Dancing Priest

Author and Novelist Glynn Young

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The Assignment

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The archbishop of York had had enough. “What the bishop is trying to say, Michael, is that it’s been decided that you will be assigned to St. Anselm’s Anglican Church in San Francisco.”

Michael sat, outwardly composed but inwardly reeling. San Francisco?

“You can take the time you need to think this over,” the bishop of Norfolk said. “We know this is a surprise and not what you expected. So feel free to consider and pray about this.”

“I accept it, Father Stanton,” Michael said.

Photograph by Ben White via Unsplash. Used with permission.

A Street Conversation

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“No one’s home,” said an elderly woman standing on the porch next door. “She left early this morning with a suitcase, so she must have been going out of town. Robert and his chum left a little while ago. They should be in school at this time of day.”

Michael said a short prayer of thanks for busybodies. “Did you see which way they went?”

The woman nodded. “To your right, likely for the square at the end of the block. Do I know you? You sound familiar but my eyesight isn’t the best.”

     — From Dancing Prophet

Photograph by Cristian Newman via Unsplash. Used with permission.

A meeting at the dorm lobby

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DP Michael Sarah dorm lobby

As Michael entered the dorm lobby with his bike and backpack, the housemaster stopped him. “Mr. Kent, you’ve got a visitor. She’s been waiting a good two hours.”

It was Sarah Hughes.

She stood, clutching a large artist portfolio. He stood still, gripping the bike, as she walked to him.

“I came to tell you how sorry I am,” she said. “After my outburst yesterday, I felt terrible and tried to apologize, but you were gone. I said terrible things, and there was no excuse. If you can’t forgive me, I understand. I just want to die. I felt so badly I couldn’t sleep last night—” Tears rolled down her cheeks. A few students stopped to watch, and the housemaster was definitely captivated.

“Would you like a coffee?” Michael said.

Photograph by Milan Popovic via Unsplash. Used with permission.

“It’s about who you are, who you are as a person”

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Dancing King quotation Zena Chatwick

“Josh,” Zena said, “there’s something in Michael that speaks to you, and I suspect speaks deeply. He thinks the world of you, but it’s about who you are. He’s grateful for what you’ve done and what you can do, but it’s more about you as a person. He likes you, Josh. You’re not used to having someone who simply likes you as a friend.” She paused. “And you may have to ask yourself what your new faith means in the context of government politics.”

Photograph by Dominik Vanyi via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Joining the Family

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A Light Shining Jason Kent Hughes

That evening at dinner, Michael raised the issue. “We have a sixth family, Jason.”

“Yes?” he said, his eyes hopeful but wary.

“Sarah, why don’t you tell him?” Michael said.

“I’ll tell him,” said Jim. “It’s us. We want you to live with use.”

Jason looked at the three of them. “Are you doing this because no one else will?”

“No,” said Michael, “we’re doing this because it took God this long to make us open our eyes and see the obvious. You’re already part of our family. We want you to stay part of our family, if you’re willing to have us.”

Photograph by Warren Wong via Unsplash. Used with permission.

A View from the Train

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Dancing Prophet

He looked out of the window into the darkness of the underground. Almost ten months earlier, Trevor’s life had changed with a single phone from Josh Gittings, once the prime minister’s political assistant but better known as the PM’s hatchet man. Now chief of staff to King Michael, he’d contacted Trevor, asking him to meet with the king. Somehow Gittings had ferreted out Trevor’s hobby and avocation – monarchial law and history. The king, Gittings, said, needed help understanding the history, role, and legal considerations for being the monarch. Trevor had been as stunned as his wife and his colleagues on chambers. Never before had he been called upon to advise a king, and on a subject his colleagues often snickered at. They called him “The Monarchist.” That was then. Now they called him “The Rain Man.”

– From Dancing Prophet

Photograph by Christopher Rusev via Unsplash. Used with permission.