<< Go Back

The Liberation of Lauren Lane

By Angela Pisaturo

Order Now!

ONE





LIFE IS EASIER WHEN YOU ARE LOVED



“Hurry up, Lauren. Jenny’s father is waiting for you.” Collette shouted up to her daughter, who was still fussing over her hair.

“Coming, mother!”

Lucas shook his head. “When did all this proper English start?”

“Oh, honey, don't pay any attention to it. She's 18 now and girls at this age need to feel like they are grown- ups. It will pass.”

Lucas gave his wife an affectionate kiss on the cheek. He grabbed his briefcase as he headed toward the door and to the subway for work in the Boston financial district. Lucas looked over his shoulder and with a grin on his face said, “Can we count on that any time soon?” Then he shut the door on his way out.

Collette called back to him as she stepped out onto the front porch. “She's still our little girl. Just think we get to do this again in three years with Cassidy."

Lucas nodded and called back to her, “Remind me to be out of town when that happens.”

As Collette returned to the kitchen, Lauren made a dramatic entrance, sweeping her lunch off the kitchen counter. She turned to look at her mother, who was pouring herself a cup of coffee, “Goodbye, mother.” Then she wisped her hair around as she exited the house through the back door that was in the kitchen.

Collette mumbled to herself in a mocking tone, “Goodbye, daughter.”

Lauren's best friend, Jenny Marino, was waiting in the driveway of the massive colonial home. A columned front porch spread around the entire house until it met the back end of the home. The front porch swing was a favorite of her parents, who drank their evening coffee every night on the swing, while discussing family issues.

The pathway leading to the house was adorned with large maple and oak trees that formed a canopy over the red brick walkway. It was a large house, with living room, den, dining room and eat-in kitchen, where the family ate most of their meals, except for holidays; then it was the dining room.

There were four bedrooms, one master for the parents, one room for each girl, but the two boys had to share and there was also a guest room for when the grandparents came to visit from New Hampshire. Lucas and Collette lovingly referred to their house as the Scarlett house because of its classic ante-bellum style like that in the movie, Gone with the Wind.

Lauren referred to herself and her siblings as the slaves of the estate when she was angry with one of her parents, which was not often.

Now, Lauren ran down the tree-lined pathway and entered Jenny's car. “I’m sorry I’m late, Jenny, but I just couldn't get my hair to behave this morning." Her brownish-red hair was thick with some natural waves.

Jenny yawned. "That's okay, we still have time."

The girls engaged in school gossip, as they made their way to school. “Did you hear about Mr. Tinkerton and Michael O’Hara?” Jenny asked.

“No! What happened?”

"I swear Lauren, do we go to the same school?" Jenny wrinkled her nose.

"You know I don't get involved in gossip. I only hear it from you." Lauren looked her in the eye.

Then Jenny spoke in a quiet voice, as if her car was being bugged. “Michael called Mr. Tinkerton an idiot because he said that Michael had to pass the history test; otherwise he was suspended from playing football.”

“That is just like Michael. He thinks rules don't apply to him.” She took a breath. “So, what happened then?”

“He got suspended, and now he can't play in the final game, and he is the team's star player!”

"Well, he shouldn't have mouthed off. Everyone makes excuses for these players. I am glad someone finally put one of them in their place."

“I kind of like him. He's handsome and has all those muscles! And he knows who he is." Grinning at Lauren, she almost missed a stop sign.

“Control yourself, Jenny, before we have an accident. He’s not worth the time.”

“I know you want to be a nun, but don't you ever care about boys, Lauren?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lauren narrowed her eyes.

“It's just since Nick Malone dumped you, you seemed to have given up men."

“You know what happened, he tried to force me to have sex, and then told all the guys I was a virgin or I probably hated men.

I can't even think about them spreading those hideous lies! Anyway, what's the point? I can't date in the convent.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“But don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to be married?”

Lauren let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, I do. In fact, Kevin Foley has asked me to the Prom.”

“Really, are you going to go with him?”
“I told him I would let him know.”

“Oh Lauren, have some fun while you can.”

“Are you going with anybody?" Lauren stared her down.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I'm going with Jason Willard.”

“Jenny, you can do better than him. He is such a player.”

Jenny glared at Lauren. “I know I can, but I like him!” A vein pulsated in her forehead as she spoke.

“Fine! There's no talking to you when you're like this! Go with him. See if I care.”

Jenny smirked, as if she purposely pushed Lauren’s buttons.

They pulled into the school parking lot, and walked up to the entrance together. “I’ll wait for you after school, so you don’t have to take the bus.”

“Oh, don’t bother. I told Sister Mary Alice I would help her with the food drive posters.”

“I swear, Lauren, you spend so much time with her, why don’t you just join the order now and get it over with?”

Lauren let out a nervous laugh. What no one knew was that Lauren secretly entertained thoughts of doing just that.

All the after-school meetings with Sister Mary Alice were for that reason – to discern if she had a calling.

All day long Lauren could not think of anything else except what decision to make for her future – college or convent. She had a gift for writing and thought of taking up journalism, but then she also thought about serving God in the missions.

The school day was uneventful and she only saw Jenny in one of her classes, so she didn't have to continue to explain her meetings with Sister again. Now she was knocking on Sister's door and she felt at ease for having avoided awkward conversations with Jenny.

"Hello, Lauren. How was your day?" Sister Mary Alice asked, as she welcomed Lauren into her office in the administrative section of the school.

“It was okay. To tell you the truth, I couldn’t stop thinking about my future choices.

How it will impact the rest of my life and it's scaring me.”

“Well, you must allow God to fill your heart in order to hear his voice. If the thought of entering the convent is scaring you, perhaps this isn't your calling. Although a little anxiety is a normal thing. After all, you are entering into a way of life that is unfamiliar and unusual.”

"I supposed that's true, but it's also about dating and marrying, college and career; it's all so overwhelming. When I talk to Jenny, she seems to be calm about everything, as if she doesn't really care. She's just going to sit back and let life happen.”

“Well, I can assure you Jenny has considered her future; she just doesn't worry that much. You, on the other hand, take life too seriously, maybe you need to relax for a year, check out your options try college.

The convent will still be here if and when you decide you are ready. You know, I didn’t enter the order until I finished college.”

“Really?" Lauren had not considered this, even though the nun was a qualified teacher.

“Yes, perhaps that’s what God wants of you also.”

“When I am in church, I can’t think of anything else but the missions. But when I am in my English Lit class I love exploring the different forms of writing. It’s all so confusing. Why can’t God send me a text or something?” Lauren shook her head.

Sister Mary Alice laughed, “Oh my dear, it’s not that simple. God calls us to ministry in quiet, subtle ways.”

Order Now!

<< Go Back