When the Wood Is Dry: An Edgy Catholic Thriller

“Sometimes we must suffer if we are to save souls.”

Jesus’ words echo in a recurring dream to Lali Russo, a seventeen-year-old Catholic school girl.  

Lali wakes and asks, “Why that dream again?”

Haunted by her ominous dream, Lali prays the rosary at an abortion clinic, as she would on any other day.  Glancing up, a distraught, pregnant drug-addict approaches the clinic. Lali counsels the girl against having an abortion and walks her home where she meets the girl’s boyfriend, a notorious gang leader. Ralo glares at her, as sharpens his machete.  

“Go away, little girl, this is no’ ju beesness.”