'I told you, I never was.'
'What are you now, a Seven Day Adventist? They take care of children. Are you going to hear Confession? It was something you like to do.'
I'll talk to people, try to help them. Even do it like Confession if they want.'
'Yes, and you give penance?' 'Can't do that anymore.'
'Did you tell Laurent?'
'I will the next time, when he realizes I'm here and not visiting or happened to be passing by-the reason he told me he stopped. But if you happen to be passing by, where are you going? The road ends here. He asked if I knew I was coming back.'
'What did you tell him?'
'I said, 'Not until I got here.''
'With practice,' Chantelle said, 'you could become a visionary, tell people what the.Blessed Mother says to you, good things that will happen in the future. People would like that very much and reward you, bring you chickens, tomatoes, a bushel of corn-'
'Banana beer?'
'You said you don't like it.'
'I said I've never tried it. Do you know who you sound like?'
'Let me think,' Chantelle said. 'It must be the woman you robbed and you believe is the reason you left her.'
Terry looked at Chantelle and smiled and shook his head in a good way, appreciating her. He rose and, leaning over her chair, kissed her on the mouth, a long kiss but tender.
He said, 'You're the visionary. Tell me my future.'
She said, 'You mean, what you'll be when you grow up, or when your money runs out?'
He said, 'I can always get more.'
Notes
