FAITH & HOPE 15

FAITH

Monday morning. Faith was lying in her bed, blissfully enjoying a dream, when her alarm clock began buzzing, startling her into consciousness.

She quickly tried to grasp at any remnants of the dream to remember, hold onto, keep for later, But she wasn’t so lucky. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember what the dream was.

She and Sebastian had had a wonderful weekend. The majority of his time in Willows was spent under the blankets with her, but nonetheless, Sebastian claimed to have enjoyed his weekend away and even said that Willows was growing on him. This Fucking Willows.

Faith had spent the majority of Sunday plotting ways in which she could piss off her mother. And the first thing on that list was ditching church camp, just as Jake had suggested. She wasn’t stupid - of course she knew she would get caught. The only question that remained was when.

Perhaps she could get away with it for a couple of days. Weeks? Not a chance. Her mother would figure it out sooner or later. But for now - starting today - Faith would no longer be an attendee at that damn camp.

After showering, getting ready, and perfecting the illusion that she was going to the church, Faith said good - bye to her mother and headed out the door. Every morning for the past week, she had gone through this same routine. St. Andrew’s Church was only a six minute walk from her house, and her mother had been ensuring that she left in good time each morning so that she wouldn’t be late. Today, Faith was out the door nice and early.

But instead of turning left when she reached the end of her driveway, she made a sharp right and headed into town. It was eight - thirty am. On a Monday morning, so the streets were not packed. The air was cool, and Faith wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she had brought a sweater.

It wasn’t until she reached the town square that Faith realized she should have planned this whole thing out better. Now that she was here, she had no idea what she was going to do. She had succeeded in duping her mother, but now what? It was early in the morning. She had literally all day to come up with some form of entertainment. But she was in Willows. She had no friends. Sebastian wasn’t here. And everyone else was either at work or in church. She was stumped.

She wandered the streets, looking through windows, reading signs. Perhaps she could people - watch. She always enjoyed that. It gave her a distraction from her real life. She would often sit there, staring at people, creating scenarios in her mind. It was fun to her. A hobby, even. The only problem was, there was no people around to watch.

Faith sighed and headed down the road in the direction of Frenchie’s. Yes, it was early in the morning, but there was nowhere else to go. And who said it was too early to have a burger?

Once inside, Faith sat at her favourite booth that overlooked the restaurant. Just like the streets of Willows, Frenchie’s was empty. One lone man sat at one of the tables, a coffee in front of him, reading the newspaper. Faith tried to invent a scenario in her mind about him.

‘Hey- Faith - girl.’ the waiter, Tommy Collins, said as he approached. Faith had familiarized herself with Tommy due to the fact that he was working every single time that she came here. And Tommy wasn’t a bad guy. He was two years older than her, just trying to work his way through college.

‘Hi, Tommy,’ Faith said, adjusting in her seat.

‘What brings you here so early on a Monday?’

‘I was hungry.’

Tommy laughed, ‘What can I get you? Pancakes, maybe?’

‘I was thinking something meatier. Like a burger.’

Tommy glanced at his watch. ‘It’s not even nine AM.’

‘So?’

He laughed. ‘Okay, the usual, then.’ He stopped and stared at her. ‘We have waffles, you know.’

‘Does it look like I want waffles?’

‘Okay,’ he cleared his throat. ‘One burger. Anything else? Coffee, tea …’

‘A rum and coke would be nice.’

‘Funny,’ he winked. ‘So no drink.’

‘Water, please.’

‘Coming right up,’ he said, then slipped away.

Faith adjusted in her seat, again, and glanced at the man drinking his coffee. Maybe he’s a widower, she thought to herself. Or maybe he’s a serial killer.

Unfortunately, Faith was not able to finish that thought, She wasn’t even able to receive her meal. Because moments after Tommy left the table with her order, another person walked in the restaurant, the bell above the door chiming as it opened. That person was Claudia.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing here?’ was the first thing she said to her daughter.

‘What am I doing here?’ Faith said, ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I followed you, Faith.’

‘You stalking me?’

‘For a girl who prides herself in being cunning, you truly aren’t that bright.’

‘Yes I am.’

‘You turned right, Faith, Right. St. Andrew’s is in the opposite direction.’

Faith looked away.

‘Well come on, then,’ Claudia said, tapping her foot on the floor. Faith saw Tommy appear in her peripheral.

‘Come where?’

‘With me. I’m taking you there myself.’

Faith met her mother’s eyes. ‘To church camp?’

‘Of course to church camp. Hurry up, you’re already late enough as it is.’

‘Save me!’ Faith called out to Tommy as Claudia grabbed hold of her daughter’s arm. 

‘Tell them it was against my will.’ Faith continued on theatrically. Tommy watching her and laughing. ‘Play the Beatles at my funeral.’ she said just as her mother yanked her out the front door.

‘You’re not funny,’ Claudia said.

‘I’m hilarious.’

Her mother opened the car door and ushered her inside.

They drove three short minutes up the road, to the left, then arrived at St. Andrew’s, Faith slouched in the front seat, pouting as her mother turned off the car and came around to the passenger side.

‘Out,’ Claudia ordered.

Faith complied, though unwillingly. ‘Just know that I will not give up.’ Faith said once she was out of the car. ‘Never relenting. I always persevere.’

‘God help me,’ Claudia said to the sky. ‘Give me the strength and the energy required to deal with this child. God, please …’

‘He’s not listening to you.’ Faith interjected.

‘He has other priorities. And besides, he doesn’t listen to sinners.’

Claudia inhaled deeply and stared at her daughter.

‘Well, are we just going to stand here all day?’ Faith asked.

‘Let’s go,’ Claudia grabbed her arm and dragged her across the yard.

She opened the front door to the church and they went inside. Faith noticed a few of the groups were gathered in the main room, but the others must have already dispersed throughout the building.

Before she could stop time and change her mother’s mind. Faith spotted her. The girl. She was standing there, sporting her yellow counsellor’s T-shirt, talking to one of the nuns.

‘No no no no,’ Faith said, resisting her mother’s pull. Claudia was headed directly for them.

‘Excuse me,’ Claudia said, Faith right behind HER. ‘I’m just dropping my daughter off for the day. She attempted to hoodwink her way out coming here. Any chance someone can keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn’t make a RUN for it?’

‘I’m not a provider,’ Faith mumbled. Claudia held eye contact with the girl and the nun, smiling politely. ‘My daughter’s a bit of a delinquent, you see. Nothing a summer in church can’t solve. I’m sure!’

‘Faith, right?’ the girl smiled at her.

‘You two know each other?’ Claudia beamed.

‘Yes, we met last week,’ the girl said. Hope - that was her name. ‘We were partners for the outdoor activities on the first day.’

‘Perfect!’ Claudia clapped her hands together. ‘Faith has already made a friend. You can watch over her then?’

‘Of course!’

‘Wonderful. I’ll see you at dinner.’ Claudia shoved Faith in their general direction, then turned around and headed back out the church doors.

‘Hello child,’ the nun said to Faith.

‘Hi.’

Hope giggled. ‘So I guess I finally met your mother.’

Faith rolled her eyes. ‘You sure did.’