Her picture taunts my age and circumstances, sitting there beside the crucifix a memoire of a long lost love, Bethany.
We had had one summer together and I had left to become a priest and I never saw her again. Her thick dark red hair, pale skin and clear blue eyes barely remembered, although it must be over eighteen years since I saw her last.
Now back in my home parish I am desparately trying to do gods work, to try again to resist the temptations of the flesh, but it is so hard.
My work takes me into the back streets of the city, tonight I must go to a place of ill repute where the girls dance for money. I have been many times and always have managed to keep the dignity of the cloth whilst giving ministry to the girls, most of whom are young enought to be, well my daughter. If I had one that is.
As I straighten my white collar and enter the ALAMO club the doorman looks me up and down and finally allows me to enter.
"Make no trouble padre, and don't make the girls into nuns!" he giggles as I pass him by with a smile.
The noise and confusion hits me as I enter, men drinking and smoking, barely dress girls everywhere, I take a deep brathe and head for a corner booth, here the girls can come if they want to speak with me.
We had had one summer together and I had left to become a priest and I never saw her again. Her thick dark red hair, pale skin and clear blue eyes barely remembered, although it must be over eighteen years since I saw her last.
Now back in my home parish I am desparately trying to do gods work, to try again to resist the temptations of the flesh, but it is so hard.
My work takes me into the back streets of the city, tonight I must go to a place of ill repute where the girls dance for money. I have been many times and always have managed to keep the dignity of the cloth whilst giving ministry to the girls, most of whom are young enought to be, well my daughter. If I had one that is.
As I straighten my white collar and enter the ALAMO club the doorman looks me up and down and finally allows me to enter.
"Make no trouble padre, and don't make the girls into nuns!" he giggles as I pass him by with a smile.
The noise and confusion hits me as I enter, men drinking and smoking, barely dress girls everywhere, I take a deep brathe and head for a corner booth, here the girls can come if they want to speak with me.