Altarboy novel · Chapter 11 of 24
Chapter 11: The Offer
The bake sale was Saturday afternoon, in the parish hall, with forty folding tables and a hand-lettered sign that said SAVE OUR ROOF.
Kaz stood behind the pierogi table in a borrowed apron.
His cheeks hurt from smiling at old men who wanted to know if the potato-and-cheese had onions.
Fintan, across the room, was fixing a loose table leg for the third time.
He caught Kaz's eye and looked away.
His ears went pink.
Kaz had to bite the inside of his cheek.
The doors opened, and a draft of cold air came in with Halina Pelc.
She wore the navy coat, and she carried a brown envelope, and she did not look at the pastries.
She walked straight to the pierogi table.
"Mr. Wojcik," she said. "May I have a moment in private?"
"I'm busy."
"It will take two minutes. And it will change your life."
"I'm in the middle of the potato cheese."
She smiled thinly and set the envelope down on the white paper tablecloth.
"The diocese runs a residence for young adults in Scranton," she said, lowering her voice. "Eighteen to twenty-five. A private room, three meals, a bus pass. There is also a place for you at Marywood University next semester, with a full scholarship. I have the letter."
She slid it out.
It was real.
Kaz saw the university seal and the word TUITION and he felt something pull in his chest.
"Why?" he said.
"Because you're bright. Because you're a good young man in a bad situation." Her eyes were perfectly calm. "And because the diocese would like you to be a friend to the church."
"A friend how?"
"A small thing. A weekly note. Just what happens at Mass. How Father is doing, how the building is. Whether anyone is being irresponsible."
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