Read Online The Perfect Son by Kyion S. Roebuck - Free Book Online

I got there, I saw that my house was scorched all the way down to the foundation. It was quickly determined that an electrical fire had been the culprit. You see, the curling iron I had been using had several severed wires, and I knew that, which is why I always unplugged it after each use. That night, I was in such a hurry that I had forgotten. By the time my husband made it home, the fire was in full swing, so he ran in to save his family. Neither he nor my son made it out; he was twenty-eight and my son was merely seven.
    Everyone sent their condolences and tried to console me in their own way, but I was lost. I was a twenty-five year old widow with a deceased son and no formal training to take care of herself. More importantly, I was drowning in hopelessness, and after finding no relief for several months, I contemplated committing the greatest sin. That was when I remembered my mother’s words. Feeling that it couldn’t get any worse, I fell to my knees, and I prayed. I wasn’t foolish enough to ask for forgiveness, because I didn’t feel as though I deserved it. I merely prayed to feel something other than pain. The next day, I woke up and there was a spark. I was still hurting beyond belief, but for the first time I felt as though I could survive it, and in that I saw God.
    Slowly from that point on, I reconnected with my Catholic roots, and by the time I turned thirty, I heard my calling. After watching many people become disenchanted with Catholicism, I realized that this would continue to be a problem because we have imperfect people trying to convey a perfect message. In order to get the word across, we would have to all present our best sides, and hopefully, those sides in total would mirror the message. Now, I am Sister Mary Ava, and I can only hope that I am properly doing my part,” she concluded with a gentle smile that didn’t fully convey everything that she was feeling. Though she meant every word that she had said, she didn’t include that a tiny portion of her often wondered if her deceased family was proud of her.
    “You’re doing your part, Nana. You’re the best sister and the best Nana I know,” Cody finally said, and it shocked and warmed Sister Mary Ava down to her core.
    “Thank you, Cody. I try.”
    ‘You have always regarded me as a nana, but right now you need me to be Sister Mary Ava,’ she thought as she bowed her head, and began praying anew for the resting boy.
     
    ***
     
    “Nana? Wow, it must have really gotten bad if they called you in,” Cody said as he opened his eyes, and saw the praying woman sitting beside him. From experience, he knew that she was in deep conversation, and he wouldn’t be addressed until she was finished, so he watched her for an additional ten minutes. Eventually, they met each other’s gazes.
    “Well, hello again. I must say that it is a relief to have you recognize me,” Sister Mary Ava said with a smile, making Cody smile as well. That fully transformed into a full blown grin when he spotted what was sitting beside her.
    “Nana, what’s in that container? It smells like dumplings. Is it dumplings?”
    “Why yes, blueberry.”
    Immediately, Cody started pulling on his restraints, growing frustrated by the second.
    “Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a second,” Sister Mary Ava said as she contemplated releasing the boy. She then remembered Kelly’s request, and reluctantly decided to adhere to it.
    “Here,” she said, and then carefully placed a dumpling in Cody’s open mouth. He chewed rapidly, and then relaxed with a smile once more.
    “That almost makes all of this worth it.”
    “And you’re still a bottomless pit, I see.”
    At that, laughter rang throughout the room, and it felt like no time had passed between the two.
    “Nana, I’m really glad that you’re here. When we left the church, I had wondered if I would ever speak to you again. I wish it wasn’t like this, but I’m glad that you’re here. Do you mind if I make a