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Feast of the Murray Family

12/29/2024

“Good morning, Joseph. I’m Father Szulc with the Chaplain’s Office. Your mother asked me to pay a visit this morning.”

“Hello, Father. Allow me to introduce Whitney Maldonado. We enjoyed your service this morning. You could give Father Tom a run for his money.” She smiled and nodded to the priest.

He smiled. “Too kind. We all serve Our Lord to the best of our ability. I understand you might be interested in receiving the Eucharist this morning?”

“I would be grateful, Father. I’m in no condition to leave this bed just yet.” Joe folded his hands on the overbed table.

“I’m sorry to hear it, son. We’ll add a prayer for healing and I’ll add your name to the list of petitions in the Prayers of the People until you are well enough to return home. Will you be receiving, Miss?”

“I attended Mass at dawn, Father. I’m just here to keep Joe company.”

“Very good.” He approached and pulled a corporal from the burse hanging around his neck. “We’ll just get set up here.” He spread the corporal on the table and pulled out a pyx to rest on the corporal. The lid of the pyx bore an inscription resembling a medal of St. Hedwig of Silesia. He pulled a bottle of hand sanitizer and squeezed a drop onto his hand. “Sounds like an army on the march.” The priest said with a smile as he cleansed his hands.

“Probably my family. Mom wants to ensure I take Communion while I’m here.” Joe adjusted his glasses.

“How marvelous.” His mother said, leading an army of Murrays into the room. “I was afraid we’d missed it.”

“Good morning, everyone. I’m going to hold a short service for Joseph. He’ll receive Communion and I’ll be on my way to visit other patients. Does anyone else need to receive?”

“No, thank you, Father.” Murray said. “We’re fresh from Mass to visit Joe and Whitney before breakfast. Could I ask a favor?”

“I’ll do what I can, Mr. Murray. What is it?”

“My future daughter-in-law is an Inquirer. It would benefit her Christian education if you could explain how this service differs from Mass.”

“How lovely. I think you’ll enjoy your OCIA classes. Let’s get started.” He smiled and raised his hands. “The peace of the Lord be with you.”

Sarah held Leo back from the table while the others found their seats. “Hang on a moment. I want to look at those pies.”

“You’re truly incorrigible.” He laughed. “Look, Mom snagged Amanda for the hot seat. Happy now?”

“If I’m with you, definitely.”

“Nice cover. There are some seats for us over there by Joan and the kids.”

‘Great, I can watch Mandy get grilled.’ Sarah smiled and followed him. “Hi, Jenn. Mind if I sit with you?”

“Yay, Aunt Sarah.” She drummed the table happily.

“Did you have a nice Christmas? I’ll bet Santa brought lots of great stuff.”

“I got a bear and crayons and church dresses…”

“Whoa, Santa went crazy.”

Jenn laughed. “I like you.”

“Thank you, sweetie. I like you, too.”

“I got a dolly of you.” She picked up her silverware and danced them on the table.

“Me?”

Joan smiled. “It’s actually a Mary Christmas doll, but it looks like you in your elf costume.”

“You want to know something?”

“What?” Jenn grinned.

“I know Mary Christmas. She’s a friend of mine.”

Jenn looked at her mom in amazement and back to Sarah. “You do?”

“She’s very kind and I’m sure she’d love you to pieces.”

“Does she like pancakes?”

“She loves pancakes and cookies and everything sweet.”

“Can I meet her?”

“Probably so. I know she’s very busy being a superhero, but I’ll bet I could get her to come say hi to you.” She looked at Joan and mouthed the word ‘Birthday’.

Joan gave a thumbs up.

Leo caught that. “What are you up to?”

“I’m going to see if I can get Meirhe to come to Jenn’s birthday party.”

“Meirhe? Oh, you mean–”

“Shh, yes. When is it?”

“April.”

“Oh, good. She can put it on her calendar. Hopefully, she’ll be free that day.”

“Her birthday is the Eighth. I think that’s a Saturday.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to check with her. I think they do stuff on Saturdays.” She pulled out her phone and pecked wildly with her thumbs.

“Have I told you that you amaze me?”

“It has come up a few times.” She smiled as she tucked her phone away. Her brow furrowed.

“What’s the matter?”

“I think they’re talking about me. She’s on the hot seat. She’s supposed to be the one getting grilled. How is that fair?”

“She already knows Amanda. She’s been coming to holidays and birthdays since we were little. Chris has been crushing on her for ages.”

