It was hot and stuffy in the shop, but Jonah was used to it. He glanced up at the clock, 6:45. If he worked quickly he could still make seven o’clock mass with Becky. He began cleaning up methodically. He put the finished pieces away and swept away the swarf. Once finished in the workroom he moved into the office. Mr. Keller had a habit of leaving the office a complete mess. Jonah tried to explain that tidiness and orderliness were necessary for a business but Mr. Keller was set in his ways. Jonah, therefore, added office cleaner to his cumulative job description. The position had just been a summer job for him, but when Mrs. Keller became ill Jonah stayed on and maintained the shop. When she eventually passed, he had already missed half of the new school year, so he decided to continue as an apprentice. Even if he hadn’t missed school he would have never left Mr. Keller in his time of need. In the office, he shut down the computer and set the phone to voicemail. There were several mail items scattered on the desk. None of them had been opened. He tossed them in the "In" basket and grabbed the contents of the "Out" basket as he switched off the light and headed for the door. The summer sun was setting but it was still warm outside. In the distance waves of heat radiated off the hard top. He locked the door to the building and headed towards town.
As he dropped the outgoing mail in a post office box the church bells began to toll. "Perfect timing." he thought. He strode across the square and by the seventh toll he was within arms reach of Becky. She was waiting for him outside the doors of the church. He stared at her for a moment, took her in. She was wearing a simple summer dress that danced in the light breeze. Her hair was tied in a loose twist allowing for a few strands to tumble out. She was squinting her eyes looking up at the bells and he could see her lips mouthing "seven". She was counting along with the bells. He knew in just a second she would look in his direction so he quickly stepped behind her and leaned in to kiss her neck.
Instead of being pleasantly surprised Becky shrieked right into his ear. He had forgotten how easily startled she was. She quickly recovered and lowered her arms when she recognized him. Then he saw a flash of anger, "Jonah!" he cringed at the sound of his name uttered with so much fury, "How many times have I told you not to scare me like that!" Her voice began to lose its edge and her eyes soften as she finished the last bit. He knew she wasn’t really upset, but he should have known better. "I’m sorry Becks, I didn't mean to. I just was gonna do this," and he pulled her into him and kissed the crease where neck and shoulder meet. He tasted the saltiness and breathed in her smell, a scent he would know anywhere. He didn’t want the moment to end but there was mass to attend and plenty of time later to finish what he’d just started. His eyes met hers and knew they were mirror images of his, full of love and hope and desire. "Come on Becks, let's get this over with so we can sin for real at home" he whispered. "Jonah," she said coyly. He reached for her outstretched hand and led her into the church.
As he dropped the outgoing mail in a post office box the church bells began to toll. "Perfect timing." he thought. He strode across the square and by the seventh toll he was within arms reach of Becky. She was waiting for him outside the doors of the church. He stared at her for a moment, took her in. She was wearing a simple summer dress that danced in the light breeze. Her hair was tied in a loose twist allowing for a few strands to tumble out. She was squinting her eyes looking up at the bells and he could see her lips mouthing "seven". She was counting along with the bells. He knew in just a second she would look in his direction so he quickly stepped behind her and leaned in to kiss her neck.
Instead of being pleasantly surprised Becky shrieked right into his ear. He had forgotten how easily startled she was. She quickly recovered and lowered her arms when she recognized him. Then he saw a flash of anger, "Jonah!" he cringed at the sound of his name uttered with so much fury, "How many times have I told you not to scare me like that!" Her voice began to lose its edge and her eyes soften as she finished the last bit. He knew she wasn’t really upset, but he should have known better. "I’m sorry Becks, I didn't mean to. I just was gonna do this," and he pulled her into him and kissed the crease where neck and shoulder meet. He tasted the saltiness and breathed in her smell, a scent he would know anywhere. He didn’t want the moment to end but there was mass to attend and plenty of time later to finish what he’d just started. His eyes met hers and knew they were mirror images of his, full of love and hope and desire. "Come on Becks, let's get this over with so we can sin for real at home" he whispered. "Jonah," she said coyly. He reached for her outstretched hand and led her into the church.
