the ‘farewell’ luncheon was this afternoon

Our priest’s wife wasn’t even present most of the time; I saw her crying into the shoulder of another woman. We listened to speeches from the parish council, the Alkistis Society ladies, and from most of the city’s clergy, Catholic, Episcopalian, and the like. They expressed their love and gratitude. Then our priest got up to say a few words, and he started crying too.

I looked around the room full of tear-stained cheeks and quiet sobs.

As I left, a teen girl was leaning against the outer brick wall, eyes red, tissues in hand.

Lord, have mercy.

This really stinks.