The boy smiled at Darius. "Nice to meet ye too." He turned back to Gabriel.
"T' doctor says I'm dyin', father. Is that true?"
"Yes, Frank. I'm afraid you are." Gabriel said as calmly as he could.
"Will I go to heaven?" the boy asked.
"You'll be there with your father, and with saint Francis, and Mary and God," the priest tried to comfort.
The boy nodded. "'ave ye come to annoint me?"
Gabriel nodded. "Have you any grave sins to confess since your last confession?"
"No father." Gabriel smiled at him. Then he took a little silver chrismatory from his pocket and handed it to the boy's mother to hold out for him. He put his stole around his neck and took a leather-bound book. Then he read a Scripture passage, said a few prayers and finally took some of the oil and made a cross on the boy's forehead. Then he took a small round silver box from his pocket, took out a consecrated host and held it out for the boy. "Corpus Christi."
"Amen," the boy said and he held out his tongue, and Gabriel placed the host on it. The boy's mother crossed herself and wiped away a tear.