Category: Drama Publisher: Independently published
Type: Fiction
Pages: 152
Copyright: February 27, 2023
ISBN-13: 9798379132804
Price: $5.99 (eBook)
A story about religious freedom. A story for most families.
A STORY ABOUT FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Barbara, Audrey, and, Charlotte, are three sisters in their 60s. Audrey and Charlotte are tired of the dogma in the Catholic church. Barbara has a cult mind and doubts about leaving the church. She wants “god inside of her” when she is in the church. Her sisters pray and know right from wrong and no longer want to be inside the church. They now believe in religious freedom. How one person can break apart a family unit is unbelievable. Sisters who always stuck together in their younger years become distant from Barbara. They find out how domineering she can get when they tell her no.
Excerpt
When church services were over Barbara and Charlotte hurried behind Audrey. Barbara sat in the front seat and Charlotte took the back seat again. They both saw she wasn’t herself. She was fussy at times, but not like this. This was overboard for her. They looked at each other and Barbara signaled to Charlotte to not say anything.
“I made it out of the parking lot with no one seeing me. Good. Amen. I didn’t want to say hello to any of them right now.” She took off her hat and placed it on the front seat of the car. “Okay, anyone wants coffee and doughnuts at The New Café near our street? It seems like a nice place. They just opened. There’s a ramp for people who can’t climb the steps. My artist friends say the food is good.”
They both agreed to go to the donut shop and didn’t speak a word.
“It’s not far from here. Take your hats off. Why didn’t any of you take them off yet?”
Barbara said. “Oh, we just forgot.”
Charlotte echoed the same words. Silence. There was complete silence in the car. Not even one Kumbaya from Charotte.
“Hello? Is everyone still inside the car? I sure hope no one opened the door and fell out.” Audrey had changed the tone of her voice. She was back to her old self again. She was even smiling.
Charlotte looked at Barbara in the front seat not knowing what to say. She was the oldest and was usually the one who spoke first, so she spoke up.
“Audrey, what’s wrong with you? Ever since you stopped to pick up Charlotte for church you’ve been in a pesky mood. I noticed that when you picked me up too. Spit it out. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong with me. I just didn’t want to be late. That’s all. Did you see that the congregation turned around to judge us by what we were wearing and how our hair was fixed? I told you that would happen. It’s been like that for 40 years and I don’t like that. When I’m late, that always happens.”
“I didn’t see that. Did you see that, Charlotte?” Barbara turned around to ask the youngest sibling.
“Well, now that you ask, no I didn’t see that. My thing is that I don’t like wearing these damn hats. I must have at least 15 hat boxes in my closet.”
“Well, I noticed,” answered Audrey as she pulled in at The New Café. “Let’s get a window seat where we can relax and enjoy some small chatting,” she smiled.
They asked for a window seat and were led to their table. The waitress took their order of one donut and a full cup of coffee with cream. No sugar.
“When I take my hat off, I have to fluff up my hair. Those hats do that to all of our hair,” said Charlotte. “I learned that in beauty college. When you put a hat on your head it flattens your hair. So always fluff it up after.”
“That’s a good thing to know, Charlotte. What else did you learn in beauty college that we need to know?”
“Audrey, that was a sarcastic remark that was uncalled for. Shame on you! I know something’s bothering you more than me being late. You were yelling for me to hurry in front of my house. That was embarrassing, Audrey. Tell us what’s wrong.”
Audrey squirmed in her chair. “I just don’t like being late. You know that.”
Barbara saw the look on her face.
“You’re lying, Audrey. Nothing gets by me, and even Charlotte noticed, now tell us what’s wrong or…”
“Okay! I don’t like going to church anymore and I feel such guilt inside of me for feeling this way. There… I’ve said it.” She wanted to cry. “I have enough.”
“What?”
Barbara and Charlotte were speechless. For forty years they attended church together every Sunday only missing mass when they were sick. It was a shock to hear her say that but Audrey saw their “what in the hell” look.
“You both heard me. I’m not going to raise my voice in this café. Let’s eat our breakfast and head home. We’ll talk about it there. I’m sure our husbands have the dinner ready for the grill, don’t you think?” Audrey forced a smile as she sipped her coffee. “Did you ever notice how some people say… breakfast, lunch, and dinner? But we say breakfast, dinner, and supper?”
“Yes, I noticed that, “ answered Charlotte. “I think it’s just a Southern thing. Supper time was always at night.”
Confused at what Audrey said about the church, Barbara began talking about the barbeque that they were going to have and how they loved her potato salad. Small talk as she watched Audrey eat. She didn’t like what Audrey said, but she kept quiet about it.
Charlotte didn’t seem to be confused at all, but she was the free spirit who went along with what anyone wanted in their life. Audrey was a bit stunned that she said what she said and never entered the conversation.
