Prayers

I have never really been a religious person, I mean I don't hate it, I just find it extremely ridiculous. I also however find my Uncle Ian, extremely ridiculous. But Ian on the other hand, is a religious person, I'm staying with him over summer because my Mom thought it would have been a good idea to get closer to him. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my Mom feeling sorry for Ian because he's been alone all the time since my Aunt Clare went missing, the investigation still ongoing for four years now. I reluctantly agreed to go stay with Ian for the summer as I had no friends here and no friends there, the plus side of staying with Ian was my Mom wasn't there to constantly nag me.

I had been there a few days now and I didn't have any complaints really until just now when Ian burst in the door and woke me up,

"Hey Josh", he said innocently. There was always a subtle softness to his voice since Clare disappeared, like he was constantly shy.

"Christ Ian, what time is it??"

"7:30-ish, lord's name."

"Lord's what?!" I asked annoyed.

"You said the Lord's name in vein"

"Goodbye Ian..."

"I just wanted to know if you felt like coming to church with me this morning, I know you're not relgious but I've been told you've never been."

I thought it over for a few minutes, my initial reaction was fuck no but I feel real sorry for him.

"Eh yeah sure, but no converting speeches"

"Deal."

I got up and got dressed, Ian had suggested that I wear a shirt and some slacks but I ended up throwing on a pair of black skinny jeans and a Beatles t-shirt, much to his disapproval, he also hated the Beatles.

As we pulled up to the front of the church in Ian's banged up Mondeo, we caught some eyes. Initially I reckoned it was my poor attire but it turned out most people just genuinely liked Ian, there's a sentence I never thought I'd say.

A rather rotund looking man, who I can only assume is the Priest, waddled his way over towards us.

"Ah, Ian!!" he exclaimed, he leaned his hand towards me, gesturing for a handshake and introduced himself, Father Connolly was his name. He complimented my shirt as I hit Ian with a smug smile.

As we walked up the steps into the church it surprised me how kind everyone was to eachother, especially this early on a Sunday morning. The mass itself dragged on for a while but I couldn't help but notice how many people were talking all at once, especially during a mass and the Priest just didn't care at all and continued yapping on about some prophecy, I reckoned it was just normal.

A point came in the service where the Priest asked us all the kneel down and I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"And now we all pray" and he bowed his head.

As a mark of respect I bowed my head and closed my eyes but instead of praying I decided for some reason to think of naked chicks, specifically the absolute gem of a woman sitting four people down from Ian and I. I heard Ian say something under his breath,

"Huh?" I asked, turning towards Ian.

"I didn't say anything now shhh"

"Yes you did? You said something about Clare being found?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"You must have, why is everyone so loud?"

Ian just stared at me confused. "Josh, it's completely quiet", he whispered.

"Are you deaf?" I asked, confused.

"What are they saying?"

"Well I can't really make out anything but mostly it just sounds like prayers"

Ian looked really scared and asked me to close my eyes.

"Tell me if you can hear this"

I heard Ian say something along the lines of "Lord, help me live my life to the fullest".

"Yeah I heard that, something about living life to the fullest?"

"Um Josh, I just said that, in my head. How on earth did you hear that?"

I turned around, everyone had their heads bowed and no one seemed to be talking, I looked hard at some people and their prayers became more clear and loud to hear. I can fucking hear peoples prayers, what the fuck.

"Ian what the fuck I can hear all of these people's prayers, what the fuckity fuck fuck."

I scanned the room once more, listening in on the thoughts of others, slightly disapppointed that out of all the mind powers I could have gotten, I got prayer fucking reading. I was quickly bored of hearing people talk about world hunger, health and family members until I distinctly heard "Clare" coming from one of the Pews to the left of me. I focused my attention to a tall skinny guy in a brown cotton suit and a misplaced mustard tie.

Barely fitting his legs into the row of seats and looking rather distressed I stared at him. Suddenly his prayer became clear over all the other mumbles and I listened in. "Lord please forgive me for sinning, I know I will never be forgiven for my act but I had to, seeing that man with my love had tortured me for too long. I am so sorry and please look after Clare for me", I just sat there paralysed for a few minutes.

"Ian.."

"Yeah Josh?"

"The horribly tall man in the horribly brown suit, who is he?"

"Oh, that's Rodger Plunkett, why?"

"Can I ask what's his deal?"

"Well, he doesn't like me very much, well I would actually go as far as to say he hates me, apparently I stole Clare from him.." he paused for a moment, "But why do you ask?"

"He killed her."

Ian shot towards me immediately, I looked over, Rodger was gone.