Chapter 8~ Peter and Mr. Elliot

The Winter days flew on,And signs of spring began to show.
By now it had been nearly two months since Kenneth had taken Tina to live with the Holenwalds.
And everyday he was more glad he had taken her there.She no longer looked pale and ragged.Her cheeks were always bright and rosy,and her golden curls were fresh and soft.Everyday she was learning new things.Mrs.Holenwald had patiently taught her to read,write,and even was teaching her to sew.Tina delighted in sewing,And every time Kenneth came to see her,She always had a new picture,Stitched onto her sampler by her small hands,to show him.
Kenneth thought all of the things Tina was being taught were "just Grand"As he would have put it,But there was One thing that Tina was learning that puzzled him.It was something about a man,Whom Tina said Loves Everyone in the Whole world,And Knows about everything that everyone did do,And would do in the future.Another thing he recalled hearing her say recently was that this man had lived long ago,But Died,and is now living in Heaven watching everyone.
In Kenneth's mind-None of this made sense.It didn't seem possible that a person could love EVERYONE in the world.And if it was,It was probably awfully hard.Besides this,The concept of a man who knew everything everyone in the world did do,And everything they would do in the future,Was an absolute puzzle in Kenneth's mind.
Nobody could know everthing!And most certainly NOT the future!He remembered Mam and Pop telling him that.
Mam and Pop had never taught him of this man,Or did they?He always remembered the story of the first christmas,but certainly, this man Tina was speaking of,Wasn't little baby Jesus grown up.Or was it?Kenneth just couldn't seem to make sense of it.
On this particular day,He was thinking long and hard on this subject as he walked towards the Holenwalds to see Tina.Hands stashed into his pockets,and his cap pulled low down over his eyes.Getting more irratated in himself with each step.Why couldn't he figure it out?If Tina was able to,then a big lad of thirteen could.Couldn't he?Kenneth was starting to have his doubts.
He was almost angry when he reached his destination,and found the Holenwalds gone.
"Course!"he exclaimed now remembering."It's sunday!They're over at church!"
By now he was extremely irratated.Couldn't he remember anything?It didn't help matters any that his day had been started off wrong in the first place.When he had been rudely awakened from a sound sleep By the Preist of St.Mary's catholic church.
"Just 'cause I was sleepin' on his dirty ol' steps."He muttered to himself remembering the happening."I'd jus' like to see what he'd do if I woke him up from a nice sleep,an' yelled at him on top of it!Same as he did ter' me!"He kicked a pebble on the road and let out a deep breath.
"Why so down hearted,Kenneth?"Peter gasped as he fell in step with him."An' why are ye' walkin' so swift?'Most had ter' run to catch up with you!"
"Sorry,Peter."He slackened his pace."Didn't know you was chasin' me."
"Never mind it."Peter waved his hand."Well,now.What's botherin' ye,Kenneth?"
"Nothin' much"He shrugged.Peter wasn't easily decieved."Nothin' much you say?By the look on yer' face an' by how fast you were walkin'.I 'spect somethin' 'sides "Nothin' Much is botherin' you.Come now,Kenneth.A pence fer your thoughts."
"Oh,Alright."He gave in "Since yer' so pressin'.It's like this:I was havin' a good sleep on them steps o' that st.Mary's catholic church on 5th st.When all of o' sudden,I woke up to that nasty ol' preist pushin' me down an' tellin' me ta' git' cause the people would be comin' fer church.Said he didn't want them thinkin' he let some "dirty ol' street rat"as he called me,Sleep on them steps."
"Well,A cathilic churches' steps 'tisn't no good place ter fall asleep on a saturday night.'Specially not that churches' steps.I've come to know Preist Murphey,and I'd always knowed' him as a ,well.He jus' isn't --"
"Considerate?"Kenneth growled
"Sure thing,Kenneth.That's the word ta' use!He jus' doesn't think about people,other than the ones that are members of his church."
"Well,sides all that,"He continued"I walked all the way over ta see Tina,And here they were at church!"
"Reckon 'most everyone is."Peter shrugged."I'd be at the mission sunday school right now if it wasn't fer' the vacation."Kenneth looked over at him,Peter saw the confused look on his face and hurried to explain."The teacher is gone on vacation someplace in London.He's goin' ter' be gone three weeks teachin' somethin' called vacation Bible school.It's like the mission sunday school,on it tisn't jus' fer sunday,it's fer' all week fer' three weeks.I wanted ta' go when teacher announced it,but I knowed' it cost money,an' uncle never has any extra,so I didn't ask bout' it."
Kenneth remained silent.
"Hey,Kenneth.Why don't you ever go ter' the mission sunday school?"Peter inquired"Sure you'd like it.Most all the lads that go do.'Cept fer Harley.He jus' hates it.'Spect it's cause he's a Rascal though."
Kenneth grinned in spite of himself.
"an' what do you mean by sayin' that?"
"Well,it's like this.When you're a rascal,you don't like bein' told what's right."
"An' do you like bein' told what's right?"Kenneth asked.
"Well,"Peter paused for a moment,then smiled and answered."Yes,reckon I do,Although sometimes it's hard to accept it."