Last summer I went to a small town in Mexico to visit my grandfather. His house small and cozy. I drank my coffee with toast. I heard the bell from the town's church tower. It was first call for my grandmother's anniversary of her death Mass. I left my grandfather's house and went to Mass.
After Mass, I went to see Father Ramirez. I knocked the door for the sacristy and the Sexton answered. "Good morning, Is Father Ramirez available?"
He smiled. "He's not here. Go to his house, you'll find him there. He was a soccer game this afternoon with the kids."
I went to Father Ramirez's house. The servant let me in and asked me to wait in the hallway. "He should be here any minute. If you'd excuse me, I have to go get his laundry."
I waited for Father Ramirez in the hallway. He came rushing in. "Javier. I wasn't expecting you."
"I came to give my donation for my grandmother's mass."
"I have to change, do you mind if we do it in my room while we talk?" He face brightened and his hazel eyes twinkled.
"Sure." I followed him to his room. His slacks did nothing to hide his round butt. I shut the door behind me. It was a large room, with a closet and a queen size bed, covered by a nice blue blanket. A small side table by its side with a small lamp and a book opened face down.
"I hear that you don't normally come to Mass." He smiled again. His perfect teeth seemed to sparkle as well.
I folded my arms. "I don't believe in organized religion. I think it's a way to control the masses."
"That's a grim view of the faith. Something happened to you as a kid?" His face showed concern, his right brow arched.
"I'm not here to confess."
"God is by your side always. May you believe in him or not."
"I do believe in God. Its priests that I don't believe in. They're all pedophiles and con artists."
He stood erect, placed his hands on his waist, and gave me a hard look. "I assure you I'm not a pedophile."
"I know. I wasn't talking about you."
"What happened when you were a kid? Did a priest molest you?" He pointed to a chair and I sat down. He sat in front of me at the edge of the bed.
I tried not to look at his square face. His features were distracting me from my reason for being here. I kept looking at his face. "No. However, he did molest one of my friends. And he embarrassed me at my last confession."
"When was the last time you took communion?"
"It was seven years ago. I had come to the Virgin Elena's Festivities and I was rudely awakened at five thirty in the morning. My aunt's husband couldn't make it in time, so I became some kids godfather for his first communion. I haven't seen or heard from him since."
"So you come from a well to do family, don't believe in religion and yet you asked me to dedicate a mass for your grandmother."
"That was my grandmother's faith. But, you know? I'm more curious about you."
I caught him off guard. "Really? Why? How?" He asked in English, in perfect English.
"Well, you're not a pedophile, obviously. But I can smell a fag a mile away."
He stood up. "That's no way to talk to a priest."
"You started trying to get into my head. I figured its fair play to get into yours."
"Oh. A smart ass?"
He walked to his closet and opened it. He took out a pair of white soccer shorts and a blue and white striped shirt followed by long blue socks and soccer shoes. I stood in front of him. "Let me help you with your shirt."
He looked at me and did not move. He started trembling.
"You may not be guilty. But, I'm sure you're ready to confess."