[Storytella]

As the day went on and with only one other girl in the group, it was a great day of fun and laughter with the guys and their crazy antics. Even Fr.Chris was just as crazy at times. He mucked around with the others and left me dazed in thought.

I began to wonder what lead him to the Priesthood and how he coped with all the restrictions he had to live by. I wondered if he had ever been in any kind of relationship before with a girl. I found it hard to believe that a man as cute looking as he was and who semed so popular among everyone could live the restrictive role of a Catholic Priest. But I also knew he was very good at his role.

Many times in the past I had heard him give Mass, and the expression and committment to his services was so genuine. He was an intreaging man to me, in more ways than one.
To see him dressed in his Priestly attire giving sermons and then to seeing him muck around like one of the boys on a Youth Group outing was like seeing two different persons in one.

As I was lost in deep thought Kerry, the only other girl on the Youth Group outing was saying something to me, but I didnt catch what she said. She nudged my arm to get my attention and I then heard her say, "You wouldnt know he was a Priest would you?"
Startled by what she said, like I thought she was reading my mind or something, I said... "Sorry", she then repeated, "Fr.Chris".
" If you didnt know he was a Priest you would never pick him for one, dont you think?"

I thought for a moment and said, "yeah, I know what you mean".
Trying hard to not allow her to think I thought of him in any romantic way... I commented that Paul was rather cute.
She said, yeah I know.
Then Kerry said something that really made me think, she said, "If Belinda were with us today, which she normally would have been only for Netball practise, she would have been all over Fr.Chris like a rash.
I was startled by that remark.
"Really", I said.
"Yeah, said Kerry, she's crazy about him, but then I know alot of girls who are".

She went on about Belinda flirting with Fr.Chris on some other Youth Group outing, but I lost interest in the rest of what she was saying and wondered off into my own thoughts about it....
I knew that I was beginning to have feelings for Fr.Chris, but I became aware that my feelings may be foolishness. It became apparent to me just then that I may not be the only girl who has felt this connection with him.
If there are so many other girls he's been around who think he is as cute as I do, then surely he has taken an interest in their personal thoughts about things too.
I felt so disheartened.
I had to get a grip of myself and try not to let myself feel what I have begun to feel when he is around me. The only thing I could think of at the time was to try and not to single him out so much anymore and pay more attention to thre others instead. I had to do this as hard as it was for me...

At centerpoint tower, Paul and one of the other guys were looking thorough the telescope with me and we were discussing how far it would be back to our home suburb from here. Fr.Chris came over and said to me, "Jasmine do you see that white peak over there?"
I peered into the distance to see if I could see what he was talking about, he then put his head down close to mine and pointed till I caught a glimps of something white where his finger was pointing.
I wished that he didnt come so close, it made things that much harder for me....
I said, "oh yeah". He said, thats our suburb right there. Wow I thought. "Can that really be it since we are so far away from home right now, he smiled and then the others giggled, they were trying to trick me. "Okay yeah right I said, and I walked over to the souvenier shop.

I was so caught up with my feelings, I felt so confused about everything. At this point in time, I really needed to be by myself.

I browsed through the souvenier shop looking at all the trinkets leaving the others back at the lookout. I began to realise, considering how I had begun to feel about Fr.Chris that it wasnt such a good idea joining the Youth Group.
Spending too much time with him would only make all these feelings more complicated. I tried to hide myself among the shelves in the store and I peered through a gap, staring at him and watching him talking with some of the others. I told myself, these feelings are stupid! How could I have allowed myself to feel this way when I know he is a Catholic Priest!! It was pointless to have these feelings for him!!!
I felt so annoyed with myself.
But I couldnt help my feelings, I was sure we had a special connection, but it must have been my imagination.

The rest of the day seemed to drag. I became quite reserved and I could tell that Fr.Chris had noticed it, although he didnt say anything.
That was until we were walking back to the church grounds after getting off the train back in our home suburb.

I was walking slower than all the others and Fr.Chris walked along side me....

I wondered why he hadnt kept up with the others who were now a long way in front.

I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling at me.

Can I give you a lift home or something, he asked.

We would always make our own way home once we got back to the church grounds after a outing. It was just one of those routien things to make sure no one was missing in action.

Oh I''ll be fine I answered him, I can get the bus, its not far.

Dont be silly, he said, I'll drive you.

We all met up back at the church and made sure that we werent missing anyone. Then we said our goodbyes.

Everyone left leaving Fr.Chris and I alone.

As we walked on over to the Presbytery, which is the accommodation all the Priests live in at the church, he asked me how I enjoyed the day.
I said it was great.

"You seem to have become a little quite this evening", he remarked, are you okay?"

Im fine I answered, probably just a little tired now.

He got the keys to his car out of his pocket and began to unlock the door for me. He smiled and took my hand.

"I'm so happy that you have decided to be part of our Youth Group, he said. It made it all that much better for me to have you come along".

When he said that to me I felt waves of emotion go through me again. There was certainly something there.
As we drove along, he said to me playfully, "now I will know where you live" isnt that special? I laughed.

He stopped the car at the front of my house.
I thanked him for the ride home and he said, "I will see you next Wednesday then?
I forgot we had one more confirmation meeting that day.

Yeah sure I said.

He beeped his horn and drove away.