Page 14 of Demon and the Raven

“I’ll try.”

“Take care of yourself,” I urged her.

“You too, love, and say hello to Lorne for me.”

“I certainly will,” I said and hung up.

Since there was nothing else to do, I decided to take a walk. I wasn’t interested in the carnival, never had been. There weren’t enough kinds of junk food to excite me, and Jill was not wrong about the rides. I did not need to take my life in my hands by riding a Ferris wheel made in the fifties. Passing by St. Theresa’s, one of the three places of worship in town, I was surprised to hear my name called.

When I turned, I saw Father Dennis Balfour, whom everyone called Father Dennis, coming down the stairs.

“Evening, Father,” I greeted him.

“A good evening to you as well, Xander,” he replied with a smile. “This is excellent timing, as this way I’ll have conversation on my way to the carnival.”

“Oh, I’m not going.”

“Would you deprive me of your company?” he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“That’s terrible,” I assured him.

He chuckled. “Don’t make me guilt you. Just come with me.”

I shook my head at him. “Is that a good idea?”

He stopped moving and glared at me. “Why would you ask such a thing?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “I heard you’re not supposed to eat any junk food.”

“Blasphemy,” he pronounced. “Who told you that?”

“Apparently, from what I’ve heard, Sister Andrea announced it at service last Sunday, and everyone who was there told everyone else, and c’mon, Father, this town is only so big.”

He threw up his hands. “I told Sister Andrea I’d rather die eating things I love than with all this plant-based nonsense she wants me to make a habit of.”

I cackled. “Habit. Good one.”

“Oh dear Lord,” he moaned.

“Because she’s a nun and they wear habits.”

“Please stop.”

“Do you get it? Do you? Habits?”

“Desist with your terrible jokes.”

“Then no bad food for you.”

“Fake bacon is not in the Bible.”

“But real bacon is, and you’re not supposed to eat it,” I said.

“Jesus said nothing about pork,” he argued.

“I see, so we’re picking and choosing from the good book now. Is that it?”

“Heathen.”