Communion Day
by A. Craig Newman
An excerpt from “Communion Day”, available on Smashwords, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Scribd
Celeste’s “Perfume de Tromperie,” which she always wore, calmed Monty as they walked to the church, arm-in-arm. Seeing the members of the congregation appear and disappear as they walked through the fog was unnerving. He tried not to be skittish among these strangers. Celeste, on the other hand, casually hugged his arm with one hand and waved at the familiar faces around her with the other.
While everyone was careful to wear different shades of white, Monty’s good luck charm hung around his neck. It was a thin, wine-colored, leather strap with a small wooden cross. Monty never took off this wedding gift, which Celeste handmade. While it looked very professional and polished, the cross hung by the base. This mistake always made Monty chuckle.
A couple stopped to give Celeste a kiss on the cheek and extend their thanks. She felt Monty tense. “If you don’t calm down, you’re going hyperventilate and pass out. We’ll have to drag you in.”
“You know I don’t like strangers. And, maybe, I should not have worn something red,” he said and tapped his cross.
Celeste stepped back and showed him her seven-months pregnant figure wearing the best all-white dress she had. “When you think you look silly, think of how your wife, the egg, feels.” The couple laughed as they walked. “Calm down, sweetie,” she said. “This is my church family. Communion Day is a time for family. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“What is Communion Day?” Monty read the sign for Dark Fields Church of The Father and Son above the door.
Celeste walked Monty into the church. “Dark Fields is an old farming town. People live and die by the success of the harvest. We try to come together on Communion Day, just before the planting season to pray and ensure a good harvest. This tradition holds us together.”
They stood in the vestibule, separated from the sanctuary by double doors. The small room was packed with people mingling and making their way into service.
“Lots of people here. Is everyone gonna fit in the sanctuary?” Monty asked.
“The church is bigger on the inside than it looks outside.”
“Hi, Celeste,” said a voice behind them. Celeste and Monty turned to face an usher. He was a teen dressed in a full suit and thin cotton gloves.
“Hi, Kevin,” she said with a hug and kiss. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s ok. Doctor’s still looking after her. Should be back to health very soon, he says.”
“Tell her I’m praying for her,” Celeste said.
“Yes, ma’am, I will.” Kevin turned to Monty and shook his hand with great enthusiasm. “We are so glad to see you, Mr. Brumell. Welcome to Dark Fields Church.”
Monty smiled and pulled his hand away. “Thank you,” he said.
“No, thank you!” Kevin said. “Please, come with me, sir. We have a special greeting for new attendees like yourself.”
Surprised, Monty looked to Celeste. She kissed his cheek and said, “Go with him,” she said. “I’ll see you when you’re done.”
Her calming perfume and kiss made him smile again. Monty walked away with the young man, towards a staircase to the classrooms and kitchen on the lowest level in the basement.
Celeste’s “Perfume de Tromperie,” which she always wore, calmed Monty as they walked to the church, arm-in-arm. Seeing the members of the congregation appear and disappear as they walked through the fog was unnerving. He tried not to be skittish among these strangers. Celeste, on the other hand, casually hugged his arm with one hand and waved at the familiar faces around her with the other.
While everyone was careful to wear different shades of white, Monty’s good luck charm hung around his neck. It was a thin, wine-colored, leather strap with a small wooden cross. Monty never took off this wedding gift, which Celeste handmade. While it looked very professional and polished, the cross hung by the base. This mistake always made Monty chuckle.
A couple stopped to give Celeste a kiss on the cheek and extend their thanks. She felt Monty tense. “If you don’t calm down, you’re going hyperventilate and pass out. We’ll have to drag you in.”
“You know I don’t like strangers. And, maybe, I should not have worn something red,” he said and tapped his cross.
Celeste stepped back and showed him her seven-months pregnant figure wearing the best all-white dress she had. “When you think you look silly, think of how your wife, the egg, feels.” The couple laughed as they walked. “Calm down, sweetie,” she said. “This is my church family. Communion Day is a time for family. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“What is Communion Day?” Monty read the sign for Dark Fields Church of The Father and Son above the door.
Celeste walked Monty into the church. “Dark Fields is an old farming town. People live and die by the success of the harvest. We try to come together on Communion Day, just before the planting season to pray and ensure a good harvest. This tradition holds us together.”
They stood in the vestibule, separated from the sanctuary by double doors. The small room was packed with people mingling and making their way into service.
“Lots of people here. Is everyone gonna fit in the sanctuary?” Monty asked.
“The church is bigger on the inside than it looks outside.”
“Hi, Celeste,” said a voice behind them. Celeste and Monty turned to face an usher. He was a teen dressed in a full suit and thin cotton gloves.
“Hi, Kevin,” she said with a hug and kiss. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s ok. Doctor’s still looking after her. Should be back to health very soon, he says.”
“Tell her I’m praying for her,” Celeste said.
“Yes, ma’am, I will.” Kevin turned to Monty and shook his hand with great enthusiasm. “We are so glad to see you, Mr. Brumell. Welcome to Dark Fields Church.”
Monty smiled and pulled his hand away. “Thank you,” he said.
“No, thank you!” Kevin said. “Please, come with me, sir. We have a special greeting for new attendees like yourself.”
Surprised, Monty looked to Celeste. She kissed his cheek and said, “Go with him,” she said. “I’ll see you when you’re done.”
Her calming perfume and kiss made him smile again. Monty walked away with the young man, towards a staircase to the classrooms and kitchen on the lowest level in the basement.
