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The Thames had returned to normal, but London had not. And Camellia knew that it that was unlikely to happen for some time yet. People were afraid. Afraid that their fragile position on the planet was in danger. And thus, they began to crack. Camellia knew that whatever had happened to cause the river to flow red...it wasn't from God. It had to be something else, and silently, she wished Father Anthony Bianco was here to advise her. But he wasn't. She prayed instead.
People crowded into the church, and Camellia sat in the office, staring out the window as the crowds swarmed in. She saw them cross themselves as they entered the building. Douse themselves in holy water. And she wondered if any of them had even been to a church in ten years. Especially the ones doing the sign of the cross backwards, or bowing to people...
"They're standin' in the aisles..." Sister Hazel commented as she entered the office.
Camellia smiled and she stood up. "They're scared. Father O'Keefe will assure them that this has nothing to do with God."
"You aren't afraid, Child?" Sister Hazel asked.
"Of course not." Camellia replied, glancing out the window again. "Not because of this."
Hazel gave her a fond smile. "Why don't you go help Father O'Keefe. I think he could use someone who isn't afraid."
"Of course!" Camellia jumped at the idea of helping Father O'Keefe out. She made her way back into the sacristy and she knocked on the door. She was admitted, and Father O'Keefe gave her a kind smile.
"Hello, Lia."
"Sister Hazel thought you could use some help!" She walked over and straightened his robes. "There's a lot of people out there who need your words."
"They need to know God is not angry with them. That they will be protected. Do you think my words will be enough?" Father O'Keefe asked thoughtfully.
"It's a start." Camellia answered. "Time and prayer will do the rest." She patted his shoulder and ruffled the altarboy's hair, despite his protests. "I believe in you."
"Thank you, Lia." Father O'Keefe gave her a kind smile. "Very much." Lia's faith was unwavering. And he knew she wouldn't give it, were it not worth giving. And so he went out before the congregation, and he did his best to let them know the world would continue as it had been. This was not God's doing. The only change that might occur, was a change inside them all, in their hearts. And that was up to them.
People crowded into the church, and Camellia sat in the office, staring out the window as the crowds swarmed in. She saw them cross themselves as they entered the building. Douse themselves in holy water. And she wondered if any of them had even been to a church in ten years. Especially the ones doing the sign of the cross backwards, or bowing to people...
"They're standin' in the aisles..." Sister Hazel commented as she entered the office.
Camellia smiled and she stood up. "They're scared. Father O'Keefe will assure them that this has nothing to do with God."
"You aren't afraid, Child?" Sister Hazel asked.
"Of course not." Camellia replied, glancing out the window again. "Not because of this."
Hazel gave her a fond smile. "Why don't you go help Father O'Keefe. I think he could use someone who isn't afraid."
"Of course!" Camellia jumped at the idea of helping Father O'Keefe out. She made her way back into the sacristy and she knocked on the door. She was admitted, and Father O'Keefe gave her a kind smile.
"Hello, Lia."
"Sister Hazel thought you could use some help!" She walked over and straightened his robes. "There's a lot of people out there who need your words."
"They need to know God is not angry with them. That they will be protected. Do you think my words will be enough?" Father O'Keefe asked thoughtfully.
"It's a start." Camellia answered. "Time and prayer will do the rest." She patted his shoulder and ruffled the altarboy's hair, despite his protests. "I believe in you."
"Thank you, Lia." Father O'Keefe gave her a kind smile. "Very much." Lia's faith was unwavering. And he knew she wouldn't give it, were it not worth giving. And so he went out before the congregation, and he did his best to let them know the world would continue as it had been. This was not God's doing. The only change that might occur, was a change inside them all, in their hearts. And that was up to them.
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