Had there been a slight worry that Mable would not appreciate his methods? Certainly. Even with years of experience being around and taking care of children, not all of them were alike. There had been plenty over the years that preferred to stay farther away and cling to their mothers’ skirts, while others were all too happy to join the group and play with other children without issue – and others still clung to him, grateful to receive the affection and care that they did not get at home.

None of them had ever pulled him into a river in the middle of the night and pushed him into it, of course. So he had been slightly wary.

Mable did not spook, though. No, she wiped her eyes and flashed another one of her bright smiles, and Malachi heard himself laugh as she praised herself in the process. He took the splash to the face without resistance this time, simply closing his eyes to let it wash over him.

It was a good thing Father Richards was not around to see him flailing about in the water like this. That probably wouldn’t have given the best impression of the newest head priest, now would it?

“Ah, I see,” he nodded sagely. “Only one question.”

Conspiratorially, Malachi lifted a finger to his mouth in a gesture for silence. Careful not to move around and disturb the water much more than he already had, he pointed behind Mable and off towards the other side of the river, where the moonlight cut through and revealed a few small, scaly shapes beneath.

He leaned close enough to whisper, “do you see those fish?”