It felt like school again.
Waiting for the headmaster to administer punishment.
But surely His Grace wouldn't be THAT cruel to him?
The prospects of going back into the city, fill Father Thomas with dread and fear.
While he waited, he dreamed back to the very first night he spent at the mission.
It was well past midnight and everybody had retired to bed.
Unfortunately, because of the time difference, Father Thomas couldn't sleep.
So he found himself sitting on the beach, gazing out in awe at the magnificent ocean before him.
The way the waves crashed against the sand bank and rocks. The white froth illuminating against the moonlight. It was startlingly beautiful.
It was here that Father Thomas had discovered his own inner peace.
And it was here that ritually, every night, for a whole year, once he'd finished administering to his flock, he'd sit cross-legged, quietly contemplating.
Thankful for the rich beauty and simplicity that surrounded him.
The door creaked open, breaking Thomas out of his reverie. Bishop Nathan Bartholomew stepped out, his sharp grey eyes travelling critically over this young man, seated before him.
Thomas looked up at him expectantly.
But all he received, was a curt nod of the head.
Thomas felt his heart sink.
"Would you like to come into my office?" asked Nathan, stepping to one side to let Thomas pass.
The door clicked shut and Nathan turned to face Thomas.
"I'll come straight to the point," he said, hardly giving Thomas the time to sit down, "you've been languishing in that tropical paradise for far too long, hiding behind your cassock. It's about time you came back to earth with a heavy bump."
All Thomas could do was to nod his head in agreement.
"Yes, Your Grace," he said humbly.
This was it.
The moment he'd been dreading all through the long journey home.
"Considering your past history," Nathan continued, "I have come to the conclusion that you're not suitable for city work after all."
Thomas' head snapped up.
Was he hearing things correctly?
Was His Grace giving him a reprieve after all?
"However, I feel that you should be given an assignment that would truly test your mettle and faith once and for all."
Nathan smiled warmly, and patted Thomas on the shoulder.
"Don't look so worried," he assured him, "I have good faith in you."
Thomas' mind was in a whirl.
What could His Grace possibly have up his sleeve for him?
Nathan sighed, picking up a sheaf of papers.
Adjusting his spectacles, he read quickly through the first sheet and looked up at Thomas, who was waiting expectantly.
"Due to the rising crime rate in the city," he said, handing the papers to Thomas, "it has been agreed that something has got to be done about the youth of today."
He paused, taking off his spectacles and wiping them with a cloth.
"We have decided to found a boarding school for wayward teenage boys."
Thomas wondered how and why that had something to do with him, but he kept his mouth shut and continued to listen.
"We scoured far and wide for the perfect location," Nathan continued, "however, the farmhouse we deemed suitable, had already been taken. So we had to use another location."
He handed Thomas the papers.
"Here's the address, you're expected there as soon as possible."
Thomas' jaw dropped open.
His assignment was a boarding school for teenage boys?
That was truly unexpected.
It was literally a world away from the mission he'd been working at not 48 hours ago.
And he wondered what trials and tribulations lay ahead for him.
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