Getting up late, they had a leisurely breakfast buffet then an even more leisurely drive to Rochester. First stop the Genesee Brew House. Mort and Donnie headed straight in; Charlie and Ronnie wandered off to check out High Falls and take a few happy snaps. A quick perusal of the Genesee shop then they all re-assembled for a tour of the beer production plant complete with a tasting at the end. By then they were well and truly ready to head upstairs to the pub for Genesee cream draught and soft pretzels and so much more.
Time to check into the Rochester Plaza. They got off the elevator on the 6th Floor.
“Hey! What’s our room number?” Charlie suddenly had a bad feeling.
Donnie showed him the card.
“665! Well, that’s a relief. I was worried it might be 666. Guess no hotel would ever use that room number though, would they?”
His friends had a blank look in their eyes.
“Oh OH! Bad news, Charlie. Look at the number on the room across the hall.”
“666! Dear Lord in Heaven! Are you guys not concerned? Am I the only one with hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia?”
“Come on Charlie. You need a beer.”
Charlie had more than one beer, and by the time he’d arrived at the ballpark and settled in with a scrumptious white-hot and even hotter baseball action, he’d forgotten all about the number 666.
Until the middle of the night that is.
He awoke to a soft siren’s voice calling out to him from the hallway. “Charlie. Charlie.”
He started to go see who it was but fortunately bethought himself and dove back under the covers. Eventually the voice stopped, and he went back to sleep.
The following morning, they headed off to Jine’s Restaurant in the Arts Neighbourhood. Whilst dining on an exquisite smoked meat Benedict, Charlie told his friends about the voices in the night. They seemed more amused than concerned. Sigh.
With stomachs stuffed, they headed back to their hotel room. Not a place Charlie wanted to be so he suggested they boldly set forth and explore the city. His companions preferred, however, to stay put and drink beer.
Charlie had a wonderful time wandering hither and thither and yon discovering all manner of shops and churches and waterfalls and history and ruins. Best of all, he happened upon the Episcopal Church of St Luke & St Simon Cyrene, which was offering an afternoon service of Holy Eucharist. In he went.
He was greeted by the Church Deacon. “Hello. May I help you?”
“I’m here for the afternoon Mass.”
“Excellent. We’re happy to have you. You’re early but can help me set up if you’d like. We’re expecting a small turnout so will be holding it in the Priest’s office.”
