Catholic, Reluctantly (The John Paul 2 High Series) by Frank Christian M

Author:Frank, Christian M. [Frank, Christian M.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Chesterton Press
Published: 2011-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

Allie slumped against the wall of the girls’ bathroom, her face buried in her hands.

She felt a cold hardness in her chest. She hated this school. She had tried to make it work, and just look at what had happened.

Divorce, annulments, mortal sin—what did she care? All she wanted to do was go to a normal school…I ought to call my mom right now, she thought. I’ll tell her what happened, and she’ll pull me out today.

“Allie?”

Allie didn’t look up. She heard the door creak open, and the pock, pock, pock of Celia’s shoes. Allie stiffened, wondering if she’d have to explain herself or defend her parents.

“You don’t need to talk,” Celia said softly.

The coldness in Allie’s chest lessened. She laughed ruefully. “Some kids you got in this school.”

Celia laughed too. “You’re telling me.”

“So,” Allie said, “What do you think?”

Celia looked Allie straight in the eye. “I think James was very rude to you.”

Allie bowed her head, immensely grateful that she didn’t have to defend herself.

“And I understand if you want to leave,” Celia said. “Maybe I would too if I were you. But I don’t want you to leave.”

“I know,” Allie found herself saying bitterly. “If I left there would only be six kids in the whole school again.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Celia said softly. “Really. I don’t want you to leave because you’re my friend. And because it would be good for you to stay.”

Allie looked up. Nikki, Celia, her mom…everyone seemed to think this school was good for her. What was the big deal about this little Catholic school? Why was it so special?

“Celia—” Here goes, she thought. The real test. “Is James right? Is my mom…” She gulped. “Is my mom ‘living in sin’?”

Celia took a deep breath, “Well…if you’re trying to be a good Catholic…and you can’t work things out…”

“Celia,” Allie said wearily, “Just tell me.”

Celia sighed. “Okay,” she said. “Are you sure your mom didn’t get an annulment?”

“I’m sure. Dad doesn’t go to church anymore because of that. My mom only goes at Christmas and Easter.”

“In that case… yeah, there’s something wrong there. Something…something that should be fixed.”

Allie sat silently for a long, long moment, expecting to feel angry. But she only felt sad. Very sad. She didn’t know why, and she still didn’t understand why this lack of an annulment was such a big deal. But the way Celia had spoken about it had given her a different take on things.

James’ voice had been a sharp finger condemning her because of choices her parents had made. But Celia was saying the same thing… but it was different. Celia spoke of something broken; she spoke of the whole thing, the whole divorce, as if it were an undeniable fact, something solid and pitiless, that they couldn’t get away from. Her face was turning red, and she had a tense, drawn expression, almost as if she were in pain.

She’s more upset than I am, Allie thought in wonder. And then another thought came: She wishes that it wasn’t like this.

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