is.”
“Then it would be a mortal sin to keep him from his vocation.”
“I’d go to hell even though I’m being forced to marry this boy?”
Silence. Then. “And when is this wedding to take place?”
“Two weeks from now, on my eighteenth birthday. Father, I do think Hank is a nice boy, I really do. But I don’t want to go to hell because of my mother.”
“You won’t go to hell,” the priest reassured her.
“But what about my mother? I’m supposed to be obedient toward my parents. Do I have to still be obedient even though what she’s doing is a sin?”
“That’s a difficult question. But let’s focus on what’s going on now.”
“Yes Father.”
“Do his parents believe this young man has a true vocation?”
“No.”
“And what about this other young man? Are his intentions toward you sincere?”
“I don’t know that either,” she admitted. “I’d like to think so. He says that he loves me but then he wants to...” She trailed off, heat rising to her face, embarrassed.
“I see. And have you let him?”
“No. Well, not all the way.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry, Father. I’m so confused. I don’t know if I really love him or if he really loves me. I asked if he’d run away with me. I thought if we got away from Rapides Parish and were on our own for a while we could figure out what we want.”
“You could run across the world and not escape sin, my child.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“Do you know what you want to do with your life?”
“Somebody asked me that a few days ago, and I’ve been thinking about that. To be honest, I really don’t know what I want. Mom has told me what I wanted all my life. To try and think that there’s a life outside of an arranged marriage, well...it’s hard.”
“Marriage is sacred,” the priest replied. “And you must obey your mother. But marriage is also until death do you part.” There was another pause as the priest considered. “You do know that upon your eighteenth birthday you’re an adult and you can say no to your mother’s arrangements.”
“I know but even if I said no it wouldn’t matter. She’d drag me down to the altar kicking and screaming all the way.”
Althea’s lip trembled and tears spilled down her cheeks. Until now she’d kept the knowledge of her impending wedding at arm’s length, but now it was facing her and the truth of it was ugly and terrifying. “Mom... she’s poured so much money into this wedding, more than we can afford. And. . . .all I know for sure is that I don’t want to get married. At least not like this.”
“What if you had more time to think it over? More time to get to know your fiancé? Would that make a difference?”
“I don’t think so, Father.”
“What do you think would be helpful?”
“If my mother would just butt out and let me figure out what to do with my life.”
“She’s doing what she thinks is best for you.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And marriage isn’t a bad thing.”
“I know. But shouldn’t it be my choice?”
“Of course.”
“Then when the day comes you won’t be surprised when I say no?”
“Nothing surprises me these days , chere .”
Althea laughed. “It’s not a matter of saying no, it’s a matter of saying no in front of God, the Church and my mother.”
“Just keep in mind what I said, and pray about this.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And no more messing around with boys.”
“Yes Father.”
“I absolve you. Now do twenty-five Hail Mary’s and go and sin no more.”
“Thank you Father.”
Althea left the confessional, feeling more lost and confused than ever. She glanced over her shoulder and saw her mother in deep conversation with Monsignor. She didn’t go to confession at all that sneak , Althea thought. She felt heat rush to her cheeks. And she needs it worse than I do .
Not bothering to wait for her mother to finish, Althea left the church and headed toward the drug store, her religious duties forgotten
“Then it would be a mortal sin to keep him from his vocation.”
“I’d go to hell even though I’m being forced to marry this boy?”
Silence. Then. “And when is this wedding to take place?”
“Two weeks from now, on my eighteenth birthday. Father, I do think Hank is a nice boy, I really do. But I don’t want to go to hell because of my mother.”
“You won’t go to hell,” the priest reassured her.
“But what about my mother? I’m supposed to be obedient toward my parents. Do I have to still be obedient even though what she’s doing is a sin?”
“That’s a difficult question. But let’s focus on what’s going on now.”
“Yes Father.”
“Do his parents believe this young man has a true vocation?”
“No.”
“And what about this other young man? Are his intentions toward you sincere?”
“I don’t know that either,” she admitted. “I’d like to think so. He says that he loves me but then he wants to...” She trailed off, heat rising to her face, embarrassed.
“I see. And have you let him?”
“No. Well, not all the way.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry, Father. I’m so confused. I don’t know if I really love him or if he really loves me. I asked if he’d run away with me. I thought if we got away from Rapides Parish and were on our own for a while we could figure out what we want.”
“You could run across the world and not escape sin, my child.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“Do you know what you want to do with your life?”
“Somebody asked me that a few days ago, and I’ve been thinking about that. To be honest, I really don’t know what I want. Mom has told me what I wanted all my life. To try and think that there’s a life outside of an arranged marriage, well...it’s hard.”
“Marriage is sacred,” the priest replied. “And you must obey your mother. But marriage is also until death do you part.” There was another pause as the priest considered. “You do know that upon your eighteenth birthday you’re an adult and you can say no to your mother’s arrangements.”
“I know but even if I said no it wouldn’t matter. She’d drag me down to the altar kicking and screaming all the way.”
Althea’s lip trembled and tears spilled down her cheeks. Until now she’d kept the knowledge of her impending wedding at arm’s length, but now it was facing her and the truth of it was ugly and terrifying. “Mom... she’s poured so much money into this wedding, more than we can afford. And. . . .all I know for sure is that I don’t want to get married. At least not like this.”
“What if you had more time to think it over? More time to get to know your fiancé? Would that make a difference?”
“I don’t think so, Father.”
“What do you think would be helpful?”
“If my mother would just butt out and let me figure out what to do with my life.”
“She’s doing what she thinks is best for you.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And marriage isn’t a bad thing.”
“I know. But shouldn’t it be my choice?”
“Of course.”
“Then when the day comes you won’t be surprised when I say no?”
“Nothing surprises me these days , chere .”
Althea laughed. “It’s not a matter of saying no, it’s a matter of saying no in front of God, the Church and my mother.”
“Just keep in mind what I said, and pray about this.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And no more messing around with boys.”
“Yes Father.”
“I absolve you. Now do twenty-five Hail Mary’s and go and sin no more.”
“Thank you Father.”
Althea left the confessional, feeling more lost and confused than ever. She glanced over her shoulder and saw her mother in deep conversation with Monsignor. She didn’t go to confession at all that sneak , Althea thought. She felt heat rush to her cheeks. And she needs it worse than I do .
Not bothering to wait for her mother to finish, Althea left the church and headed toward the drug store, her religious duties forgotten
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