Pater noster, qui es in coelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum: adveniat regnum tuum: fiat voluntas tua, sicut in coelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

I’ve got to steal one. God forgive me. I’ve got to steal a flower from you. There are so many, God, and mother only needs one. I’ll burn forever but mother needs her Easter lily.

“Child, what are you doing?”

“I need the lily for Easter, Sister. I have no money and there are so many.”

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.

“It is a sin to steal, child.”

” I know it is, Sister, but I can’t help it.”

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.

“You can always help it child. Where is your mother and your father?”

“Father is nowhere, Mother says, Sister, and I don’t know where nowhere is. Mother is sick and I think she needs an Easter lily or she’ll die.”

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

“Where is your mother, child?”

“She’s in the bed with the diphtheria, Sister.”

“Is she alone?”

“Yes, as I am here, Sister.”

“When did you eat last, child?”

Panem coelestem accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo.

“It’s another sin I know, Sister, but I ate the heel of the bread this morning while Mother was moaning. She wouldn’t eat it, and I needed it.”

“I see. And before that?”

“I don’t know. I was sick first, and Mother might know but she can’t tell you. She is hot and talks of places I don’t know and people that are dead, Sister.”

“And she sent you for the flower?”

“It is my own sin, Sister. She said “The lilies, the lilies, the Easter lilies… ” over and over until I promised I’d fetch her one. She would not have me steal, but she cannot come. Will I burn forever, Sister?”

“You will have your flower, child, and the kingdom of heaven besides, for to tend to the afflicted is the hallmark of the saint.”

“And saints can steal flowers, and God don’t mind?”

Indulgentiam, et absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum, tributat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

“No, God does not mind. Now take me to your mother, and we will give her the lily together.