Bless Me, Ultima

Antonio wonders how a priest can carry the burden of confession when public accusations are made and Horse is forced to ask for penance by a group of girls. Confession is meant to be a private affair between a parishioner and their priest..... not a show. Note, Horse was unable to control his actions, and he did exactly as the girls commanded.

“You have sinned,” I said to Horse. Horse freed my hand and began rubbing at the front of his pants.

“There’s more!” he cried, “I saw a teacher!”

“No!” “Yes! Yes!” He rubbed harder.

“Who?” one of the girls asked.

“Mrs. Harrington!” Everyone laughed. Mrs. Harrington weighed about two hundred pounds. “It was bigggggggg—!” he exploded and fell trembling on the ground.

“Give him a penance!” the girls chanted and pointed accusing fingers at the pale Horse.

“You are dirty, Horse,” they cried, and he whimpered and accepted their accusations.

“For your penance say a rosary to the Virgin,” I said weakly. I didn’t feel good. The weight of the jackets was making me sweat, and the revelation of Horse’s confession and the way the kids were acting was making me sick. I wondered how the priest could shoulder the burden of all the sins he heard.