaters that Molly knew him in, he was wearing a short-sleeved blue teeshirt that said \u201cSt. Andrews Softball League\u201d on it, and long shorts. Instead of boots, there were what looked like Birkenstock sandals on his feet. His long legs and arms were tanned. Indeed, the only thing that was still the same was his smile, full of caring and warmth. Time hadn\u2019t touched that at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFather Christopher! Please, wait!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Father Christopher paused on the top step of the church and turned. A young man came running up to him, sweat slicking his face and dark hair. \u201cI know it\u2019s late, Father, but please, I need a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course! I always have time for you, Edward! What can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Edward reached him and dropped his head briefly, catching his breath. It was clear that he\u2019d run from wherever he\u2019d been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs it true, Father?\u201d he said finally. \u201cAre you leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Father Christopher nodded. \u201cI\u2019ve been reassigned, I\u2019m afraid. There\u2019s another new priest coming in, but you know you can always write or call me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s very kind, but that\u2019s not why I wanted to catch you.\u201d Edward swallowed. \u201cI got the letter today, Father. I\u2026\u201d He paused, and then blurted out, \u201cI got in! I\u2019m going to art school! I got the scholarship!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful!\u201d Father Christopher enveloped him in a bear hug, despite the heat. \u201cI knew you could do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot without your help, Father.\u201d Edward\u2019s smile was shy. \u201cI wasn\u2019t exactly on the right path when you came here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but you did the work, son. Don\u2019t ever forget that. God helps those who are trying, whether or not they fail along the way. Only God is infallible. The rest of us are just mortal and trying to do the right thing.\u201d Father Christopher laid his hand on the young man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWhen do you leave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot for a few weeks. The next semester isn\u2019t until January, and I\u2019ve got to make sure Mom is set up.\u201d Edward handed him a small wrapped package. \u201cBut I wanted to give you this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The brass ornament flashed in the sun, momentarily blinding Molly, and then the scene was gone, the noise of the city replaced by the murmurs of the people in Carter\u2019s Cove. \u201cI\u2019ve hung this church on every tree I have ever had since that Christmas, and I get a card from Edward every year. He\u2019s an art teacher now, and still makes amazing ornaments,\u201d Father Christopher finished. \u201cI would love to have him come live here, but he says his blood is too thin to survive a Maine winter.\u201d He winked at Old Man Winter. \u201cSometimes I think mine is too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Old Man Winter laughed. \u201cYour blood is full of Molly\u2019s tea and Katrina\u2019s coffee, Father. Not even I can fight against that magic.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 6 – Father Christopher \u201cI agree, wholeheartedly,\u201d Jade said, smiling down at Zoey. \u201cI\u2019m so happy that we could get to know you.\u201d Zoey stepped back, and Jade looked out over the crowd. \u201cWho would like to go next?\u201d When should we go? And should we go together? Schrodinger looked up at Molly. All …<\/p>\n