SMALL BOY, PRAYING
Sitting up, bedclothes at uncertain angles, hands pointed, touching his chin. His eyes are closed, his feet move under the blankets.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hullo be thy ...”
He pauses.
“Are you listening God?”
“Yes.”
“It’s me again God – Thomas Doolan ...”
“Yes Thomas, I know ...”
Pauses again.
“Do you know EVERY-thing God?”
“Yes Thomas, I do.”
He pauses again, maybe wondering if this could actually be true.
“Well ...”, and his head moves, just a little, as if someone is inside, passing heavy objects from hand to hand.
“Yes?”
“Well, why did Sally Peterson pinch me – real real HARD – at kindy today?”
“Because she is very very angry.”
He considers this, and his eyes open slightly.
“But ... I didn’t do anything to HER.”
“Yes Thomas, I know. She’s angry at her Mum and her Dad for always yelling at each other.”
“Then ... why doesn’t she pinch THEM real real hard?”
“Because she’s frightened they’d stop loving her if she did.”
His head goes on moving gently, wrestling for the words.
“Boy – I’VE stopped loving her!”
Another pause, fingers still under his chin. God waits.
“Can I pinch her back?”
“That wouldn’t make her happy again, would it Thomas?”
Another pause, much longer.
“It would make ME happy.”
“Are you sure?”
Pauses again.
“No – prob’ly not. What if – I’ll just TELL her that I’ll pinch her back – TWO times – if she does it again. Is THAT okay?”
“Yes Thomas – that’s a better idea – maybe just tell her ONE pinch though, alright? - but first tell her you’ll still be her friend if she wants. How about that?”
“Will it stop her pinching me?”
“It’s worth a try.”
Another pause, even longer this time.
“Is there anything else, Thomas?”
“Well – it’s Singing Day again tomorrow ...”
“Mmmm ...?”
“Could I – stand at the back? – could you ...?”, and he wriggles his shoulders, as if shuffling possibilities.
“Isn’t that up to Mrs Beaumont?”
“I hate being in the front”, and he waits again, hoping. God waits too, finally adds –
“Just sing as best you can, eh ...”
Thomas nods his head, slides down, pulls the covers up to his chin.
“Thanks God – see you tomorrow night ...”
“Goodnight Thomas ...”
© T.R.E. 2014
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