Water and Fire

There wasn’t enough holy water but it would have to do. Guilt pricked Father John’s conscience at getting books wet. He spied books three and nine of his sister’s favorite novel series in the heap. He’d never gotten past book two. Other books he liked were there, totally helpless. He worked faster, sprinkling the water higher. He finished the blessing just as his brother priests arrived with the torches.

“You can’t destroy these books. They’ve been blessed.”

Father Austin laughed. “Brother, you’ve forgotten an important lesson. One of the only ways to get rid of something blessed is to burn it.”