Thank you, Glenda A Bixler ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A review from a professional reviewer. The latest family drama by Author Mary Lynn Plaisance takes us into Major issues affecting all of our lives...
—Mary Lynn Plaisance has taken a touchy, prevalent subject that has been hidden and supported by covering up the offense for decades. I remember one of my uncles, a Baptist minister, would visit and bring small pamphlets talking about the sexual abuse within the catholic church. And, now, this same offense has been discovered within the Baptist convention as well...
I believe strongly that if we do not continue to expose the problem... I don't know, even as I write this, I cannot think that things will immediately, or ever, change. However, we must continue to try. Issues covered in this drama are sexual abuse by religious leaders, family interpersonal relationships, assault victims and their lives, mindless following (cult), suicide, and drug use.
Plaisance, with her own brand of writing, does an exceptional drama in exposing, discussing, and recognizing that some, unfortunately, can never accept that the lies they had been told by clergy were, indeed lies. Her ending spotlights, in my opinion, just how some Americans have entered into a cult where lies, hatred, prejudice, and violence are part of the web of deceit that is woven by those who are powerful in our daily lives and who take advantage of that power to subjugate and control.
Charlotte and Audrey arrived at Barbara’s house a little after 10:30. Barbara was still in a pissy mood.
“Finally, both of you got back. The men were holding off on grilling the prime rib until you returned. I’ll tell them you’re back. Stay right there at my counter.”
“We looked all over for that damn punch bowl… even in the garage. It’s nowhere to be found. Did we ever let you use it?” Charlotte said jokingly to change her mood.
“No, I never did care for punch.” Barbara kept adding pineapples and fruits to her ambrosia salad. All that was left on her countertop was the shredded coconut.
“Audrey, doesn’t that look like my punch bowl?” She winked at Audrey to go along with her to maybe cheer up Barbara.
“It sort of does. Yes.” Audrey smiled.
“This isn’t a punch bowl, Charlotte. Look at it. It’s my ambrosia salad bowl. I always used this bowl to make my special ambrosia salad. Look at it well. It’s my tall-stem ambrosia crystal bowl. You would know that if you and Audrey watched more of that Julia Child cooking show.”
Charlotte had had enough of Barbara’s attitude.
“What’s wrong with you? Is it only that you didn’t want us in your living room watching a cooking show? Only that got you upset?”
“No. Well, maybe yes.”
“Well, tell us what’s wrong. You can talk to us.”
Barbara kept stirring her ambrosia faster. The spoon was hitting the sides of the bowl to the point that they thought the bowl would crack.
“If you keep stirring that salad like that, you might chip your crystal bowl. I’m not eating that if they have glass in it. Calm down, and talk to us.” Audrey was pleading with Barbara to calm down.
She threw her spoon on her countertop.
“Okay… I’ll say what’s on my mind. Both of you were here early. Earlier than usual while I was at church. I thought that you didn’t like getting up early to go to church on Sunday… a holy day of obligation. What are the both of you going to do for Christmas or Easter… for Lent? There won’t be any more traditions that you’ll follow. My God, that’s sacrilegious. Wait right here, I need to show you something I found. I’ll be right back.”
“Barbara, we said we don’t want to go to church at all. We’ll still celebrate the holidays.” She kept walking out of the kitchen to get something to show them. “She didn’t hear a damn thing I said.” Charlotte was annoyed.
“Oh my God,” Audrey became nervous. “Are we going to fuss again? I don’t like this at all.”
“I’m not going to fuss, Audrey. She started her shit again, and this time I’m going to finish it. She got upset with you, first. Do you still feel the same about church?”
“I don’t want to go back to church. Weddings and funerals, you know, stuff like that we’re invited to, I’ll be there, but… no I don’t want to go back every Sunday.”
Barbara came back into the kitchen with a small book. It was their communion book along with a few photos she tossed on the countertop.
“Remember this book?”
Both of them said no.
She tossed a few photos at them. “Remember these photos? That book was our first communion book, and Mama took a few photos of us in church. Doesn’t that still mean anything to you? We are Catholics. Christians who followed all of the rules of the church. Remember?”
Audrey and Charlotte looked at the photos.
“I remember this church,” said Audrey. “Wow, look at all of the people that used to go to church. It’s not full like that anymore. I think they all got tired of hearing the same thing all the time, same as me and Charlotte.”
“These three girls are us,” Barbara kept tapping the photo with her index finger. “What happened to the two of you? This was sacred to us and our family. And Audrey, dear… people stopped going to church because of all of these nasty pedophile rumors. It’s just not true!”
Charlotte was angrier but was trying to stay calm.
“Barbara, I remember being there because I see these photos. If there was no photo, I would have no memory of this. If this is still sacred to you, good. I don’t remember. Get it? Audrey, do you remember this day?”
