After Mass, Tommy nervously walked into the confessional and sat down.
A moment later, the priest opened the small window between them.
Tommy whispered, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”
The priest smiled.
“Go ahead, my son. Tell me what happened.”
Tommy took a deep breath.
“Well… I stole a pencil from school.”
The priest nodded.
“All right. You should return it and apologize.”
Tommy nodded.
“I will.”
“And what else?”
“I said a bad word.”
“Then remember to choose your words more carefully next time.”
Tommy nodded again.
“And I lied to my mom.”
The priest smiled kindly.
“It is important to be honest with your family. Anything else?”
Tommy thought for a moment.
“Oh, yeah! I threw my sister’s Barbie out the window and told her she ran away.”
The priest tried not to laugh.
“I see. Perhaps you should tell your sister the truth and apologize.”
Tommy sighed.
“Okay, Father.”
The priest waited.
“Anything else?”
Tommy scratched his head.
“Hmm… Oh! Last night, I put…”
He suddenly stopped.
The priest leaned closer.
“You put what?”
Tommy lowered his voice.
“I put my grandma’s false teeth in a glass of water…”
The priest raised an eyebrow.
“Is that all?”
Tommy shook his head.
“No, Father.”
“What else did you do?”
Tommy hesitated.
“I put a little note beside the glass.”
The priest smiled.
“What did the note say?”
Tommy couldn’t hold back his grin.
“It said…”
He paused dramatically.
The priest waited.
Tommy finally whispered:
“‘Do not disturb. Grandma is charging.’”
The priest burst out laughing.
Tommy smiled proudly.
Then the priest asked, “And did your grandmother find out?”
Tommy nodded.
“Yes, Father.”
“And what did she say?”
Tommy sighed.
“She said she was going to make sure I learned an important lesson.”
The priest looked concerned.
“Oh dear. What lesson was that?”
Tommy grinned.
“Never mess with a grandma who knows where you sleep!”
Even the priest had to admit that Tommy’s confession was going to be one he remembered for a long time.