Part 26 (1/2)
”Don't talk to your sister like that,” Agnes scolded, still watching the TV even though it was off
Natalie shi+fted her weight onto one leg She glanced over at o,” I said
”Yes,” Agnes said ”Why don't you two go to McDonald's”
”You fucking bitch,” Natalie said
”That's enough, Natalie,” Hope said
Natalie stoo to McDonald's”
”Now you put that down” Agnes grabbed the corner of her bag but Natalie pulled it away ”Give o to McDonald's, so we're going to go to McDonald's” Natalie reached into the purse, pulling out Agnes's wallet She tossed the purse back on the couch and the contents spilled onto the cushi+ons ”All you have is a twenty?” Natalie said ”Fine, then I guess that's all we'll take” She took the twenty and tucked it into the hip pocket on her jeans
Agnes shouted, ”Natalie, I need thatto speak to the doctor about this”
Natalie stood in the doorway, ready to leave ”Fine, you talk to the doctor the doctor all you want” Then she looked at me ”Well?” all you want” Then she looked at ot up from the sofa and followed her out of the room
Upstairs in her rooth mirror She pulled her shi+rt up just below her breasts ”I a her flesh in her hand
”No you're not,” I told her ”You're not fat”
She turned her back to the mirror and stretched her head around ”God, look at e”
”Natalie, knock it off You look fine You're very pretty”
”fuck it,” she said ”Let's go get Big Macs”
We went to McDonald's and gorged ourselves on Big Macs and extra-large fries After she sucked down the last of her milkshake, Natalie burped and said, ”We only have forty cents left”
I checked my Timex It was only two in the afternoon We would not survive the day without additional funds ”Who can we ask for money?”
Natalie wiped her mouth on the back of her hand ”Your mother?”
”We could try,” I said ”But I think all she'll do is get hysterical about h child support”
Natalie chewed on the straw and went deep into thought
I stared out theat the cars in the parking lot Why was everybody driving brown cars? Why not black or white or gray? Even red But brown?
”Okay, I knoe can do,” Natalie said
”What?”
”Let's go to Amherst and hit Kiood idea Like finding a ten-dollar bill in the pocket of your jeans Kiive us money He was the doctor's ”spiritual brother” and also a Catholic priest, the head of his own church in Amherst
We walked to the bus stop in front of Thome's Market and smoked until the bus came We sat in the back, slumped doith our knees on the seat in front of us ”You think he'll give us anything?” I said
”Oh, yeah,” Natalie said ”He'll cough so up”
When we arrived at the church, ere able to walk straight into Father Kiuards or even a secretary to protect a priest It seeht up and touch one
”Well, hello,” he said frolasses He motioned us into his office
Natalie and I sat in the two chairs in front of his desk Natalie reached for the crystal Jesus paperweight on his desk
”That's fragile, dear,” Father Kiers touched it
”Oops, sorry,” she said Then she sniffed her fingers ”We just went to McDonald's Wouldn't want to get any french fry grease on Jesus”
Father Kimmel smiled and cleared his throat ”Well then, so,” he said ”What is the reason for this delightful surprise today?”
Natalie pointed to the cross behind Father Kie and it wasn't easy for hiht ahead at us, sold?”
Father Kimmel clasped his hands on top of his desk ”No, I think that's probably just brass We wouldn't keep gold here You know, because of the students down at the university”
”Oh,” Natalie said
I sht about the first time I visited him I was maybe eleven and with my mother and Dr Finch and ere upstairs in his private apartment in the rectory next door The three of the, so I was alone in the living room Because it was there, I opened his desk drawer And that's where I saw my first copy of Because it was there, I opened his desk drawer And that's where I saw azine
”We need soain, Father Kimmel cleared his throat He looked uncomfortable, like we'd just asked him to defend some church policy on abortion ”Ah, well, um,” he stammered, ”how much h for a movie”
He was visibly relieved and he se that”
”And popcorn,” Natalie added
Father Kirabbed the handle of the tithing basket He poked through thedollar bills
Natalie slid her eyes to rinned See? See? she mouthed she mouthed
I smiled back
”How is fifteen dollars?” Father Ki us a stack of fifteen crumpled one-dollar bills
”Can you hed ”Let h the dish ”Some of it'll have to be in quarters,” he said