THE BEST GIFT EVER PART 11

Tom Sullivan, one of the founding fathers at Brebeuf College, shares this delightful Christmas memory. At age 87, it's wonderful to see Tom's sense of humor and good memory are exceeded only by his story telling ability. Enjoy!

My most memorable Christmas gift was a cap gun that I received in the Christmas that I had turned nine years of age. Today, cap guns are still popular presents for kids but somehow, they don’t look as realistic as my 1942 model. A package of caps came with the toy, but these were exhausted before New Year’s eve. I decided to take my prized toy to Sunday school to show to my friend Jerry Pace.

Our Sunday school teacher was Miss O’Hara who was considered radically conservative even in the 1940’s. She was in the process of assuring the class of nine-year-olds that at least half of them were going to hell unless drastic life-changes were immediately enacted.

I had heard all this many times and decided to let Jerry, who was sitting beside me, have a look at my new toy. I gently slide the gun out of my pocket keeping my eyes glued on Miss O’Hara. I placed the toy on the bench between us. Jerry glanced down and gave a rather pronounced shudder.

Miss O’Hara, an expert on shudders, glared in our direction and said: “What is the matter, Mr. Pace?” in her usual stern authoritative manner.

Jerry sat perfectly still but glanced in the direction of the toy.

“There is something there. Show us all, please!”

Jerry glared at me, and I picked up the gun. Stupidly, I picked up the gun and raised it slowly pointing it at Miss O’Hara.

She grabbed the kerchief at her throat, gasped loudly and had a look that threatened to push the eyeballs out of her head. “Has the devil ordered you to kill us all she gasped!”

“It’s a toy” I said weakly.

“Dispose of it immediately!” she ordered and marched me to the large waste container just outside the church. My love of the gun was outweighed by my fear of Miss O’Hara. I deposited the gun in the container.

We reentered the church “Father Caruso is hearing confessions right now. Get in there and confess your sin!”. 

Father Caruso was young and far too liberal to suit Miss O’Hara. But she had no choice. I had not yet made my first confession, but Miss O’Hara did not want to hear any defensive arguments.

I entered the confessional and knelt quietly until the priest let his presence be known “What are you here to confess?” Father Caruso said in a very mild tone.

I answered: “I nearly killed Miss O’Hara”.

Detailed explanation followed. Father ended with a not very confessional dialogue. 

“Go and retrieve the damned gun from the garbage. Your sins are forgiven and better luck next time."