Anastasia's Grail

by Mary Pearson

data and he made a press release debunking the Shroud before anybody else even got a chance to look at the information. The truth has been playing ‘catch-up’ ever since.”

  “I suppose it didn’t help when the 1983 carbon dating produced a medieval date,” Arthur added. “Any idea how that might have happened?”

  “I’ve read loads of theories, from the two fires the Shroud survived having altered the C14 versus C12 ratio—that’s how they measure it—to the Event of the Resurrection itself having altered it. They think that Jesus’ body was radiant when it happened and then He vanished. As the cloth fell through where His body had been, the image was encoded by radiation. They suspect this image wasn’t visible for awhile, though. You know scientists can approximate the event in a nuclear physics laboratory, although the Shroud image is more sophisticated than anything we can accomplish, even with all the technology of our modern era.

  One of the authors I read, Dr. John Heller, said that if he had a budget of ten billion dollars and access to every bit of technology garnered by the combined sciences, he still couldn’t create an image comparable to the Shroud. Another author, Mark Antonacci, said the Shroud is irreproducible.”

  “There must be a reason that God has revealed the many facets of this relic to us now at this time in history,” Arthur mused.

  “We’re a bunch of doubting Thomases,”said Stacy. “We need to be smacked on the head with a sledge hammer before we are able to pay attention.”

  Stacy was relieved to have completed the prep work for her Confirmation class presentation. It freed her up to do more entertaining things on the weekend. She had called Junie the previous evening, wondering if she might like to go shopping for maternity clothes. Stacy had a bit of extra money she didn’t mind getting rid of. Junie was agreeable, so long as they stayed away from the mall and other teen hangouts. Stacy said she’d pick her up at ten. She borrowed her mother’s keys.

  “Just one thing, “ her mother cautioned her.

  “What? Is there something wrong with the car?”

  “Nothing big,” Rose told her. “Just a little glitch with the license plate. I doubt it will cause you any problems.”

  “Ok.” Stacy spoke uncertainly. What kind of problem could there possibly be with the license plate? She threw on her coat and went out to check. Stacy suppressed a giggle. The tab which showed the expiration date had been put on upside down, so that instead of expiring in 08, her mother’s car was due to expire in 80. She wondered how her mother could have made such a mistake. Stacy shrugged. Like Mom had said, it probably wouldn’t be a problem.

  Rose had followed her out.

  “How did you manage that?’“ Stacy asked her mom.

  “It was cold when I was putting it on. The tab kind of froze while I was cleaning the plate. When I went to peel it off the paper, the darn thing cracked. I put the tab on in five chunks, piecing it like a puzzle. When I finished I realized it was upside down and the pieces were too brittle to try to change it.” She shrugged. “You know, 1980 was a very good year for me—I met your father then.”

  “I say you let the thing go until 2080,” Stacy smiled mischievously. “If a cop pulls you over, tell him you paid ahead.”

  Junie was ready when she got there. She wasn’t showing yet, so long as she dressed carefully, but before long it would take more effort to find camouflaging clothes. Stacy hoped to help her out there. As they had when shopping for her formal, the two girls stuck to the side streets, popping in and out of specialty and consignment stores. They managed to find quite a few nice tunics and low-waisted maternity pants. They even picked up some baby underthings and blankets. They didn’t know the sex of the little one yet, so Stacy didn’t want to commit to anything much for the baby. Eventually they found themselves at the little consignment shop where Stacy had found her dress.

  “Oh, hi again,” the sales lady said as the jingle of the door announced their arrival. “We don’t often get royalty in here.” At Stacy’s questioning look she gestured to a rather large framed photo of herself, crown and all, on Darius’ arm. Her heart almost stopped and she glanced hastily at her companion, who appeared pale, but otherwise composed. Of course she had to have seen the pictures already. They were posted around the school and had made the newsletter.

  “I’m sorry,” Stacy whispered. “Do you want to leave?”

  Junie shook her head.

  The clerk seemed impervious. “The dress seemed to work out for you anyway. Are we looking for another dress, maybe something for the Prom…?”

