Four
I WAKE UP THE NEXT morning with a start. I take another shower, get dressed, and make it downstairs only to discover that I still have a full hour before 8 a.m. Mass. I try to pray, I pace, I take a walk around the block a few times, but nothing calms me down. Finally, I go over to the sacristy and start getting ready for the Mass.
Attendance at 8 a.m. is low, since everyone’s looking forward to having the Archbishop celebrate at 10:30 a.m. I finish up Mass and get back to the Rectory, opening the door to the wonderful aroma of all the delights Anna is capable of cooking. She’s gone all out this morning, not just regular grits but cheese grits, eggs, bacon, and biscuits.
“Anna,” I say, “you shouldn’t have gone to this much trouble. You’re going to be too busy today as it is.”
“It’
