Madonna

It was nearly time to get ready for the priest. He always came around this time. Her sons didn’t believe but they always greeted him politely. They were happy that she was able to take comfort from her faith and from the ministrations of the priest.

She had stopped believing two years ago, when her husband died. A good man who had suffered a drawn-out, painful and undignified end. But she still welcomed the priest. For the comfort that her sons took in the the comfort that they thought she still took in his visits.