“Didn’t she like him back?”

“Probably did, but he was too chicken to ask.”

“Hmm, he was still scared to talk to her until we went bowling.” She propped her chin on her hand.

“He’s glad you suggested it. They’ve been burning up their phones ever since.”

“Do you think that’s what they’re talking about?”

“It’s not always about you. Don’t let your head get as big as your hair.”

She grimaced at him. “Leo, they’re looking right at me.”

“Okay, it’s about you, but it’s not always about you. They’ll pick a new topic eventually.”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

He shrugged. “Only I find you infinitely interesting. They just find you mostly interesting.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re fascinating.”

“Here’s breakfast. Thank God.” She held her hands up to hide her blushing.

“Aunt Sarah, can you cut my bacon?”

“Even the kids find you fascinating. That’s what you get for being an elf.” He took a plate of pancakes from the waiter.

She turned to help Jenn with her breakfast. “Are you going to mix it in with your scrambled eggs?”

Jenn grinned and nodded. Joan smiled as she helped Jim with his breakfast.

“Do you have any dollies who look like Aunt Mandy?”

“No, but she’s sitting on top of our tree.”

‘That figures.’ She scooped some scrambled eggs onto Jenn’s plate and mixed the bacon in. “How’s that?”

“Thank you.”

Sarah leaned in. “Just between us girls, what do you think of Aunt Whitney?”

“Who is that?” Jenn whispered.

“Uncle Joe’s friend at the hospital.”

She turned and poked her mom’s arm. “Wawa.”

“Just a second, honey.” She was cutting up sausages for Jim.

Jenn looked at Sarah with a grumpy frown.

“Okay, let’s see.” Joan pulled up a tote bag and dug through it. “Dolly or coloring book?”

“Dolly.”

Joan pulled out a Wonder Woman doll and handed it to her. “Don’t get it in your food. Okay?”

Jenn nodded as she hugged the little plush doll. She turned and held it out to Sarah. “Wawa.”

“I don’t know if she looks like Wonder Woman, but she’s got the same kind of hair.” Sarah studied the doll. She glanced at Mary and Amanda. ‘Man, still talking about me?’

She looked over at Leo. He was blissfully oblivious. ‘Lot of help you are.’ She turned back to Jenn. “Do you want anything with your bacon eggs? I’m going to have blueberry pancakes.”

“Ooh!”

“You want some, too? I don’t blame you.” She speared one and cut it up on Jenn’s plate.

Jenn speared a piece and ate it. “Yum.”

“I hear you, kid.” Sarah got herself a stack, sneaking a peek at Mary and Amanda. ‘Thank God, they’re done with me. Let the grilling commence.’

She cut up her pancakes and drizzled the syrup on. ‘If she’s known her since childhood, she can skip the getting to know you stuff and drill right into the what are your intentions for my son stuff.’ Suddenly, Wonder Woman bopped her right between the eyes. “Huh?”

“Aunt Sarah, hold Wawa.”

“What’s the magic word, dearie?”

“Please.” Jenn grinned bashfully.

“Alright, then.” Sarah took the dolly and stuffed it into Leo’s shirt pocket. “She’s got the best seat in the house. Okay?”

Jenn laughed and went back to eating.

Leo looked at her blandly. “Why is Wonder Woman in my pocket?”

“She’s a VIP, so she gets skybox seating.” She rolled her eyes at him.

“That totally explains it.” He tucked the doll into his pocket more securely. “Should I even ask?”

Sarah giggled and whispered in his ear. “She’s got a Mary Christmas doll that she thinks looks like me. She says Mandy is sitting on top of her tree at home. So, I asked her about Whitney and she gave me this Wonder Woman dolly to hold.”

“So, does that mean Joe is Superman or Batman?”

Sarah palmed her face. “You’re such a nerd.” She turned back to check on Jenn’s progress. “Uncle Leo is silly.”

“When is your wedding?”

“He can’t ask until after Easter.”

“Why?”

“I have to join the church first. It’s okay, though.”

“That.” Jenn pointed at a plate of fruit.

“You want some fruit, honey? Sure.” She brought the plate closer. “Do you like strawberries, blueberries, melon?”

“Green.”

“Mm, honeydew melon is good. Do you like cantaloupe?”

Jenn nodded.

“Okay, let’s cut these smaller for you.” She glanced at Mary. ‘Come on. Again?’

Leo smiled at her.

