Another father -- Malachi had to wonder just how often Mister Fa'afili ran into them. After several years of being transferred from church to church, he no longer expected the same kind of reverence or respect from those outside of them. Especially when even the people he served looked at him strangely, differently, as something not of but other than them.

Malachi did not dispel Mister Fa'afili's assumption, saying only, "I believe my father's father was, yes."

Nevermind the fact that Malachi himself had not a drop of Irish blood in him. It was a subject he shifted away from as naturally as he could, and he adjusted his grip on the bag as he walked.

"Are you a merchant, Mister Fa'afili, or are you only passing through?"