Father Murphy entered the plane. Being a priest Father Murphy was one of the first to enter. The purpose of this trip was that he was being reassigned to a new parish. Some of the boys had complained and it was thought that changing his venue, particularly to a new country would be best. He had been transferred many times since becoming a priest.

Father Murphy didn't know why these boys complained time and time again. It always started with one boy, a troublemaker. Then other boys would come out too and before he knew it there was the beginning of an outcry.

It was all so innocent Father Murphy thought. These were poor boys, they couldn't afford to see a doctor due to any small ailment. Father Murphy took it upon himself to examine the boys several times a year to make sure that nothing was wrong.

Each boy would take off his clothes. Father Murphy preferred this method as a completely naked boy could be examined quickly and any problems would be seen most readily without the clothing getting in the way.

There would be touching of the boy. How else could a boy be examined without touching? Father Murphy washed his hands between each boy so as to not contaminate him. He did such a good job that plastic gloves were never necessary. Besides, it was easier to feel for any problems if there weren't any gloves used.

All examinations were videotaped by the overhead surveillance cameras. Father Murphy examined these tapes too to see if he missed anything in the examination or to compare how the boy's status was changing. Or sometimes to compare the growth rate of several boys. He wasn't a medical doctor he was a priest, he needed these comparisons for his own peace of mind.

It was all so innocent, but invariably someone would complain (a trouble maker) and then he would have to relocate as he was doing now.

Father Murphy didn't carry any luggage. That wasn't necessary. He owned nothing, it all belonged to the church and they would send what he needed. All he had was the clothes on his back which were his traditional priestly garments including his clerical collar.

He took his seat near the back. He was on the window seat of a row with only two seats. No one was seated in his row. He adjusted the headrest for his comfort and then took his seat. He liked the way the headrest molded itself to the back of his head. It was so comfortable that he didn't notice as a small device attached itself from the headrest to the back of his skull.

The passengers entered the plane as with any other flight. When everyone had taken their seat, a young girl entered the plane. She was escorted by a flight attendant.

“Hello Father,” the attendant said, “this young lady is traveling alone. Can you look after her?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Father Murphy said with a smile.

The young girl was three or maybe four years old. She was dressed in a red and blue plaid jumper. It had an ironed-on crest in the shape of a shield with a stylized cross in the middle and the words “Quod Innocentia et Fidem.” Father Murphy could read Latin so he knew it meant “Faith and Innocence.” Under the jumper was a white blouse with a rounded collar. She wore white tights and black mary-janes. This was clearly a uniform of some sort for a religious school. In her hair, matching the jumper was a plaid bow. It was attached at the base of the back of her head.

She was a pretty little girl with brown eyes and brown hair in a ponytail. Her eyes revealed her soul to the priest, they were full of both intelligence and purity. In her arms was a stuffed teddy bear that had on a clerical collar much like his own.

The attendant placed the little girl's bag under the seat in front of her. Then the attendant lowered the headrest for her and she took her seat.

Father Murphy felt a slight shock in the back of his head. But it passed so quickly that he didn't move his hand to his head to feel if there was a problem. He didn't think it was necessary.

“Now if you need me at all,” the attendant told the girl, “just press this call button and I'll be here before you know it. If not me, then someone else will come to help you. I'll be back to check on you often.”

“Thank you,” the girl said.

Continuing the attendant said, “I'm sure this nice man can help you too. So be good and enjoy your flight.”

When the attendant had gone, Father Murphy greeted the girl.'

“Hi, I'm Father Murphy. What's your name?” he said in the voice adults use when speaking to small children.

“My name is Grace,” she answered.

“Grace is such a pretty name. What is the name of your little friend there?” referring to the bear in Grace's arms.

“I don't know. They gave him to me when I entered the plane. But I love him already. What do you think I should name him?”

“He belongs to you, you should pick out a name for him.”

“How about Murphy? Do you think that would be a good name?”

“I'm honored you would name such a distinguished bear after me?”

'What does distinguished mean?”

“Hmm, it means honored or special.”

“Yes, Murphy is very special. I think I'll keep the name.”

“How old are you?”

“I'm four.”

“Really? So big for four.”

“Yeah.”

“I'll bet you are smart?”

“Yes, I am, I can count all the way up to twenty.”

“You can?”

“Yes want to see?”

“I sure would.”

“One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Nineteen, Twenty.”

She missed a couple of numbers and mispronounced fifteen. “That's great.”

“Do you know the alphabet?”

“Yes I know all of it,” then Grace proceeded to sing the alphabet song. She again missed a few, but it was still very good for a four-year-old. Father Murphy assumed that the girl had turned four very recently.

“Wow, you are smart.”

“Why are you taking this trip?”

“I'm going to a special camp. It's for smart girls like me.”

“How long will you be there?”

“Two weeks. I know my days of the weeks too. Wanna see.”