>Be Evan.

>Be a child, probably in preschool.

>Be at church, with Father Ben giving the benediction in his deep voice.

>Church is nearly over, and for Evan and Jason that's great.

>Father Ben has invited the kids of the congregation up to the altar for a goodie bag as a reward for being quiet during Mass.

>One a piece, he booms.

>Evan's mom nudges him and Jason to go get their treat. Jason's probably five or six.

>Evan toddles up the long, long aisleway to the altar where Father Ben hands out baggies of Dum Dum suckers and a little coloring picture of Jesus with crayons.

>Jason takes his and heads back to the pew, but Evan is too excited to see what he's getting and stands there and opens the bag and looks inside it.

>Before long the line of kids is gone and he's the only one left at the altar.

>Looks like we've got a straggler, says Father Ben, smiling down warmly.

>Evan looks around and realizes the whole church is staring at him, laughing quietly.

>He begins to feel very scared.

>But then, there's Jason, sent back up by his mother to retrieve him.

>Evan, he says, holding out a hand.

>Evan takes it, the baggie swinging from his other hand.

>Come on, honey, says Jason, trying to sound motherly.

>Father Ben hears Jason.

>Honey?

>His thunderous voice echoes throughout the church.

>He tilts his bald head back and laughs.

>To Evan, it sounds like God laughing.

>Jason tugs him away from the altar.

>All the faces of the congregation are laughing and beaming down at them as Jason tows Evan back down the aisle to their seat, Evan's goodie bag clenched in his fist.