Father Nate called him back as he turned onto 17th,
but there was nothing else he could tell him. “You know how kids
can be,” he said. “They like me but I’m still a priest. I’m older
than they are and they’re not going to tell me the places they hang
out at, even if they do think I’m pretty cool.”
“My roommate suggested 17th,” Alex said, slowing as he
scanned the already crowded sidewalks. Young kids lingered
everywhere, dressed in leather and chains and tight jeans, tattoos
and piercings and punked hair… God, please don’t let him be
here, Alex prayed. “I’m there now.”
“That’s a tough street,” Father Nate replied. “You be
careful. If he’s there—”
“I’ll be fine,” Alex assured him.
He rolled the window up halfway and turned down the radio,
trying to study the streets without ma
