Reading Response #3

   

     This chapter opens with Father Tim’s secretary, Emma, explaining to him that she has fallen in love with Harold Newland. This has Emma very upset because it reminds her of how she lost Charlie ten years ago. She now feels guilty for falling in love with another man. Harold is good company to her and he is a great handy man, but there is something else that worries her other than Charlie. She is embarrassed about Harold’s age. 

“‘Because he’s only forty-five!’ Emma Wailed. He was quiet for a moment. ‘Pardon my asking so directly, but how old are you?’ He thought he remembered that she was two years his junior. ‘Fifty-eight, she said, exhausted by the ordeal of confession’.”

Uncle Billy comes into the church office bright and early to visit with Father Tim. They begin talking about Miss Rose who is Uncle Billy's wife of forty-three years. Uncle Billy describes her as “Mean as all get out, don’t you know. But that’s ‘er illness.” Miss Rose was diagnosed with schizophrenia and is on daily medication. Billy worries about her a lot and says her health is not getting any better. Father Tim leaves Billy with this encouragement;

“...God asks us not to worry about tomorrow. Just stick with today, is what he recommends. Of course, it helps to stick with him, while we’re at it.”

After Uncle Billy leaves the church office, Russell Jacks walks in. Russell tells Father Tim that he has brought his grandson. “... a barefoot, freckle-faced, red-haired boy in overalls.” Father Tim’s first encounter with Dooley had just begun with “You got any place in here where I can take a dump?” 

I predict that Dooley is about to become a bigger part in Father Tim’s life than he is ready for.