Read Online The Grave of God's Daughter by Brett Ellen Block - Free Book Online Page A

again. She stirred.
    “Oh, good afternoon,” she said in Polish rather than English. “I must have nodded off.”
    “That’s all right, Sister. I’ve brought my brother in. My mother was wondering if it would be okay if he stayed here until the library closes. I’ve got to help her at the rectory and there’s no one else who can watch him.”
    Sister Teresa and all of the other nuns knew who Martin and I were because they knew what my mother did. Anyone who did anything for Father Svitek was beyond reproach in their minds, so I had little doubt that Sister Teresa would not deny me this favor, especially since I said I was going to be helping Father Svitek as well.
    “Of course, child. The boy will be fine here with me. But he’s not loud or a troublemaker, is he? I can’t have any troublemakers in here.”
    “No, Sister. He won’t make a sound.” Martin was watching me from the door. He’d heard my lie and put on a perturbed scowl. “Isn’t that right, Martin?”
    “Yes, Sister,” he replied grudgingly.
    “What did he say?” Sister Teresa asked, clearly deaf.
    “Yes, Sister,” Martin shouted.
    “Okay,” Sister Teresa said with a smile.
    I guided Martin to a study table and waited as he got settled. “I’ll be back before the library closes.”
    “You’d better be.”
    I checked the clock on the wall. It was nearly three-fifteen. I left my books with him and dashed out the door. I ran all the way from Saint Ladislaus to Field Street in what felt like a minute flat. I charged in the front door to the butcher’s shop still panting as the bell sounded my arrival. Mr. Goceljak was waiting for me. He noted the time on his watch.
    “Am I late? I’m sorry. You didn’t say—”
    “No, you’re not late. You’re here earlier than Donny was at least. That’s a good thing.”
    Mr. Goceljak’s sentiment made me breathe a little easier.
    “Hope you came ready to work. I’ve got a lot of deliveries to go out today.”
    “Yes, sir,” I answered, feigning full confidence in myself. Not only did I have to learn how to ride a bicycle in an hour and a half, I also had to make deliveries. The full force of that fact had yet to settle in my mind, and that was probably another good thing . If I’d really given it any thought, I might have fainted there on the spot.
    “Come on then, I’ll get you the packages and load up the bicycle for you.”
    I followed Mr. Goceljak into the back room where a stack of parcels wrapped in butcher paper waited on the wooden block.
    “I put all of the names on them so you’ll know who gets what. Go to Mrs. Zahorchak’s house first. She can get nasty if she doesn’t get her sausages on time. You can leave Mr. Beresik for last. He doesn’t care when he gets his delivery, as long as he gets it. Got it?”
    “Yes,” I said. “I mean, yes, sir.”
    “I like that. ‘Yes, sir,’” Mr. Goceljak said, repeating me. “Donny never called me ‘sir.’ Sounds…dignified.”
    “Okay, sir,” I said. I was glad I had pleased him. Nothing I everdid or said at home seemed to please either my mother or my father. It was heartening to learn that it was actually possible.
    “I’ll help you with these.” Mr. Goceljak took the packages in his arms and headed out the back door. He gingerly placed each parcel in the bicycle’s basket, then twirled the dial on the lock.
    “I don’t give out the combination. At least I didn’t give it to Donny. Afraid he’d steal the thing. But if this works out, maybe I’ll give it to you.”
    I was taken aback by Mr. Goceljak’s offer. He must have stunned himself as well because he grew bashful in the silence that followed.
    “All right, then. Better be on your way.” He removed the lock and freed the chain from the spokes of the bicycle’s front wheel.
    “Excuse me, sir. Could I ask you something?”
    “Sure.”
    “Would it be all right if you didn’t tell anyone I was doing this? You know, working for you.”
    Mr. Goceljak