Shaking, she answered, “Frankly, I don’t remember this day. I only remember the church.”
Barbara was at her boiling point. “Oh, my God. Both of you are not religious at all, are you? You both need to have God inside of you.”
“We said that three weeks ago, Barbara. What part of “we don’t want to go to church anymore” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? We don’t like the dogma of any churches… and they keep taking money from people who think they can buy their way into Heaven. It doesn’t work that way. Plus, I have God inside of me. I can pray and love God in my own home. I don’t need any priest or preacher to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong. Our parents taught us that at home. And right now, if you don’t know you’re wrong, you’re in a cult for speaking to me and Audrey like this. We’ve been through this already.”
Barbara took her ambrosia bowl and flipped it over on the counter. Then, she took the small communion book and threw it at Charlotte. It hit her shoulder.
“Stop this, Barbara! What the hell is wrong with you? You were fine for lunch this week. Are you going through menopause or something because you should be over that shit by now? Barbara, I swear if you don’t…”
“You’re a sick ass, Charlotte… the same as Audrey. That’s what’s wrong. Both of you are SICK… sicker than I ever thought!”
“WHAT? I’m a sick ass!” Audrey said loudly. “Where in the hell did you come up with that word? I never heard that before coming out of anyone’s mouth.”
Audrey was shocked, and Charlotte was furious. She took one bag of the opened shredded coconut and threw it at Barbara leaving the countertop looking like snow had fallen all over it. At that moment, Audrey took the other opened bag and threw it in her face. Barbara was stunned that they would confront her the same way she did to them. She had shredded coconut all over her hair.
“Let me tell you this one more time, Barbara.” Charlotte was on a roll with her anger at her sister. “Audrey and I told you to do what you want to do with your life and we’ll do what we want with ours. Leave us out of your church life. Don’t ever bring that up again or….”
“Or you’ll do what, Charlotte? I’m the oldest and both of you are breaking a promise to Mama we made on her dying bed. Both of you are as sick as they come.”
“Barbara, Mama’s been dead for fifteen years! We kept that promise long enough. Yeah, you’re the oldest sister and right now you’re totally out of control. You’re stubborn as a mule. And for a science teacher who is about to retire as the principal of a school… you don’t have ANY common sense. You’re one big pain in the ass!”
Barbara lunged over her kitchen counter and grabbed Charlotte’s throat, and Charlotte pulled her hair so hard that some of it ended in her hands. Both were still over the counter edging their way around to get into a fighting match with Barbara saying, “I’ll hurt you bad”, and Charlotte said, “You can’t hurt me anymore you bitch!”
Stunned and in panic mode, Audrey ran out the back door to get the guys. She was freaking out.
“Hurry, come inside! Barbara and Charlotte are fighting. I don’t know what to do. Help them stop.”
Entering the kitchen Mat and John pulled them apart and told them in a stern voice to sit down at the kitchen table and shut up.
A poignant story about letting go of a narcissist in your life. Have you ever been attacked FULL force by a narcissist? It's the closest thing to being stabbed over and over in the back.
Charlotte and Audrey arrived at Barbara’s house a little after 10:30. Barbara was still in a pissy mood.
“Finally, both of you got back. The men were holding off on grilling the prime rib until you returned. I’ll tell them you’re back. Stay right there at my counter.”
“We looked all over for that damn punch bowl… even in the garage. It’s nowhere to be found. Did we ever let you use it?” Charlotte said jokingly to change her mood.
“No, I never did care for punch.” Barbara kept adding pineapples and fruits to her ambrosia salad. All that was left on her countertop was the shredded coconut.
“Audrey, doesn’t that look like my punch bowl?” She winked at Audrey to go along with her to maybe cheer up Barbara.
“It sort of does. Yes.” Audrey smiled.
“This isn’t a punch bowl, Charlotte. Look at it. It’s my ambrosia salad bowl. I always used this bowl to make my special ambrosia salad. Look at it well. It’s my tall-stem ambrosia crystal bowl. You would know that if you and Audrey watched more of that Julia Child cooking show.”
Charlotte had had enough of Barbara’s attitude.
“What’s wrong with you? Is it only that you didn’t want us in your living room watching a cooking show? Only that got you upset?”
“No. Well, maybe yes.”
“Well, tell us what’s wrong. You can talk to us.”
Barbara kept stirring her ambrosia faster. The spoon was hitting the sides of the bowl to the point that they thought the bowl would crack.
“If you keep stirring that salad like that, you might chip your crystal bowl. I’m not eating that if they have glass in it. Calm down, and talk to us.” Audrey was pleading with Barbara to calm down.
She threw her spoon on her countertop.
