Pie Town - Lynne Hinton [36]
The group in the shelter all turned to the priest, noticing his attire.
“Keep the doors closed,” Father George played along. “I’ll remember to do just that.” He smiled and felt the sweat roll down his back. He suddenly wished he had packed more than just the black wardrobe.
Chapter Thirteen
That was a fine hit.” Trina had made her way to Alex, who was sitting by the dugout as his team took the field.
“Hey, Trina!” he exclaimed. “I’m so glad you made it.”
“Just in time to see you score a run,” she said with a smile. She reached over and tousled his hair. “Happy Birthday.”
“You bring Father George?” Alex asked.
“He was already here,” she replied.
Alex glanced over in the direction of the picnic shelter. He nodded, even though he couldn’t see who was there. “Y’all didn’t come together?” he asked with a grin.
“Now, Alex, what are you trying to say?” she asked, grinning as well.
The little boy shrugged. “I thought y’all made a nice couple,” he said. “That you came together to make your home in Pie Town.”
Trina rolled her eyes. She knew the boy was only teasing her. “Well, even though we arrived at the same time and might both be calling this place home, I suspect God would have a few things to say about the ‘being a couple’ part.”
Alex shielded his eyes as he squinted up at the girl. “I think God likes couples,” he said. “He did make Adam and Eve, after all.”
“That’s true,” Trina responded. “But I guess the priests have a different idea about that.” She leaned over and fixed the mess she had made in the little boy’s hair. “I think Father George is scared of girls. Maybe one bit him when he was your age.
“You throw quite a party,” she commented as she glanced around at all the people on the field and gathered in groups under trees and back at the shelter. “This must be everybody in Pie Town.”
Alex smiled. “They come every year,” he said. Then he turned to Trina. “When’s your birthday?” he asked. “We can throw you a party.”
Trina smiled. “December,” she replied. “December 16. Usually it’s too cold for a party. Or too close to Christmas.” She squatted down and sat next to Alex’s chair. “At least that’s what they always told me,” she added.
“You never had a party?” Alex asked, sounding surprised.
“I always got a card and a bag of candy from my granddad,” she replied.
“But no party?” Alex asked. “No cake, no family standing around you singing the birthday song?” He paused. “No candles and wishes?”
Trina shrugged. “Didn’t really have much of a family,” she answered, and then noticed Alex’s concern. “But it’s all right,” she said, sounding reassuring. “I left home pretty early, so I never gave anybody much of a chance to plan a party for me. Besides, I make my own parties . . . and my own wishes.”
Alex smiled. He turned back to see what was happening on the field. “I got my wish already,” he said.
“That home run?” Trina asked. “It was a beauty,” she said, following his gaze to the field.
“No, not the home run,” Alex replied. “They let me hit one of those every year.” He smiled. “I always act like it’s a big deal, but I think it makes them happier than it does me.”
Trina glanced up at the boy. It surprised her to hear what he was saying. “Then if it wasn’t the hit, what wish came true?” she asked.
Alex didn’t answer at first. He glanced down at Trina. “You,” he said softly. “You were my wish this year, and you showed up.”
Trina didn’t respond at first. She thought about his answer, trying to figure out what he meant.
“You wished for a girl from Texas to come to Pie Town for your birthday party?” she asked.
Alex shrugged and watched the team on the field. “Well, I didn’t care whether or not you were from Texas, but yeah,” he replied. “I wished for a change in Pie Town, something or someone new to come here, give the place something to think about other than just me and my disease.”
Trina didn’t know what to say. She was surprised at the boy and his birthday