Read Online An Imperfect Miracle by Thomas L. Peters - Free Book Online
Authors: Thomas L. Peters
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politician getting ready to give a big speech.
When everybody finally piped down, he began pointing at these two round slices of pepperoni at the top of the pizza and hollering that those were Maryâs eyes. Next he pointed at this skinny sliver of green pepper on the bottom and called it her mouth. Then he giggled a little like I remembered Dad giggling whenever heâd been out drinking, real high and squeaky I mean. I guessed that the bars must have been doing a pretty good business too, just like Carlos, even though it wasnât even lunchtime yet. Then Tim bowed his head and made like he was praying to the pizza. But he wasnât really praying, because pretty soon he started squealing and shaking and laughing so hard that he almost dropped it.
Mom was busy frowning and rolling her eyes and saying what a big jerk Runyon was, but nobody including her looked to be in any rush to stop him. I thought about charging in there myself to stick up for Mary, but as big as he was Runyon would have just swatted me down like I was a fly. Then all of a sudden Father Tom shot out of the crowd in his white robe. He walked straight up to Runyon and asked him real nice if there was anything he could help him with.
Right away everybody in the crowd stopped their mumbling and whispering and looked to see if there was going to be a fight. Pastor Mike was there now too, standing straight and tall right at the edge of the crowd, like he was ready to back up Father Tom if he needed any help. Mom spotted Pastor Mike right after I did and gave him a wink, which made him blush a little even though he pretended not to notice her.
Runyon dropped the pizza and stomped on it and spit on it until it was pretty much ground down into the pavement. Then he started bouncing around on his toes and sticking his chest out at Father Tom and asking him if he wanted âto get it on.â Father Tom didnât say a word but just kept smiling kind of soft and sweet at Runyon. That must have really ticked Runyon off because he took a swing at Father Tomâs head. Father Tom ducked under the punch real smooth and easy and right away Runyon fired another one at him. But Father Tom shifted out of the way of that one too like there was nothing to it. Then quick as a cat Father Tom reached out with his free hand, because he still had his Bible with him, and grabbed Runyonâs wrist and bent it back a little.
Runyon dropped to his knees pretty quick, and then he started yelling and whimpering for Father Tom to please let him go.
âFrom now on you ought to be more respectful of people and their traditions, even those you disagree with,â Father Tom said real gentle and sweet.
âI promise,â Runyon, the big coward, squealed right away.
He kept on squealing too, so sharp and loud that it was stinging my ears. Finally Father Tom took pity on him and let him up. But instead of thanking him, Runyon rubbed his wrist a little and then stomped away, swearing and shaking his fist at all the people laughing at him now.
âYouâll hear from me again,â Runyon hollered at Father Tom before he ducked into a bar.
Father Tom didnât seem too worried and went right back over to where Carlos was helping some cripples limp up close to Mary. I kept watching to see if she healed any of them too. But it didnât look like it because they were still pretty gimpy after theyâd finished saying their prayers. Of course, I figured that there could always be a delayed reaction, like sometimes happened on those doctor shows on TV. Then I remembered Pastor Mike and looked around to see what he was up to, but I couldnât find him anywhere.
âServes that good-for-nothing buffoon right,â Mom snapped as we walked back home. âI hope he gets the message and leaves town for good.â
âDo you think Pastor Mike could have wrestled Runyon down with one arm like that?â
Mom smiled and hugged me real tight up
When everybody finally piped down, he began pointing at these two round slices of pepperoni at the top of the pizza and hollering that those were Maryâs eyes. Next he pointed at this skinny sliver of green pepper on the bottom and called it her mouth. Then he giggled a little like I remembered Dad giggling whenever heâd been out drinking, real high and squeaky I mean. I guessed that the bars must have been doing a pretty good business too, just like Carlos, even though it wasnât even lunchtime yet. Then Tim bowed his head and made like he was praying to the pizza. But he wasnât really praying, because pretty soon he started squealing and shaking and laughing so hard that he almost dropped it.
Mom was busy frowning and rolling her eyes and saying what a big jerk Runyon was, but nobody including her looked to be in any rush to stop him. I thought about charging in there myself to stick up for Mary, but as big as he was Runyon would have just swatted me down like I was a fly. Then all of a sudden Father Tom shot out of the crowd in his white robe. He walked straight up to Runyon and asked him real nice if there was anything he could help him with.
Right away everybody in the crowd stopped their mumbling and whispering and looked to see if there was going to be a fight. Pastor Mike was there now too, standing straight and tall right at the edge of the crowd, like he was ready to back up Father Tom if he needed any help. Mom spotted Pastor Mike right after I did and gave him a wink, which made him blush a little even though he pretended not to notice her.
Runyon dropped the pizza and stomped on it and spit on it until it was pretty much ground down into the pavement. Then he started bouncing around on his toes and sticking his chest out at Father Tom and asking him if he wanted âto get it on.â Father Tom didnât say a word but just kept smiling kind of soft and sweet at Runyon. That must have really ticked Runyon off because he took a swing at Father Tomâs head. Father Tom ducked under the punch real smooth and easy and right away Runyon fired another one at him. But Father Tom shifted out of the way of that one too like there was nothing to it. Then quick as a cat Father Tom reached out with his free hand, because he still had his Bible with him, and grabbed Runyonâs wrist and bent it back a little.
Runyon dropped to his knees pretty quick, and then he started yelling and whimpering for Father Tom to please let him go.
âFrom now on you ought to be more respectful of people and their traditions, even those you disagree with,â Father Tom said real gentle and sweet.
âI promise,â Runyon, the big coward, squealed right away.
He kept on squealing too, so sharp and loud that it was stinging my ears. Finally Father Tom took pity on him and let him up. But instead of thanking him, Runyon rubbed his wrist a little and then stomped away, swearing and shaking his fist at all the people laughing at him now.
âYouâll hear from me again,â Runyon hollered at Father Tom before he ducked into a bar.
Father Tom didnât seem too worried and went right back over to where Carlos was helping some cripples limp up close to Mary. I kept watching to see if she healed any of them too. But it didnât look like it because they were still pretty gimpy after theyâd finished saying their prayers. Of course, I figured that there could always be a delayed reaction, like sometimes happened on those doctor shows on TV. Then I remembered Pastor Mike and looked around to see what he was up to, but I couldnât find him anywhere.
âServes that good-for-nothing buffoon right,â Mom snapped as we walked back home. âI hope he gets the message and leaves town for good.â
âDo you think Pastor Mike could have wrestled Runyon down with one arm like that?â
Mom smiled and hugged me real tight up
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