Conceived Without Sin Read Online Free PDF Page B

before we're done with dinner."
    "Yeah, right. But I bet you're more repressed than I am, being a personal pope and all."
    "I detect a challenge in thearea of sexual ethics. Let's go, Sammy. Wanna hear my NFL Proof that Premarital Sex is Wrong Theory?"
    "I bet it's reality-based," Sam quipped.
    "Right! Okay, let's start out with a little known fact–practically all of the most successful NFL coaches are devout Catholics. For example, both Don Shula and Chuck Noll are daily communicants–"
    "Daily communicants?"
    "Yeah, that's when you go to Mass everyday and receive communion–hold on. Waitress?" Buzz called out. "May I have another Pepsi?"
    "Coincidence," Sam said, implying that Shula and Noll's religion had nothing to do with their coaching records.
    "At first glance, yes, it looks like a coincidence, but let's look at it from another angle…" Buzz continued, the understated excitement building. He had a high voice for a man his size.
    It wasan excitement Sam was having trouble resisting.
    I was wrong, he thought of his initial impression that Buzz was a jerk, listening to Buzz's sometimes terrible, but always interesting logic. I wonder how he got the name Buzz?
    And so the conversation went on for two more hours, with two additional beers and three more glasses of Pepsi, as Sam and Buzz became friends.

Chapter Two
    1
    "Still driving that old pick-up truck, Mr. Computer Magnate?" Buzz asked Sam a few days later after the hoops had ended.
    "Yeah," Sam replied, wrapping a towel around his neck.
    "Great, do me a favor–"
    "What kind of favor?"
    "An easy one. Look, I can't get any more days off from UPS, and I need someone to pick up a used refrigerator at this place that's only open during working hours.I figured you were your own boss, and that–"
    "And that I would be super-willing to pick up your fridge because we're world record best friends. Hey, I've got work to do during the day, Buzz, and just because I own my company doesn't mean–"
    "Forget it, then. I'll ask someone else." Buzz sounded disappointed.
    "I didn't say I wouldn't do it," Sam added tentatively.
    "Great!" Buzz lit up like a Christmastree. "You're really easy to manipulate. Here's the directions." He shoved a folded piece of legal paper into Sam's hands. "I'll meet you after work at my apartment and we'll bring it up together. You look like a strong guy."
    "Bring it up? How many flights?"
    "I don't know. Three or four. Or seven." Buzz looked away, a slight smile on his lips. He lit a cigarette.
    "Or seven, eh? I get the picture,now."
    "Will you do it?" Buzz asked seriously.
    "Sure. I can't wait," Sam said. "I'm looking forward to it already. In fact, I'm upset that I have to wait a whole day to get over there. You know, I'll be up all night, tingling with excitement–"
    "Okay, okay. Sorry, man. I don't have anybody else to ask, and I've been living without a fridge since I moved here a month ago."
    "Please stop; you're makingme sad."
    "You sure you weren't born in New Jersey?" Buzz asked. "You're pretty sarcastic when you want to be."
    Sam just smiled.
    2
    It's funny how an entire life can change because of a chance meeting. But was it really chance? Because Buzz Woodward was a Catholic, he had asked Saint Anthony to help him round up an affordable refrigerator. Buzz also asked a few of the drivers at UPS. One driversometimes made deliveries to a tiny appliance repair shop in Little Italy which often had a few used refrigerators for sale. Buzz called the place and arranged to buy an ancient fridge for fifty dollars, sight unseen. Then he asked Sam to pick it up…
    It was not love at first sight.
    But there was a kind of warmth at first sight when Donna Beck turned and first saw Sam walk into Nardi's TV & Appliance,the bell clanging on the door behind him. She turned back. She was not attracted to the tall man.
    He stood behind her in line, looking down at the dirty tile floor.
    It was late afternoon. There were two men in line in front of them.