An Imperfect Miracle Read Online Free Page B

the chosen instrument of God’s holy purpose, Nate. How does that make you feel?”
    I wasn’t too sure what he was talking about, so I just shrugged and shoved the paper back to him. Carlos laid it inside a dusty leather briefcase he had stashed under his chair, and then he pulled out another page and set it on the desk for other people to sign. Carlos seemed pretty pleased with how it was all going too, judging by how he was grunting a little and grinning and patting his belly.
    â€œWe’re trying to keep the town from putting up a parking garage and desecrating this holy spot,” he said. “I think we have a decent shot at it too, although it’ll probably take more than just a petition to save Mary. There’s money involved, after all, and that always warps people’s minds a little.”
    Then he told me that I was a sharp little guy for spotting Mary and that I’d go far some day. I decided I’d try and remember to tell that to Mom, because she was always saying how if I didn’t straighten up and fly right I’d grow up to be just like Dad. Then Carlos leaned over the table, eyed me real close for a few seconds, and finally began talking so low and hushed that he was almost whispering.
    â€œYou don’t happen to remember who that little drunk was or where he went after Mary fixed him up?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œIt all happened pretty fast. Why do you want to know? Has he done something wrong?”
    Carlos leaned back and flashed me another bright smile. Carlos had shiny white teeth, shinier than any I’d ever seen, shinier than Mom’s even. He started talking normal again too.
    â€œI’m sure Our Blessed Mother will perform some other wondrous sign for us. Mary always comes through in a pinch.”
    I could feel my heart starting to race as I imagined all the miracles Mary might be planning.
    â€œDo you think she’s gonna start doing them all the time? That would be so cool to watch, way better than television or even the movies.”
    Carlos tilted his head sideways and began picking at his ear with his little finger until he must have scooped out whatever crud had been bothering him, because right away he straightened up and flashed me another grin.
    â€œMary does what she feels like. It’s still best to be prepared, though, because otherwise when the miracle comes, you might miss it.”
    â€œHow can you miss a miracle?”
    â€œYou’d be surprised how many wonderful things people are capable of overlooking.”
    Carlos must have been kind of cheap, because he wore an old pair of brown glasses that had a little white piece of tape slapped over the hinge where the earpiece was hooked on, I guess to hold it all together. He didn’t have much hair either, but what hair he did have he grew out into these long shaggy pitch black strands that he combed from one side of his head to the other. He must have lathered them up with some sort of thick hair gunk, because they never moved even when the wind was blowing hard. He had a big belly too, which he needed to hold up that heavy silver cross he always had draped around his neck.
    â€œDo you think if Mary does another miracle, that’ll stop the town from building the parking garage here?”
    â€œIt can’t hurt.”
    â€œWhy don’t you tell her to get busy then and do one when all these people are around to see it?”
    Carlos smiled and shook his head.
    â€œYou can’t tell Mary what to do. You can ask her nicely though. Maybe you should ask her, Nate. I bet she’d listen to you.”
    I felt a little funny praying out in public with all these strangers around. So after promising him I would when I had the chance, I told him how some kids at school were saying that it was all just a big scam. They said that according to their parents once you’re dead you stay dead, and your face doesn’t show up out of nowhere and land on a