Ch 08: Holy Outing

Only beginning to grasp the societal disdain for the love I'm feeling, a nun decides to tell my mom.

I knew something was wrong the moment I heard my mother's voice, a blend of despair and disappointment that sent a chill down my spine. A few short weeks after I found love, I graduated from high school, and then returned home to Rogers, got a job waiting tables at the local Holiday Inn, and, while anticipating my return to college in the North, spent my time pining for Michelle.

One afternoon after my shift, Mom summoned me into the family room. The air conditioner was no match for the relentless Arkansas sun as it beat down through the picture window at that time of day. The family room was the last place I wanted to be, but this was a rare request, and it didn’t feel like challenging it would be in my best interest.