The Secret

Chapter 4

“I need to help someone I love.”

“And who would that be my child?” Father Marshall asked.

Connor hesitated with answering, but came out with it, “Danny Peterson, father.”

Through the partition Connor could see Father Marshall nodding his head, “Ah yes. I have been aware of young Mister Peterson for quite some time. Let us move this conversation to my office.” The father said.

Connor and Father Marshall stepped out of the confessional booth and walked across the church to the father’s office. Father Marshall gestured for Connor to go in first and followed behind. Connor sat in the chair across Marshall’s desk and waited for the priest to sit down.

“Now, what about young Daniel are you concerned about, Connor?” The father asked.

“I believe him to be the chosen one, father. I could feel him within my thoughts,”

“Are you sure it wasn’t you thinking about him?” The father asked.

“No. I was thinking about him yes, but I could feel him in my mind. I also know that he is being bullied at school and if he is as powerful as the texts lead us to believe, I feel like your guiding hand and training will be what’s best for him before something bad happens,” Connor said, “but I don’t know how I would convince him to come here to sit with you.”

“Well Andrea and Steve are devout Catholics and follow the scriptures. They would highly believe that he is of the devil if they were to find out he is homosexual as yourself. Then they would send him to me for confession. All you have to do is try to out him, or get him to come out to his parents. Your powers of persuasion have always been impressive Connor,” Father Marshall explained, “If you know for a fact Daniel won’t come in his own, you must persuade him in a way that makes it seem like his idea to come out to his mother and father.”

Connor thought about how to do execute the plan, but it was going to be difficult. He did not want to out Danny to his parents. He cared about Danny and did not want to hurt him in any way but he would have to out Danny to get him to Father Marshall. If Danny was indeed the Chosen One, then he was about to be the most powerful supernatural being to exist.

*

Later that evening Danny was getting ready for Connor to come over and study. He was excited and has not had anyone over in years, not since the incident. He was over joyed and Andrea was excited too. She made snacks for Danny and Connor because she knew it was not everyday Danny had a friend come over.

“Oooooh, I’m so happy you’ve got a friend coming over. I know I shouldn’t be this excited, but to be honest sweetie, you don’t have a lot of friends,” Andrea said to Danny.

“Thanks mom. Makes me feel a lot better. Now please don’t make a big deal when he gets here. He’s a cool guy, one of the coolest in school. So please don’t do anything embarrassing.” Danny pleaded.

“Oh don’t you worry sweetie, I’ll try my best. But you know I can’t help it. After the last time you brought a friend home I didn’t think you’d ever have any. Even at church you don’t make any effort to be apart of any of the youth groups.”

“That’s because I don’t really like to be with all those judgmental, pious jerks.” Danny said. Andrea looked at him with a brow slightly raised. He knew his comment was hypocritical, but he did not care. He was right and even Andrea knew it because she dealt with a lot of holier than thou women in her Bible study group.

“Danny that is no way to talk about other kids. Even if they are a bunch of little judgmental as*holes.” Steve said from the family room winking at Danny.

“Steven Peterson! That was uncalled for,” she shouted “I ought to have you go to confessional with Father Marshall.”

“But you know I won’t go and you won’t force me either. So what is the point of that empty threat.”

Danny chuckled because his dad’s comment got his mom fuming. He was right even though she did not want to admit it.

“Besides, some of those kids are just plain weird. I think the Jacobson boy is a homosexual and he needs to spend some time in the booth with the good father. I may not trust priests but I know Marshall is a good one I’ll admit.”

Danny did not comment on his father’s words. He instead went upstairs to get his room ready vaguely catching the homophobic conversation his parents were having. He knew eventually he would have to come out, but it definitely was not going to be tonight.

Danny was all ready for his study session with Connor. He was nervous because of what he heard Connor think earlier. Was Connor going to try and kiss him tonight? But if so, was Danny going to accept it? Danny was overthinking all of the possibilities when he heard the doorbell ring. He ran out of his room and rushed down the stairs as quickly as he could to beat his mom to the door but he was too late.

“Well hi!” Andrea said excitedly, “ you must be Connor.”

“Hi Mrs. Peterson, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh you don’t need to call me Mrs. Peterson. You can call me Andrea if you like,” she said with a big smile, “come on in.”

Connor said thank you and walked into the house. Andrea told Connor she made some snacks and fresh lemonade for their little study session. Danny walked over to Connor and extended a warm welcome then invited him upstairs to his room.

Connor followed Danny upstairs with his book bag in hand. If Connor was going to make any move on Danny, he had to do it soon but he did not want to rush Danny too much. It was crucial Connor outed Danny though he wished he did not.