𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐘 | 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨

10: baby, there's a price to pay

Ah, yes, the weekly bible study that I've talked so much about.

I can't believe that some of the people attending this study are still here, especially Joseph. But at the same time, his mom has probably the best iron grip on a kid I've ever seen, so that's justified.

I don't want to be here either, but my mom was the leader of said bible study group, so I didn't have much of a choice.

"Alright, we'll have roll call first," Maman's voice echoes throughout the room, and I look around. We're all seated in a horseshoe position, bibles open in the stands in each of the desks. I've known most of these kids since kindergarten, and it's almost comical seeing them half-asleep in the same seats 10 years later.

"Has anyone seen Vergoux?" Maman asks, and I look around. Huh, that was weird. Joseph and Jean were both here, but Charles Vergoux seemed to be gone. They usually came in a 3-pack, and it's rare to see one of them without the other two.

Jean raises his hands, and Maman looks at him hopefully. "He's late, I don't think we should wait on him,"

A realization dawns on me, and I let out a silent 'oh' when I see Joseph and Jean look at each other and laugh. Boys being boys, I guess.

Maman just sighs and nods, opening her bible. "That's fine, we'll just start. Open your Bibles to Verse 1, Peter, Chapter 4," The collected sound of pages being flipped fills the room, and I read the passage that we were supposed to analyze as our homework from last time.

'Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.'

I like this passage, mostly because it was about loving. Maman lets her eyes go over the kids in the room, analyzing which one to choose. "Who can tell me what this passage could be hinting at?"

Some hands go up, but you could see the small group of people trying to hide because they obviously didn't do their homework. Unfortunately for them, Maman was an assassin at choosing the kids who didn't know the answers.

"Joseph?" The name booms, and it's like the class goes dead silent, all eyes on the one-eyed boy. He rambles softly under his breath, eyes speeding around as if someone in this bible study was going to put up a sign and tell him the answers.

"Uh..." He mutters, the chair behind him screeching against the wooden floorboards as he stands up. "It means that... Like, you can lie or do something bad and if you do something good afterwards, it's forgiven?"

Ooh. Wrong answer buddy.

"I'll be writing to your mother after this, Joseph," Maman says with a 'I'm not mad, just disappointed tone', shaking her head softly. "Can someone tell me why that's incorrect?"

Joseph sits back down with his head hung low, the sight reminding me of the incident that happened in school a few hours ago. It's not often you see Joseph Descamps embarrassed, and definitely not twice.

"Yes, Héloïse?" Maman says, and I look over to see a pretty girl with pretty black hair and a button nose. Héloïse Pichon, youngest of the Pichon siblings. She was a dear girl, and the last one of her siblings to be attending bible study. The older girls opted out when they turned 16, and Henri stopped last year.

"It's wrong because it contradicts what Peter and the other New Testament writers want to teach, and that's obviously that our sins are paid for by Christ's death on the cross, and forgiveness for sin comes only through trusting in Him." She says, all preppy and confident.

I let out a small sigh. God, why was she so good at bible study?

Maman lets out a pleased sound and claps, smiling widely. "Great job, Héloïse! Seems like some people here can learn from you," I look over to see Joseph rolling his eyes in a exasperated manner.

My eyes go back to Héloïse, and she smiles in her seat as if she's just won the Nobel prize. I would lie if I said that I wasn't slightly jealous of her. She was pretty, smart, and good at certain things. How could I not be?

"What this passage means to say," Maman starts, eyeing everyone in the room. "Is that our love for each other covers out imperfections. Us Christians are not sinless, and we are not perfect. We have set the course of our lives away from sin, but we still fail to obey sometimes. We make mistakes, even when we mean well,"

As stated, I liked this passage. Smart words, though I don't know if some of the people in this room have set the course of their lives away from sin. Specifically, Charles Vergoux stumbling into the middle of bible study with what seemed like a lipstick mark on his neck.

I couldn't help but giggle at the sight, and neither could half of the class. He looked dazed and out of breath at the same time, eyes wildly searching the class to figure out where his friends were.

"Charles Vergoux," Maman's voice boomed once again, and the class goes silent. "What is your reason for coming late to bible study?"

Joseph and Jean are both stifling their laughs, both looking in different directions so they don't accidentally make eye contact with Charles and burst out laughing. "Uhm, I was helping my mother with... groceries," Comes slowly out of Vergoux's mouth, and it was obvious he was making the lie up on the spot.

"Is that so?" Maman slowly says, eyes squinting as if she was trying to extract the truth out of him with just her stare. "Then explain the little spot on your neck please,"

Charles wipes at his neck, but misses the mark by a few centimeters. "Uh, that's just paint,"

At this point, I couldn't help the laugh leaving my lips, and I feel Maman's dangerous eyes on me. Yet, I couldn't stop laughing, and I look over to see Joseph and Jean finally bursting, laughing as well.

Maman huffs, and suddenly, I hear my own voice boom from my mother's lips. "Madeline Moreau, Joseph Descamps and Jean Dupin, what is so funny about this situation?!"

I stop, clearing my throat as I try to put on a serious face. I do not want to get in trouble now, and definitely not with those 3 idiots.

"I apologize, it's just--" I look back at Charles, and another small giggle leaves my lips at the sight of the smudged rouge he's desperately trying to wipe off. Maman gives me a look of disappointment, and I straighten up again.

"You three, and Charles, go and stand in the hallway." Maman orders, and I look up at her with a look that said 'Really?' only to get a look that screamed 'Do it or you'll get whooped'.

Begrudgingly, I get up and haul myself to the hallway, where Joseph, Charles and Jean are also standing. It's going to be a long, long afternoon...

- 1K!?!?!?! AND I STARTED THIS A WEEK AGO 🥹🥹🥹ILY YOU GUYS AND ALL THE COMMENTS I GET

- Next chapter will have some of you giggling and kicking your legs, I know that I am 😌😌