“Okay… I’ll say what’s on my mind. Both of you were here early. Earlier than usual while I was at church. I thought that you didn’t like getting up early to go to church on Sunday… a holy day of obligation. What are the both of you going to do for Christmas or Easter… for Lent? There won’t be any more traditions that you’ll follow. My God, that’s sacrilegious. Wait right here, I need to show you something I found. I’ll be right back.”
“Barbara, we said we don’t want to go to church at all. We’ll still celebrate the holidays.” She kept walking out of the kitchen to get something to show them. “She didn’t hear a damn thing I said.” Charlotte was annoyed.
“Oh my God,” Audrey became nervous. “Are we going to fuss again? I don’t like this at all.”
“I’m not going to fuss, Audrey. She started her shit again, and this time I’m going to finish it. She got upset with you, first. Do you still feel the same about church?”
“I don’t want to go back to church. Weddings and funerals, you know, stuff like that we’re invited to, I’ll be there, but… no I don’t want to go back every Sunday.”
Barbara came back into the kitchen with a small book. It was their communion book along with a few photos she tossed on the countertop.
“Remember this book?”
Both of them said no.
She tossed a few photos at them. “Remember these photos? That book was our first communion book, and Mama took a few photos of us in church. Doesn’t that still mean anything to you? We are Catholics. Christians who followed all of the rules of the church. Remember?”
Audrey and Charlotte looked at the photos.
“I remember this church,” said Audrey. “Wow, look at all of the people that used to go to church. It’s not full like that anymore. I think they all got tired of hearing the same thing all the time, same as me and Charlotte.”
“These three girls are us,” Barbara kept tapping the photo with her index finger. “What happened to the two of you? This was sacred to us and our family. And Audrey, dear… people stopped going to church because of all of these nasty pedophile rumors. It’s just not true!”
Charlotte was angrier but was trying to stay calm.
“Barbara, I remember being there because I see these photos. If there was no photo, I would have no memory of this. If this is still sacred to you, good. I don’t remember. Get it? Audrey, do you remember this day?”
Shaking, she answered, “Frankly, I don’t remember this day. I only remember the church.”
Barbara was at her boiling point. “Oh, my God. Both of you are not religious at all, are you? You both need to have God inside of you.”
“We said that three weeks ago, Barbara. What part of “we don’t want to go to church anymore” DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? We don’t like the dogma of any churches… and they keep taking money from people who think they can buy their way into Heaven. It doesn’t work that way. Plus, I have God inside of me. I can pray and love God in my own home. I don’t need any priest or preacher to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong. Our parents taught us that at home. And right now, if you don’t know you’re wrong, you’re in a cult for speaking to me and Audrey like this. We’ve been through this already.”
Barbara took her ambrosia bowl and flipped it over on the counter. Then, she took the small communion book and threw it at Charlotte. It hit her shoulder.
“Stop this, Barbara! What the hell is wrong with you? You were fine for lunch this week. Are you going through menopause or something because you should be over that shit by now? Barbara, I swear if you don’t…”
“You’re a sick ass, Charlotte… the same as Audrey. That’s what’s wrong. Both of you are SICK… sicker than I ever thought!”
“WHAT? I’m a sick ass!” Audrey said loudly. “Where in the hell did you come up with that word? I never heard that before coming out of anyone’s mouth.”
Audrey was shocked, and Charlotte was furious. She took one bag of the opened shredded coconut and threw it at Barbara leaving the countertop looking like snow had fallen all over it. At that moment, Audrey took the other opened bag and threw it in her face. Barbara was stunned that they would confront her the same way she did to them. She had shredded coconut all over her hair.
“Let me tell you this one more time, Barbara.” Charlotte was on a roll with her anger at her sister. “Audrey and I told you to do what you want to do with your life and we’ll do what we want with ours. Leave us out of your church life. Don’t ever bring that up again or….”
“Or you’ll do what, Charlotte? I’m the oldest and both of you are breaking a promise to Mama we made on her dying bed. Both of you are as sick as they come.”
“Barbara, Mama’s been dead for fifteen years! We kept that promise long enough. Yeah, you’re the oldest sister and right now you’re totally out of control. You’re stubborn as a mule. And for a science teacher who is about to retire as the principal of a school… you don’t have ANY common sense. You’re one big pain in the ass!”
Barbara lunged over her kitchen counter and grabbed Charlotte’s throat, and Charlotte pulled her hair so hard that some of it ended in her hands. Both were still over the counter edging their way around to get into a fighting match with Barbara saying, “I’ll hurt you bad”, and Charlotte said, “You can’t hurt me anymore you bitch!”
Stunned and in panic mode, Audrey ran out the back door to get the guys. She was freaking out.
“Hurry, come inside! Barbara and Charlotte are fighting. I don’t know what to do. Help them stop.”
Entering the kitchen Mat and John pulled them apart and told them in a stern voice to sit down at the kitchen table and shut up.
Mat led the conversation.