The Gathering Read Online Free PDF Page B

as if the answer were somewhere in the sky. “Something they have to promise. Promise … oh, I know: They have to promise to raise their kids as Catholics.”
    He turned to Manny. “Your folks certainly lived up to that. Heck, I see your dad at Mass practically every Sunday.”
    “Yeah. I never thought much about it, but Dad does go to church every Sunday … and so does my mom. But”—he sighed as he tilted his head and pursed his lips—“she
has
to go or she’ll go to hell.” He thought for a moment. “I don’t think my dad
has
to go. He says we ought to go together—like the family we are. Even though he can’t take Communion.
    “I never thought about all he had to go through to marry my mom.” Manny thought about it now, then, eyebrows raised in recognition, he nodded. “That was pretty neat.”
    “Do you think your ma would have married him if he hadn’t made the promise or just refused to do anything to get the dispensation?”
    “Man, I don’t know.”
    “If your dad didn’t get the dispensation, they wouldn’t have been able to be married in church. Would she have married him anyway? I mean, then she would’ve been excommunicated.”
    “Man, I don’t know what she would have done,” Manny repeated.
    “It’s just that I think that if that had been the case, then you would have a real hard time getting in the seminary.”
    “Because she’d’ve been excommunicated?”
    “I think so. I heard my folks talking about it a long time ago. One of my cousins married a lady who was divorced. Then they had a son who wanted to be a priest. But the seminary wouldn’t accept him … just because of his parents.”
    “Man, that’s miserable. Why pick on the kid? I mean, just for something the parents did—or didn’t do?”
    “That’s the law. And you’re right: Now that we’re talking about it, it
doesn’t
seem fair.”
    “No, it don’t!” Manny said in emphasis.
    “But …” Mike shrugged. “ … it’s the law of our Church. It must be right.”
    They continued to sit still. It was cooler in the shade. It would have been more tolerable if there had been a breeze. Not only was there no wind, but it was humid. Languidly, they bounced the tennis ball back and forth to each other.
    Across the parking lot, a couple of boys appeared in the car entrance.
    They walked with purposeful direction. There could be no doubt they were headed toward Manny and Mike. They didn’t appear to be in a mood to play games. Their demeanor was downright menacing.
    Each set of boys focused on the other.

    FOUR    
     
    T O MIKE IT WAS CREEPY.
     
    The two strangers were advancing toward him and Manny with deliberation. They were now near enough to be identifiable.
    “Do you know them?” Manny asked, out of the side of his mouth.
    “No,” Mike said in a faint voice, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.”
    Manny grunted.
    The newcomers had halted and now stood some ten to twelve feet away. Each was considerably larger than either Mike or Manny. “What’s your names?” the taller one demanded.
    Mike’s impulse was to tell them. What harm could come from answering a simple question? But before he could respond, Manny spoke. “What’s yours?”
    The newcomers looked surprised. They had obviously expected to instill fear, whereas they were being defied.
    “I’m Switch,” said the taller one. “And my friend here is the Blade.” The two laughed humorlessly.
    “Cute,” Manny said.
    Switch, though the taller, was by no means well developed. The Blade was slightly better built.
    They looked to be in their mid- to late teens. Their clothing was soiled and ragged. They could have profited from a shower—possibly even a delousing.
    “Well,” Switch said, “
your
names?” Though it was a question, it was issued in the tone of a command. Mike felt an even stronger impulse to provide the information.
    But again, before Mike could say a word, Manny spoke. “We don’t think you’ll