Celine ...

What is our world coming to? I just heard the news about a man who killed two women and a twelve-year-old girl. He slit their throats! The little girl was almost decapitated! What kind of monster does that!? At least they caught the guy. He'll be dead soon. Not that it will make the world a better place, but that's how it works. These are my thoughts as I walk home.

I walk into my house and it seems too quiet. Usually my little sister, Thérèse, runs to the door to greet me. I walk into our dining room and see her sitting at the table looking cute as always with her long blonde hair let down and wearing a pretty white dress. She doesn't look up at me when I walk in. Her emerald eyes are staring off as if in a trance. I then notice what she's looking at: a newspaper. No way!

She doesn't fl inch as I snatch the paper off of the table. I try to get her to snap out of her trance as I fold up the paper and sit down beside her.

"Thérèse! You know Papa doesn't want you reading the newspaper, you're too young!"

She's unfazed, doesn't even look at me, and seems to change the subject.

"Celine ... would you have a mass said for my intentions?"

"What?"

Thérèse looks at me and smiles.

"I need a mass said for my intentions."

Now I'm curious. I lean close to her and lower my voice.

"What intentions?"

Thérèse lays her face on the table, reaches up and begins playing with my hair.

"You'll laugh."

I know what will get her to open up. I smile and kiss her on the cheek. Works every time.

"Come now."

She gives in.

"It seems Pranzini will die unrepentant. I do not want him to fall into hell."

I was afraid that's what she was reading about. I don't know whether to be edified or disturbed by such earnest concern for a coldblooded killer. I try to make sense of it.

"You care for him in spite of the fact that he murdered two women and a little girl younger than you?" I guess a soul's a soul, though. I'll play along. "Do you think we can convert him?"

She smiles at me again as she stands up with her hand still in my hair and laughs.

"Have a mass said for my intentions!"

Pranzini sits in his cell waiting for what is to come. He's telling himself that he couldn't care less. Can we just get it over with?

He looks up as his cell door is opened and is surprised to see a priest walk in and sit down in front of him.

"Self-righteous pig. Come to tell me that God's wrath will soon be upon me?"

The priest smiles gently at Pranzini.

"No. I have come to tell you that though society will soon take its vengeance upon you, nevertheless, God's mercy awaits you. I am here to invite you to embrace it."

Almost out of reflex, Pranzini spits in his face, and doesn't say another word. He will soon face humiliation and death and this man in black, who refuses to live in the real world wants him to lay down his last shred of dignity? Screw him.

The priest makes no protest as he wipes the spit off of his face with a handkerchief. He simply looks again at Pranzini and smiles, nodding his head.

Two guards subsequently walk in and stand Pranzini up. He is then escorted out of the prison, with hands bound in front of him. The priest follows closely behind him. The crowd is anything but friendly toward Pranzini as they curse and throw things at him. This amuses him. They would all be joining him somewhere down the road.

While this is happening, Thérèse enters a small chapel across town and kneels before a crucifix. Staring straight ahead, she begins to pray.

"Lord, I am sure you will pardon your unfortunate child, Pranzini."

The crowd yells.

"YOU'LL BURN IN HELL, YOU CHILDKILLING DOG!!!"

Thérèse continues.

"I'll believe this even if he shows no sign of repentance."

Someone from the crowd whips Pranzini in the face with a pearl necklace.

"HOW DO YOU LIKE THE NECKLACE YOU SPINELESS COWARD!? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU MURDERED THOSE WOMEN FOR!?"

Pranzini and his escorts walk up the steps to the guillotine.

Thérèse looks up at the crucifix.

"I will only ask you for a sign, Lord, for my own consolation, if it pleases you."

Pranzini suddenly stops before reaching the guillotine. He can't explain why, nor does he have time to, but he faces the priest behind him, unable to look directly at him. Tears begin to form in his eyes.

"Bring me the cross!"

The priest holds his Crucifix up to Pranzini. Pranzini grabs it out of his hands and kisses the wounds of Christ, slowly and tenderly, and gives the Crucifix back to the priest. The priest makes the Sign of the Cross over Pranzini.

"My son ... may God bless you."

Pranzini looks off into the distance with tears freely fl owing down his face, still not sure why, but feeling a freedom unlike anything he has ever experienced in all his days of "adventuring."

"He already has."

Pranzini is positioned in the guillotine.

Thérèse finishes her prayer.

"Amen."

Thérèse ...

Well, I've done everything I can. Celine has assured me that she had mass said for Pranzini's conversion and I have prayed for him the best I know how. I know God must have saved him, but now I want to see if He'll give me a sign. I'm standing close to the street outside my house, waiting for the newspaper. It is finally dropped in front of me. I quickly pick it up and run up my porch steps and back into my house. I unfold the paper, start reading, and there it is ... I drop the paper and put my hands over my mouth trying to keep myself from screaming with delight. I hide behind the curtain next to the front door.

Bad decision, but how am I to think straight right now? I soon hear Papa come in through the door. He will have been looking for the paper. I hear him call upstairs, sounding a little frustrated.

"Celine! Did you pick up the paper? It should have come in by now."

"No, Papa. Are you sure?"

If I can just stay quiet ...

"... Found it."

Nope, can't hold it anymore. I begin laughing. It's stifled but definitely not quiet. Soon the curtain is pulled from in front of me and I'm caught. Papa looks amused.

"Thérèse? What are you doing behind the curtain?"

It doesn't take him long to put it together as he eyes me and slightly raises the messy newspaper with a hint of disappointment.

"Were you reading the newspaper? You know you're not allowed."

All I can do is smile.

"I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't think I'd be disobeying if I only read about Pranzini." That's the truth ... a soul was at stake.

Papa looks confused as if he is not sure he heard correctly. I can't blame him.

"Pranzini? The triple-murderer who was just executed yesterday? I cannot think of a worse subject you could be reading about."

I abandon myself with delight and wrap my arms around him. I haven't felt this much joy since last Christmas.

"Papa, he repented! God has given me my first child! I had a mass said for him, prayed for him, and asked for a sign of his repentance and God answered it to the letter! He's in heaven! I know it! Just like the 'Good Thief'!"

Papa was tense when I first embraced him, but after I speak, I feel him relax and return my embrace.

"I am glad to hear that, my queen. Just let me know the next time you want...