Bless Us Father by Kathy Pratt Page B

was smiling back at her. She took a deep breath, then walked to the back side of the booth, away from the girls and the group of boys Danny was with. She rearranged some of the animals, and bent to pick up a couple of stray rings that had landed far from their target. When she stood up, Danny was standing in front of her.
    “Hi, Danny. Are you and your friends having fun?”
    He grinned wider and leaned closer to her. “We just got here. We haven’t even bought any tickets yet. I heard you were working here and I wanted to see you.”
    She could feel a familiar blush creeping up her neck and onto her face. She tried to will it to go away, but was unable to, as always.
    “You...wanted...to see me?” she asked. “Why?”
    “I see you walking by my house all the time and I’ve noticed you’re sort of changing. You seem older or something.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, really. Like today. You look bitchin’.”
    Mary Margaret frowned at the profanity. “Why would you say something like that?”
    The smile faded as he rushed to explain. “Oh, no. That’s not something bad. I mean, that’s a new word. It means you’re really cool.”
    “Oh...I thought...”
    “I know what you thought, and I’m sorry. Let me try again, okay?”
    “Okay,” she said, relaxing and smiling again.
    “You look nice tonight. I like those pants and your blouse. And your hair looks great in that side ponytail, too.”
    She smiled and, feeling bolder, took a step closer to him. “Thanks a lot, Danny. I didn’t think you even knew my name. The last time I saw you, you called me Linda.”
    A strand of hair had fallen loose from the side of his pompadour, and he smoothed it back in place with the palm of his hand.
    “Yeah, I was really embarrassed about that. I know your name. My mind was someplace else, I guess. My dad had just jumped all over me for not cutting the lawn earlier, and he’d belted me on the jaw. I was still thinking about that.”
    “Oh my gosh! He hit you?”
    “Happens a lot. No big deal.”
    Mary Margaret didn’t know what to say, so she just stood awkwardly, suddenly seeing Danny in a different light.
    “Forget I said it,” Danny said. “How about you and me go out sometime? We could go bowling and then to McDonald’s if you want.”
    “I’m embarrassed to say this, but I’m not allowed to date until I turn seventeen and I’m a Junior.”
    “That’s next year! Your parents must be really strict.”
    “It’s more like a year and a half. I’m a Junior next year, but I don’t turn seventeen until March. And yes, they’re really strict.”
    “No way around it?” he asked. “How about in a group?”
    “No. Not even then. And...I guess I’d better just tell you, I can’t date anyone from public school even then.”
    Danny’s smile faded. “What’s wrong with public school kids?”
    “Nothing, as far as I’m concerned. It’s just my parents are so old-fashioned. They think I shouldn’t date anyone that isn’t Catholic.”
    “Well, I’m Catholic but my parents can’t afford to send me to Catholic school. Is that my fault?”
    Mary Margaret put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Danny. I really like you. Maybe things will change.”
    “If you really like me, then why don’t we get together on our own sometime? You could tell your parents you were going out with your friends, and then we could meet somewhere, like at the bowling alley or movies.”
    Just then, Mary Margaret felt someone come up close behind her. She noticed Danny was no longer smiling and the blood had drained from his face. She turned to look over her shoulder, and found herself staring at Father Antonio’s chest. She looked up and saw that he was staring at Danny, his dark eyes flashing and his jaw muscles tightened tensely.
    “And just who is this young man?” he asked Mary Margaret.
    She swallowed hard. “This is Danny Ellis. He’s my neighbor. We went to kindergarten together.”
    “What kind of a young man would