Christmas of the Present-By Algi Wijewickrema Source:Island It was four days before Christmas and father Asiri was in his little office room when Peter, his faithful sacristan who doubled as butler, bodyguard, odd job man, et al, came in and announced that a young woman wished to see him. Although parishioners young and old visiting him was not something to be considered special, father Asiri detected something in Peter’s manner that told him it was not a normal visit. The young girl ushered to his presence was no more than twenty, dressed in a wrinkled skirt and blouse and was carrying a child who could not be more than a few days old. She could not be called beautiful but could have been attractive if not for her troubled look. Fr. Asiri inquired from her what the problem was but it was Peter who answered saying that she had been ...