Doubt

It was a slow day and the doctor had picked a fight with his priest. 

Father Jack had been staring meditatively at the sea, as was his habit, 

when a young man came stomping across the sand. 

"I'm sick of you people with your airs and graces! He shouted "I haven't 

slept for a week, my patients are dying, and you're here having a picnic! 

Father Jack was shocked on two accounts. Firstly he had always thought that 

picnics involved food, and secondly, he had always considered his work to be vitally important, though it was difficult to explain why. True, he was prone to sleep, but all day he comforted people and listened to problems. Jack was sure that he was helping, but it was difficult to put this into words, so he shouted back

"My life is not a picnic!  he shouted "All day I keep the faith. I have no time to argue with ignorant people like you!"

As they argued, neither noticed a small boy was drifting out to sea. The boy's cries for help  were drowned out by the pulpit drone and barrage of fact battling at the waters edge. Luckily a beachcomber was on hand to fish the boy out. 

"What were you doing out that far on your own eh? he asked "Just wait until your parents hear about this, and I've gone and dropped my shells, a morning wasted!" When he saw the boy's expression his voice softened. "Well, I've got one left, you may as well have it now" The beachcomber plopped the boy down and watch him run off with his conch shell, cupping it to his ear. 

As he watched the boy swiftly dodge the figures on the shore the beachcomber chuckled and shook his head. "Who is there to look up to nowadays?"