Mommy Knows Best

.....Mommy says if I want to be a good Catholic girl I have to say my prayers. Every night I say the same prayer, asking God to keep me safe and asking Him to please take me up to heaven if I die before morning.

.....I told Mommy the words were scary. "Say them anyway," she said. "Just in case."

.....After I finish, we pray for special people. "God bless Mommy and Daddy, and Grandma Bauer up in heaven, and Aunt Helen and Uncle Theo, and especially Auntie V."

.....Mommy always makes me pray extra hard for Auntie V. I heard her whispering with Aunt Helen one night. They said only prayer could stop Auntie V. from being a shameless hussy . . . whatever that is.

.....One night I said, "Mommy, we never pray for anyone in Daddy's family. Shouldn't we pray for Grandma and Grandpa Morrison? "

....."There's no need to pray for them," Mommy said. "They're Baptist." Her voice was sugary, but not very sweet.

.....So I do what she says, because she's my Mommy. But, every night after the lights go out, I say one more prayer. I ask God to bless them anyway--just in case.