the altar boy

i came into town to see my mother. while i've been here, i've seen two horrible movies (valentine's day, the wolfman), haven't had enough protein, and i've gone to mass with my mother. the mass was being given in honor of my late grandmother and that's the only reason we went to this church. "it's not my normal parish," my mom explained.

i flat out detest going to mass. i decided this time that i would listen with an open mind and try to absorb something from the sermon since i'd have to be there for an hour anyway. i'd try and make the best of it, if you will. as it turned out, this mass was entirely dedicated to asking churchgoers for money for the diocese of laredo, or something. i don't know, i tuned out, you see. i started staring at the altar boy instead and wondering what he was thinking about. he couldn't have been more than 13 years old. he was overweight, sullen, with floppy black hair in his eyes, and he sat there next to the priest, fidgeting and sighing. "i bet this kid listens to my chemical romance," i thought.

i never thought i'd see this kid again, and yet i saw him the very next day outside of the theater at the mall, with his circle of friends. he was wearing black baggy pants and a black t-shirt and also a collar with spikes. it was kind of disgusting to see him outside of the church and not wearing his white robe. i wish i hadn't seen him, either.