Palm Sunday.

Richard, Peter and Robert sat together in the front row of Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. What with plenary indulgences, well founded logical arguments and the offer of a few free hosts for Peter it seemed that Robert had been successful in winning the two aging boys over. Well, at least they were giving it a go.

All three old boys spied the Tabernacle.

Zanterbb had entered by a window in the same room that priests used to put on their frocks. Fortunately the door was open, so he had made his way into the main part of the church. He didn't really know what had attracted him into the building. There didn't seem to be much sign of food. Was it a call from God?

Peter was whispering in Robert's ear. "Do they keep them in that little golden cupboard?" Robert was politely smiling and nodded to affirm Peter's enquiry. "That's the Tabernacle, where God is."

Zanterbb tried to keep out of everyone's way as he looked for a method of escape. Most flies in this situation headed for a windowpane which they mistook for an open route to freedom. Zanterbb could see that all the windows here were filled with coloured glass.

Richard had to lean past Peter, who was in the middle, to ask Robert a question.

"When do we get these plenary indulgences? I've decided that I might want to catch up with Mr. Linford in Heaven."

Robert just smiled and nodded his head. Then he whispered. "Shhh! It's not that easy. The priest is coming and is about to say Mass."

Father Hatrick came out wearing his dress. As usual he seemed very happy.

As a joke, as he turned to face the flock, he held up one hand and stretched it open with his palm exposed. Peter looked confused. He'd flown down from the far north to be with his two mates on this special day, Palm Sunday. Was Father Hatrick making a joke? This raised palm was outside of what Robert had logically told him about church procedures.

Zanterbb buzzed around and members of the flock soon became aware of his presence. One of those guys who you always see standing at the back of a church produced a fly swat and started walking quietly along the side of the room. Richard turned around and saw what was unfolding. "Wasn't this insect one of God's creatures?" He wondered. At home he was required to catch insects and set them free outside.

Richard moved towards the man and called out, "Leave the fly alone! I'll get him out safely!"

Everyone was distracted and Father Hatrick felt like he had lost his audience. The guy with the fly swat looked like a stubborn old bugger. He continued to move towards Zanterbb. Robert watched on and worried that he might lose out on a chance to get plenary indulgences. Peter noticed that no one was watching or was near the Tabernacle. It had been a long while since he had tasted a good communion host. He moved very quietly towards the Tabernacle.

Zanterbb was not an idiot. He flew up towards the roof. The guy with the fly swat was not impressed by Richard's behaviour. He confronted Richard and told him, "Get out of God's house!"

Richard replied, "I thought you were in Heaven, Mr. Linford."

"The name's Linefort. Now get out. We don't need your sort in God's house."

Father Hatrick was not sure what to do. Perhaps it was time for a joke? He grabbed a nearby palm leaf and started to wave it. "This is God's fly swat."

"Fuck this!" thought Zanterbb and he headed back into the little changing room and out the window. Maybe God had led him to safety.

Some of the flock were laughing at Father Hatrick's joke and some were waiting to see if there would be a punch up between Richard and Mr. Linefort. Peter returned to his seat. His mouth was bulging with hosts. He looked happy. Robert could virtually see his plenary indulgences slipping away. He decided, there and then, that perhaps Peter and Richard would be better off in Hell.