"It's not the problem of my first male grandchild being christened as a Catholic. That doesn't bother me because when Irwin married an Italian that was to be expected. We were raised Protestants or Orangemen as they claimed in the old country because it was explained to me at an early age, that to be a Presbyterian meant you followed the easiest religion in the world...."
"Then what is it Mary? "
"It's the fact that he'll be there! "
"Oh, the x-factor.."Brian remarked and they both broke into a fit of laughter.
Mary and Brian had been married for almost twenty years, so they could share the humor. They had both been married before and had adult children on either side. It was Mary's first husband, who was going to come to thee chrisining and even though he was the legitimate father of the son, who had created another son, which was equal to a grandson, it was difficult for her to divine that if had come from the same source. His name was Bruce and he was now into his third marriage, with two different sons that he had spired from two different women, since they had gotten a divorce.
He was a successful financial manipulator and in retrospect, she considered that manipulation with distain. Before, it used to be despair, but that was long ago and now she was liberated from Bruce and brought into heaven with Brian.
He was also an Orangeman, who had been born in Boston. His accent would have told you that a mile away. He was very much unlike Bruce. In fact, he was human.
"If it's such a big deal, maybe I can go and say you were sick or something…"Brian suggested.
"Never! Do you think I am willing to give up one of the most important moments of my life, for the likes of Bruce? "
She was not shaming so they got underway. It was Boston in December and they were going to St. Mary's Church on the south side. Angela's family had come from there, so it was understood that that would be the best place.
She was now sixty six years old and perhaps altered in appearance from whan she had eloped with Bruce at eighteen, but not too much.
She had heard through the grapevine that he had been traveling through the Middle East on oil deals and after leaving Texas, where he married his secretary and had another child, h e ended up in Rhode Island, where he bought a yacht and a very nice home.
Obviously he was not suffering nor either was she. Brian had a good job in the administrative department of the largest hospital in Boston. He was easy about his position and his earnings. He was never stingy. This was the afterlife, in the same life, which was bizarre, with respect to reality and yet, there was no other definition.
Brue was born in a Brooks Brother suit, she used to say and even his wang wore the old school tie! It wasn't true for he had faked his appearance and posture. In truth, he came from a background of Steinbeck sharecroppers, who led the life of displaced persons. Somehow, someway he had shed that past, not unlike a rattlesnake that sheds its skin and had won out on the American scale. He was still a snake while being incorporated into the accepted pit.
But if I really have to see this man, she considered, as they drove through the streets of Boston: should I be friendly or even cordial? There were snowflakes now but yesterday it was 65%. The weather is changing, she thought, just like time, which never stops.
St Mary's was not crowded. Not many people went to church these days, she considered as they went inside. It was an intimate ceremony, provided by an Italian born priest. She didn't catch his name. Something with a "nini"at the end of it.
She went to her place and before she reached it, she saw Bruce. He was with his third wife and child since their divorce. He had on a Brooks Brother's suit and was wearing horn-rimmed glasses. Brian was behind her, so support. Irwin, his wife and all her Italian relatives stood over the infant and holy water was sprinkled on his brow.
She looked at Bruce, Brian, Irwin and the new life and considered that everything mellows with age.
