The Castaway by Piero Rivolta

Author:Piero Rivolta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Chapter Publisher
Published: 2010-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

16

On their way back to the house, Sara and Albert bought groceries. As they unpacked and settled in, they remained quiet, both focusing inwardly on personal thoughts.

Soon, the Jesuit arrived. The three gathered in the small kitchen and talked, catching up on what had happened since they’d last all been together. They kept their conversation superficial and on conventional topics as they prepared a quick lunch together.

Thanks to his acute perception skills, which he kept well hidden beneath his gruff outer layer, Padre Brian realized that it was up to him to break the ice.

He started to test the waters by inquiring, “So tell me about yourselves. Where have you been, how’s life been treating you?”

It took a certain effort on his part to squelch his desire to ask outright whether the two were married or had plans to do so. He had looked for wedding bands on their hands, but hadn’t seen any. So he held his curiosity in check. It would have looked as if he were putting too much emphasis on his priestly role in wanting everything to be proper, as it should be.

He did wonder, though, what “as it should be” meant in this case? Maybe it was what religion and the law dictated, or what God apparently appreciated within the human spirit: honesty, goodness, love. All too often, religion and laws did not agree with the message of love that is handed out in the name of God. This had always been the point at which his thoughts crashed like waves upon the rocks and he was overcome by confusion.

Still, the afternoon was pleasant and went by quickly. Sara and Albert filled Padre Brian in on many events in their lives and travels. But while they related many adventures and personal experiences, they were wary not to discuss any details of their more intimate moments together.

All three realized that the reason behind their prudence was not merely a sense of decency with regard to talking to a priest, but that there was something more delicate involving their relationship, something more intimate between them which sharpened their sensitivity and tied their tongues.

He sensed that they wanted to share something with him, but they either could not or would not say what it was. Who knew if perhaps one day they would be able to overcome their reluctance?

Surely, only when that moment had arrived would Padre Brian’s soul be freed of a great burden. And Sara and Albert would be freed from their sense of embarrassment and guilt with regard to the good Jesuit.

Padre Brian returned to his home troubled. The time spent with his friends kept occupying his thoughts.

He had been glad to see that Sara and Albert appeared at ease with each other—it was the thing that counted for him. But as the conversation had proceeded, he had sensed that there was still some distance between them, despite the surface happiness, an undercurrent of something that their travels together had not been able to resolve.

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