Of Faith and Doubt
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
3,998
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
3,998
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Laevi of Theed
Of Faith and Doubt
Of Faith and Doubt
1.
“Good morning, vicar!”
“Good morning, granny Willows, how are you today?” The garden fence was still broken, so the priest put his bicycle against the hedge.
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news, granny Willows? What did I miss this morning?” Bending down to put a plank aside, Matthew failed to see the excitement on the old woman’s face. “We really should fix your fence, dearie…”
“Windle’s farm has been sold! They say the new owner will arrive today. He’s American! Widow Colby told me so… Her daughter has heard it first, as she knows the broker who sold it. You know, the one in London? Not the daughter, the broker!”
Only now, Matthew noticed the anticipation in the voice. He straightened up, blinking a few times. “Oh yes,” he said. “I recall the broker. I’ve met her once, when Windle’s will had been announced. Well, that’s nice, isn’t it? How are you, dearie? Can I do anything for you?”
“He’s a handyman!” The old woman was blushing, and practically jumped up and down in her exhilaration. “He can mend my fence, and widow Colby’s leaking roof above the kitchen, and he could even lend a hand in the church!”
“Oh darling, calm down…” The woman looked like she would have a heart attack any moment. “We don’t know what he’s like, do we? We’ll see, alright? He’ll be welcomed, and we’ll learn all about him.” Matthew was about to say ‘because we know those Americans who come here’, but he didn’t. He wasn’t supposed to talk bad, even when he had a good reason for it. The last Americans, who had dared to buy a house here, had tried to change the old village into a sanctuary for retired people. They’d been chased away. Without torches and pitchforks, but it had been close.
“They say he’s handsome…” Granny Willows poked the priest in his side, and winked.
“Granny!” Matthew snapped out of his thoughts. “Really… You should know how to behave, by now!”
The woman smirked. “I’m too old, vicar Matthew, too old to be fooled. I’ve been here all my life, and I’ve delivered you. I’ve known you all my life. I’ve known your parents, may they rest in peace, and I’ve seen you growing up. Don’t you talk to me about manners, young man. Vicar or not, you’re still a whippersnapper.”
“I…” Matthew was confused for a moment, but knew the woman too well to start an argument. His ears were still ringing from the last time they talked like this; he wasn’t about to have another conversation about today’s youth. “I’m looking forward to meet him, at the sermon next Sunday.” Hopefully, this stranger was sensible enough to emerge in church. “I’ll go on my way now, if there’s nothing else you need…”
“I’ll see you Sunday, vicar.” Granny walked along with Matthew, smiling again. “I’m looking forward to the sermon.”
So was Matthew, he had to admit. Despite the disappointments with previous newcomers, it was always nice to meet new people in the village. Especially young people. The parish mainly consisted of old women, a few old men, and a few younger families. They were all born here. Youngsters would move out when they went to study, and return after they’d married. It had been like that for decades, and would never change.
1.
“Good morning, vicar!”
“Good morning, granny Willows, how are you today?” The garden fence was still broken, so the priest put his bicycle against the hedge.
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news, granny Willows? What did I miss this morning?” Bending down to put a plank aside, Matthew failed to see the excitement on the old woman’s face. “We really should fix your fence, dearie…”
“Windle’s farm has been sold! They say the new owner will arrive today. He’s American! Widow Colby told me so… Her daughter has heard it first, as she knows the broker who sold it. You know, the one in London? Not the daughter, the broker!”
Only now, Matthew noticed the anticipation in the voice. He straightened up, blinking a few times. “Oh yes,” he said. “I recall the broker. I’ve met her once, when Windle’s will had been announced. Well, that’s nice, isn’t it? How are you, dearie? Can I do anything for you?”
“He’s a handyman!” The old woman was blushing, and practically jumped up and down in her exhilaration. “He can mend my fence, and widow Colby’s leaking roof above the kitchen, and he could even lend a hand in the church!”
“Oh darling, calm down…” The woman looked like she would have a heart attack any moment. “We don’t know what he’s like, do we? We’ll see, alright? He’ll be welcomed, and we’ll learn all about him.” Matthew was about to say ‘because we know those Americans who come here’, but he didn’t. He wasn’t supposed to talk bad, even when he had a good reason for it. The last Americans, who had dared to buy a house here, had tried to change the old village into a sanctuary for retired people. They’d been chased away. Without torches and pitchforks, but it had been close.
“They say he’s handsome…” Granny Willows poked the priest in his side, and winked.
“Granny!” Matthew snapped out of his thoughts. “Really… You should know how to behave, by now!”
The woman smirked. “I’m too old, vicar Matthew, too old to be fooled. I’ve been here all my life, and I’ve delivered you. I’ve known you all my life. I’ve known your parents, may they rest in peace, and I’ve seen you growing up. Don’t you talk to me about manners, young man. Vicar or not, you’re still a whippersnapper.”
“I…” Matthew was confused for a moment, but knew the woman too well to start an argument. His ears were still ringing from the last time they talked like this; he wasn’t about to have another conversation about today’s youth. “I’m looking forward to meet him, at the sermon next Sunday.” Hopefully, this stranger was sensible enough to emerge in church. “I’ll go on my way now, if there’s nothing else you need…”
“I’ll see you Sunday, vicar.” Granny walked along with Matthew, smiling again. “I’m looking forward to the sermon.”
So was Matthew, he had to admit. Despite the disappointments with previous newcomers, it was always nice to meet new people in the village. Especially young people. The parish mainly consisted of old women, a few old men, and a few younger families. They were all born here. Youngsters would move out when they went to study, and return after they’d married. It had been like that for decades, and would never change.