Falconer+-+John+Cheever

Falconer 80
what I’m doing. I know. I served on the altar beginning when I was
eleven. That was when I was confirmed. I know you think they’ll
catch me, but they won’t. At mass you don’t look at the other
acolytes. That’s the thing about prayer. You don’t look. When you
see a stranger on the altar you don’t go around asking who’s the
stranger on the altar. This is holy business and when you’re doing
holy business you don’t see nothing. When you drink the blood of
Our Savior you don’t look to see if the chalice is tarnished or if
there’s bugs in the wine. You get to be transfixed, you’re like
transfixed. Prayer. That’s why it is. Prayer is what’s going to get me
out of this place. The power of prayer. So when the mass is over I’ll
get in the helicopter in my red dress and if they ask me where I’m
from I’ll say I’m from Saint Anselm’s, Saint Augustine’s, Saint
Michael’s, Saint Anywheres. When we land I’ll get out of my robes
in the vestry and walk out on the street. What a miracle! I’ll
panhandle subway fare up to 174th Street, where I got friends. I’m
telling you this, Chicken, because I love and trust you. I’m putting
my life in your hands. Greater love hath no man. But don’t expect
to see very much of me from now on. This dude with the red dress
likes me. The chaplain brings him in food from the outside and so
I’m taking the electric plate. I may never see you again, Chicken,
but if I can I’ll come back and say goodbye.” Jody then put his
hands on his stomach, stooped and, groaning softly with pain,
went into the waiting room. Farragut followed, but they didn’t
speak again. Farragut complained of headaches and the doctor
gave him an aspirin. The doctor wore dirty clothes and had a large
hole in his right sock.
Jody didn’t return and Farragut missed him painfully. He listened
through all the million sounds of the prison for the squeak of
basketball sneakers. It was all he wanted to hear. Soon after their
parting at the infirmary he was given the ditto sheet to type
announcing that His Eminence Cardinal Thaddeus Morgan would
arrive at Falconer by helicopter on the twenty-seventh of May to
present diplomas to the graduating class of the Fiduciary