‘For heaven’s sake.’ Sarah looked down at her plate and ate her pancakes.

“Are you going to be alright?” Leo leaned into her ear.

Sarah nodded. “Yes, I need some time alone with your mom.”

“Look, just because she and Mandy were talking about you–”

“It’s not that. I’ll be alright.” She kissed his cheek. “See you in a while.” She walked over to the door where Mary was waiting.

“Ready?” Mary smiled and put her overcoat on.

Sarah nodded and followed her outside. “Ooh, it’s always so cold!”

“Fear not, dear. Murray’s car warms up quickly. We’re right here.” She clicked the fob to unlock the doors on the Schwarzwälder Green Zümmer and climbed in. Sarah shook her head and climbed into the passenger side.

“That’s better.” Mary started the car and fired up the heater.

“Ooh, heated seats?” Sarah reached for her seatbelt, but it extended across her automatically. “Does it brush your teeth for you, too?”

Mary laughed. “You’re an absolute treasure.”

Sarah sat in pensive silence.

“I wanted to have a private word with you.”

Sarah nodded solemnly.

“I have to confess that I did you a terrible wrong, and I wanted to apologize.”

Sarah’s eyes watered. “What do you mean?”

“I thought something simply awful about you and I feel so ashamed of myself.”

“What was it?”

“Midnight Mass, when you got sick.”

She threw her hand over her mouth. “Ugh. All the fish. I really don’t like fish to start with and it was fish after fish.” She shook and grimaced.

“I assumed the worst. Sarah, I thought the worst, and I was so scandalized.”

“I wasn’t drinking. I can’t, with the kind of medicine I take.”

“That’s not what I thought. It was…”

Sarah stared at her, waiting for the rest.

“You said you had Leo up to your apartment that one time.”

“Uh-huh?”

“It only takes one time. You know?”

Sarah thought about that and sucked a shocked breath. “You thought it was morning sickness? I told you we didn’t do anything but talk, Mary.”

“Words are cheap.”

“Why would you think that about me? I’ve been nothing but honest with you.”

“It was my own worst fears coming back to haunt me, Sarah. I’m sorry for laying that on you. You’re right. You’ve been an open book with us.”

“Is this about the Chemistry lab?” Sarah whispered.

“What?”

“Elka said she caught you and Murray in the Chemistry lab when you were in school together. Did something happen?”

“Oh, Elka…” She put her hand on her forehead. “That girl used to follow me around like a skinny little stormcloud. She had a crush on Staś and Staś had a crush on me.”

“From what she said, everybody had a crush on you.”

“In her imagination. You know how school is. Girlfriends and boyfriends broke up and shuffled like a volleyball game every few months.”

“If you had everyone to pick from, how did you decide on Mean Murray?”

Mary laughed. “Oh, my word. I haven’t heard that since middle school. Please don’t mention that to him. We’ve worked very hard to put that behind us.”

“I figured there was another side to the story.”

“Naturally.”

“But, she thinks she saw what she saw.”

“Oh, she saw it alright. It happened.” Mary’s eyes softened. “I had my reasons for letting it happen. It seems foolish in hindsight, but tell that to an undisciplined, spoiled brat. Some lessons just have to be learned.”

“She said there was a pretty big difference between Mary Murray and–”

“Mary Katherine Gallagher. Yes, I’m sure she’d say that. Nothing like a missed month to make one wise up.”

“Did you have…”

“Anyone to confide in? Someone to help me walk through all the emotional turmoil and world-ending dread? No. Not really.”

“That had to be so horrible for you.”

“It was a serious wake-up call. I had to put everything into sharp focus and make some decisions about my life.”

“And you did that all on your own?”

“Didn’t you?”

“I didn’t have a choice, Mary. My parents were taken from me.”

“I know, honey. That just breaks my heart, but you had them until you didn’t. Mine were absent. Even sitting right beside me, they weren’t really there. I had no rules but my own. Letting a child raise herself is a formula for disaster.”

“Mary, I didn’t know.”

“Some disasters you survive. I came close to absolute ruin, Sarah. Some girls don’t get so lucky. I saw that happen to girls in my class and I didn’t want to follow their path. I had to decide what I wanted, and I had to make a plan for that to happen.”

“And that’s how Mary Katherine became Mary?”

“That took a while, but I had a plan. What you saw in there was the result of that plan. I have to be certain that someone my son is seeing fits into that plan. Fortunately, you do.”