Last Rites

[Sonny]

A Catholic man is struck by a bus on a busy street.

He is lying near death on the sidewalk as a crowd gathers.

"A priest. Somebody get me a priest!" the man gasps.

Minutes drag on and no one steps out of the crowd.

A policeman checks the crowd and finally yells,

"A PRIEST, PLEASE! Isn't there a priest in this crowd

to give this man his last rites?"

Finally, out of the crowd steps a little old Jewish man

of at least 80 years of age. "Mr. Policeman," says the man,

"I'm not a priest. I'm not even a Christian.

But for 50 years now I'm living behind the Catholic Church

on First Avenue, and every night I'm overhearing their services.

I can recall a lot of it, and maybe I can be of some comfort

to this poor man."

The policeman agrees, and clears the crowd so the man

can get through to where the injured man lay.

The old Jewish man kneels down, leans over the prostrate man

and says in a solemn voice:

"B-4.

I-19.

N-38.

G-54.

O-72"