The staff of Moses

No sooner had I crossed the river than I was approached by an Italian couple looking for the Vatican. They were trying to follow directions on Google maps, but it kept trying to send them over a chronically busy multi-lane road which they just couldn't cross. 

I told them I wasn't sure I'd be much help, as I don't live here. Then, just for a bit of fun, I held out my pilgrim staff and said, "Perhaps I should hold this out like Moses and part the traffic."

They laughed, but sometimes I just get an idea in my head. I walked to the edge of the swirling traffic and held up the staff. The wife looked disconcerted and her husband asked, "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for good Catholics," I replied.

Moments later the traffic ground to a halt, and solicitous (but smiling) drivers waved us across.

As we arrived at the other side the husband looked at me in surprise. "That stick's magic," he said. "I need to get one of those."

I kept to myself the thought that it was probably the cassock that had the magic effect, just around the corner from the Pope's house.

///arriving.scoots.curry