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Requiem Mass

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TobiDanni
(@tobidanni)
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Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 10
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The priest places the host, and the ornate chalice containing the wine, on the altar.
The mass is for Pa Njoku, who had attended the church for forty years. His wife had died three weeks ago, and now he has joined her.
The pews are filled with family -- children, grandchildren, in-laws; and many members of the church, all there to celebrate a life well spent.
The air smells of flowers and incense, mystical, filled with power and presence; with an undertone that indicates people packed together.
The priest washes his hands.
The delicate silence is suddenly shattered by a jarring ringtone, and heads turn, faces showing annoyance, some amusement. The owner, mortified, fumbles with the Itel phone still ringing harshly.
The priest waits until the ringing is finally cut off.
He continues the mass, speaking to the congregation, and they to him, the Eucharistic prayer, through to the Sanctus.
Then the congregation kneels -- rustles, whispers, a sneeze -- for the Consecration.
The priest waits for the quiet. He implores the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the host and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
Power. Presence.
The crucified Christ looks down from behind the altar,
“Take this, all of you, and eat it. For this is my body,” the priest says, holding up the host, “which was given up for you.”
Bells ring.
“Take this, drink. For this is my blood, shed for you and for others for the forgiveness of sin” He raises the chalice. "Do this in remembrance of me.”
They pray and sing, as the priest breaks the host and places it in the chalice.
He lifts the chalice to his lips and drinks, then chokes, drops the chalice, and tumbles down the pulpit, dead.
Poisoned.

 

By Precious Oluwatobi Emmanuel 

 

#ANSAFlashFictionContest 


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Dr. Kennedy O. Obohwemu
(@penkup)
Prominent Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 862
 

Work contains 295 words, which is below the required limit (300-500).

It's a nice piece, but the conclusion was hasty. You gave it away too easily. How on earth did you reach the verdict that the priest was poisoned? 

You should let the readers find out for themselves.

Let your readers keep to the edges of their seats to the very end. 

This post was modified 5 years ago by Dr. Kennedy O. Obohwemu

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