Page 43 of Sin With Me

All I could do was stare at Father Cameron as one branch at a time, he climbed up the spruce. I pictured his black pants as tight red leotards encasing his thick muscles. Actually, Lola was right: a red unitard with a black web pattern, which came with a face mask, would look quite appealing.

Near the top, a wide gap stood between Father Cameron and Matt. He paused to assess his next few steps. They were having a conversation, too, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. At least Matt had stopped his skin crawling screams.

“Wait. Is he about to do what I think he’s about to do?” I asked with concern, as Father Cameron’s interest shifted to one particular branch in front and above his head. Lola had her legs completely crossed, her thighs squeezing together as she held her bladdershut.

“God, I hope so.” Lola’s eyes opened wide. “I will gladly pee my pants to seethis.”

“Don’t say that. What he’s doing is dangerous and brave.”

But somehow the word ‘danger’ and Father Cameron belonged together. He double-checked his weight on the branch where he was standing and focused in on the one above. I wanted to close my eyes, but I couldn’t stop staring.

No, no, no.

With a strong push off the supporting branch, he leapt forward and up, extending his arms toward the horizontal limb above before propelling himself onto an even higher branch. At that moment, even I was convinced that he was Spiderman.

I held my breath as he made the transition. Two more jumps and Father Cameron was beside Matt, slowly guiding him down, and I was sure that I held my breath for the full ten minutes it took them to reach the bottom. When both pairs of feet touched the ground, everyone applauded, and I ran to Matt to see whether he washurt.

“Thank you, Father Cameron,” Matt said bashfully.

“Now, why would you climb up there? That could have ended much worse.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to be closer toGod.”

“I think you need to have a chat with the kids to explain the rules of spirituality,” I whispered from theside.

“Thank you for helping me, Father Cameron. You’re a real hero.” Matt’s voice was still trembling, and his body began shaking from shock. Father Cameron picked up his cassock and draped it over his shoulders. He was much more than a hero. He was an angel.

“Why don’t you go to your cabin and rest? I’ll come see how you’re doing in a moment. Peter, would you help himout?”

“Yes, Father.”

The boys left, and Father Cameron looked up to the crowd of awaiting teenagers. “No more tree climbing for anyone. If you want to be closer to God, the chapel is right there,” he pointed. “And it’s empty.”

“Father John’s there,” I whispered from the side, though I suspected that wasn’t what Father Cameron meant.

With their heads bowed, a couple of seniors slowly walked toward the wooden structure and a few others followed.

“Now I really need to pee.” Lola turned to the outer field.

“Why are you going to the outhouse?” I asked.

“I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have a working bathroom,” she yelled out, as she tried running backwards while holding her thighs locked. “The bad news is that it’s out there, at least until they fix the washrooms inside.”

Great!

I’d been in worse situations. If I could spend an evening at the Bistro with Lola and still come out alive, then I could surely survive an outhouse. Wanting to check on Father Cameron before he disappeared as well, I turned around quickly and bumped into his hard chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

We both laughed.

“Thank you, Father. I’m not sure what we would have done if you hadn’t beenhere.”

“I… I guess I just acted on instinct.”

A Spiderman instinct? Those biceps underneath his black shirt looked swollen. Black definitely suited himbest.

---