  Stacy shook her head. She felt bad that she couldn’t express her gratitude or show much enthusiasm at the moment. “My friend and I are looking for maternity things.”

  Stacy bit her lip as the clerk glanced from one girl to the other, clearly wondering which of them was the mother-to-be. It was the first time she really felt the disapproval that Junie was sure to face over and over again, being so young and pregnant. Stacy wished they hadn’t come here. “Oh, it’s not for us,” she said, trying to save her companion any embarrassment. “It’s for my… aunt.” The lie made her wince inwardly. “She’s quite petite,” she quickly added.

  The clerk looked relieved. She showed them some nice pieces and they bought a few.

  “Why did you lie?” Junie asked when they were back in the car. “Are you embarrassed to be with an underage pregnant person?”

  “No!” Stacy was horrified. “I didn’t want you to be embarrassed. Junie,” she took the younger girl by the shoulders, “what you are doing is very brave. I am anything but embarrassed of you. Please never think that. I just didn’t realize until now how some people will be treating you because of this.” She smiled ruefully. “I was trying to protect you, I guess. I shouldn’t have lied. I don’t even believe in lying.” Her voice became more intense now. “I can see how hard this is going to be for you.” Inwardly Stacy realized it could as easily have been she who was pregnant with Darius’ child. “Don’t let them get to you.” (Easy for me to say!) “Remember what my mother said, it’s a test. The only thing that matters is you, the baby and God.” But she knew it would be an uphill battle for Junie anyway.

  Stacy had dropped the younger girl off at her apartment, her arms laden with boxes and bags. She was en route to her own house when she noticed flashing red lights in her rear-view mirror. She hastily pulled over and rolled down the window. She hadn’t been breaking any laws she was aware of.

  The officer nervously scanned the interior of the car. “License and registration,” he said brusquely.

  Stacy rummaged in the glove compartment and her wallet for the items he had requested.

  “Pop the trunk and get out of the car with your hands in clear view.”

  Stacy would have been amused if she wasn’t so afraid. She quickly complied.

  Keeping her beside him and in his peripheral vision, the officer sifted through the contents of the trunk: spare tire, jack, lug wrench… just normal stuff. Next he had her sit in the passenger seat of the cop car while he called in her license. Finding nothing he handed it back to her.

  “Do you mind,” Stacy finally asked him, “if I ask what this is all about?”

  “We were just informed of a new gang which has infiltrated the area. Part of their MO is to identify themselves by putting their license tabs on upside down.” He gave her another penetrating look that almost suggested as if you didn’t know. “I’m gonna let you go at this time.” He unlocked her door and watched as she got into her vehicle and pulled back into traffic. He continued to follow her all the way to her house.

  Stacy was never so relieved to get off the road. She headed straight to the bread store and found her mother. “How much would it cost you to buy another tab?” she asked her.

  “It’s kind of expensive. I think I paid $60 dollars to get it.”

  Stacy dug in her wallet and slapped the money on the bench. “Worth it!” She showed her mother the perspiration stains on her shirt and told her what she had been through. “
Easy for you to laugh!” Stacy didn’t appreciate her mother’s reaction. “I suggest you take back roads and side streets when you go to get that tab--” She started to leave, but turned around, “and I’d make it as soon as possible. You don’t want to go through what I did.”

  Stacy’s Shroud presentation to her class went off without a hitch. The class seemed suitably convinced that, not only was there a Shroud which had been proven to be from the time of Christ, this particular Shroud had to have been the One which was put on Him as they laid Him in the tomb. No other article of cloth, at any time in history, bore marks such as these. But then no other Event paralleled that of the birth, life, death and resurrection of God in human form. By the time she had finished you could have heard a pin drop in the room.

  “So you believe now,” Father Joseph addressed the class, “not only because of faith in what you have been taught from childhood, but because of what you have seen with your eyes.” His voice became more intense. “Do not let this lull you. Even the Devil and all of his companions, the fallen angels, believe in Jesus Christ. Each of you,” Father looked at them one at a time, as a mother counts heads when her children are swimming in deep water, “will be severely tested. In the next few years there will be temptations to your faith of which you can not presently imagine. If you go to