Nana, Itchy and the Chalice - my short story

 I wrote this story for a flash fiction magazine awhile back, but it wasn't chosen.  Since it's short, why not publish it here?

                            Nana,  Itchy, and the Chalice

© Ruth Latta, 2024

    Nancy Jo, known in her family as “Nana,” walks downtown for the mail. In the post office lobby, she unlocks her mail box and takes out her bills, and occasionally an actual letter from someone in her extended family. Whether it’s Summer’s graduation in St. John’s, or Tristan’s potty learning in Vancouver, she loves to hear about it.

Getting the mail is a social event in Hope Falls, and a half hour passes before Nana gets away from the post office. Neighbours want to share their news and hear hers. The socializing spills onto the sidewalk, too. A deacon wants to discuss the church roof.  The women’s group president wants her to bake for the spring tea. Her former students say hello and she smiles at their babies. 

In addition to her far-flung descendants, she has grand-kids here in Hope Falls, and little Xavier’s fourth birthday is on the weekend. He was devastated when his goldfish died, especially  when his  dad flushed Finny to his final reward. Nana is off to the  variety store to by him another one.

She feels a call  nature, not an acute one, but the thought of a nearby washroom is comforting.  In the store, she makes her way to Ladies, but the one-person washroom is occupied. No matter, she’ll buy the fish first. In Pets, the clerk scoops up a frisky goldfish and puts it in a plastic bag of water. She then heads for Ladies, but the door is still locked.

Nana makes for the cash, pays for the fish, doesn’t linger to chat, but leaves the store with her purse and the goldfish.  The fish’s sloshing has a troubling effect on her. Worse, the bag is leaking and something else will, soon.

As a warden Nana has a key to the church. She hurries up the walk, unlocks the door, and from the vestibule looks down the stairway to the washrooms in the basement.  She needs one hand to hold the banister. Where can she park the fish?

Looking into the sanctuary, she sees a chalice on a side table. Quickly she pops the fish and its remaining water into it. Her downward flight is without mishap; her relief so great that she can now remember other things she should do downtown. She makes her way  upstairs.

After going to the bank and the drugstore, she walks home and takes a nap. When she wakes up she remembers that her granddaughter asked her to make Xavier’s birthday cake for his party the following day, so she does, then wraps  a new Burgess nature novel in colourful paper. Vaguely, she recalls buying him something else, but what?

The party is the usual hectic fun, and though Nana enjoys it, it’s exhausting. Back home she goes to bed early  to be rested for church next day.

She’s sitting in her usual pew when she sees the chalice on the altar and remembers. Oh, oh! As the service progresses, her spirit slumps. To leave a goldfish in a chalice! Is her mind going? In her prime, she forgot things,, but then, no one thought it symptomatic. As she stands, sings, and says the congregational responses, she wants to weep.

The homily is on the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The priest explains that it’s a story about sharing, feeding those in need, a global aim today, and  a miracle if it ever happens.

“The other day, I had an encounter with the unexplained,” he continues, reaching under the pulpit and producing a bright golden fish in a proper bowl. “I found this bright little creature in the chalice. I have no idea how it got there. Perhaps it’s an anonymous gift, or a sign.  As you know, the fish was a secret sign among Christians during their persecution under the Roman Empire.”  The Greek word for fish is "ichthys” and the  first letters of the words: Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour) spell ‘ichthys.’ 

“I’m keeping ‘Itchy’ the goldfish in my office to brighten my days, unless its donor claims it,” he adds. “Now, let us bow in prayer.”

Nana is glad ‘Itchy’ has a good home. She’ll buy another fish for Xavier

                                                                                        © Ruth Latta, 2024