“Hey dad! I’m home.” I shouted as I came in the front door.
“Hey princess, welcome home.” Dad threw me a smile from over a book in the living room. “How’s your day going?” He slipped a bookmark into his page and gave me his full attention.
I noticed the book he was reading was a new one. New to me, I mean. The book looked like a hundred years old. The front cover had gold lettering embossed on it that read: The Other History Of Ireland, only in Irish. I could read and speak way too many different languages. I knew all the popular ones and a few lesser spoken ones, but my father takes the cake when it comes to language. He speaks and reads just about every language there is. I have yet to find one he doesn’t know. I’ve even tried a few dead languages, but he always knows. He has a library full of antique books in different languages and has done some work as a translator when I was younger. He says our family has a knack for language, which is proven by how easy it seems it is for me to learn them.
I use this gift to tutor exchange students in their own language and I even had a summer job last year teaching English to some immigrants at the ymca.
“I’m doing alright. I wanted to ask you something though.”
“Okay, ask away.”
“Would it be alright if I go to church with a friend from school? She wants you to come too but she said she’d give me a ride if you don’t want to come.”
“I don’t mind you going. Just try not to get pressured by your friend into doing anything you don’t want to. Churches tend to put a lot of pressure on people, so try to keep a clear head. If you want me to go with you I can but I’m not a big fan of churches or religion so I can’t promise I’ll have an amazing time.” He tried to keep a smirk on when he was talking but I could see his initial response was a bit more complex. He seemed a bit weary of church but not enough that I think I need to be too concerned.
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“I don’t mind going with my friend. I’ll just need to let her know I need a ride. I think I also need something nice to wear and like a bible or something.”
“You mean you want to go shopping and pick out a new outfit because I know you have a few options when it comes to nice clothes.” This smirk was much more genuine. “We can go get a new dress tomorrow after you finish tutoring. As for bible, I have an old one upstairs in the library. I might have a couple, actually.”
“You have bibles? I don’t remember seeing any.”
“I think they’re in a crate. I’ll go look around and see what I can find before diner. If I can’t find one easy, it’s not a big deal. There are always a bunch spare in the pews for people who are visiting. If you end up going again and want one of your own I can take you to buy a new one.”
I’m sure Becca would have let me know if I had to have one right away.
Dad disappeared upstairs and came back down a few minutes later while I messaged Becca and let her know I could go but would need a ride.
“Here we are. I found it right away. It’s pretty old but it’s not like they change it over the years.” Dad handed me an old, leather bound, book as wide and tall as my torso and as thick as my leg.
“Are all bibles this big? I thought they were regulars modern book size?”
Dad let out a chuckle. “Yeah, the ones they have now are made a lot smaller. I brought it down anyway because I wanted to see the look you’d have when you saw it. I didn’t see any of the other ones I have but, like I said, they have spares at church and I’m sure your friend would mind letting you read along with her.”
“Can I bring this one anyway?” I said, holding out the huge tome in front of me. “I think Becca would get a kick out of this, and it’s kind of cool having the oldest bible there.” I gave dad a mischievous grin.
“Don’t get in too much trouble.” Dad said with a wink and went off to cook dinner.
I can’t wait to see the look on Becca’s face when I show up holding a bible older than dirt and the size of a small table.