AZOTUSLAND chapter Fifty One

The Juggernaut continues...it is slightly possible I will hit the madatory 50,000 words by tomorrow, half way through the mandatory tiome, but let's face it, this story, or stories, are not nearly over. That would be nice,. but I am not forcing it.
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The Reverend Johnathan William Tanka stirred when he heard the shuffling of what sounded like parishoners in his old town of MacSkaard soming in across the stone steps of the old sanctuary.

When he opened his eyes he saw maurice's face dark and beautiful smiling at him.

"Well=ah now Maurice you dveil you...what you got cookin-in-dah pot-ah?"

Then he focused and saw the room filled as it often was at the cafe. Familair faces looking at him. For maybe a first time he was speechless.

He looked out and saw Renata and Rand, Maugham, the tall Templar and the short Manfred, other men and women he knew less, then Jim and Ted?

"Well-hah! Now that I have you all here as I planned-hah...I will commence with the morning sermon!" he said, then choked back some tears. Renata came over and gave him a hug and left him some brownies and whispered "made with Splenda.." "Not so bad," Tanka whispered. Then she kissed his forehead. Rand was next. "Um, I'm with her."

"Name boy?"

"Rand, " he said shocked.

"What's your prayer request?"

"What? We came her to be with you." Rand said rattled.

"Yea-sus wellah Rand what-tha else I'm I gonna do laying-ah here before I die?"

"Er...hmnnn... we might have a baby," Rand said quietly.

Rev. Tanka smiled broadly. "Life, new life he said...good son. You take good care of that life."

Other came forward, icluding those from the Zen center who had brought incense. "Think I had enough of the smokie," he gurgled as he took every hand one by one.

Maugham came up with martine and Rev. Tanka said "Marry the girl and get a haircut." Maug nodded.

Manfred approached and Tanka said "Manfred, I always liked you...you were my favorite. Keep your joy." He asked each one their requests.

In the end it was Jim, Ted and Maurice who sat down.

"Thank you Jim-Bo," Tanka wheezed and held out his hand. "But take this boy under your wing" he said and Maurice winced.

"Not you Mo-Bo," he coughed roughly. "This boy here..the angry one."

"You call his pastor tomorr-rah and say I asked for pastoral-lah visitation-nah...and I want the boy once a week till I die."

Ted looked bewildered but compliant.

"Reverend?" he said looked up at a flustered Jim.

Jim took out a small vial of oil and anointed Tanka's forehead and said quietly aloud,

"The Lord bless you and keep you,
May he make His beautiful face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you with all His love
May he restore all you have lost
And reward your any ways of love and gift
May He hold you to his bosom
The sweet child you are and forgive
All your sins for His namesake.
May your way to Him be full and free
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Amen."

Tanka squeezed his hand and said "Nice try." and Jim laughed

"Send the boy around Jim. And thanks."

Jim looked at Ted and he nodded.

They left together silently and rode back in Ted's Suburban as the others had left awhile ago.

The Rev. Tanka cried softly for along while after when he was alone. But then he settled and started to pray for each of them, which he would do for many days ahead.