181 Days of Madeline Jesty

Chapter 60: Madwoman

Bewildered, Iola and I stared at Mickey standing in front. We were supposed to bow in prayer, but I was confused as to why she was here when she had auditioned for three sports clubs. I was sure at least one, if not all, wanted her to be a part of their team, so why would she waste such a talent and join a club tasked to check if the trash in bins was segregated properly?

"Thank you," Sister Carla said, smiling at Mickey. "Find a seat."

Mickey thanked our club adviser and, without hesitation, sat on the vacant seat beside me. I was now sitting in the middle of her and Iola.

"Why are you here?" Iola straightforwardly asked in a whisper, though by the looks of the other club members, they heard Iola clearly.

"Can't I be here? We're not required to choose the clubs we tried, right?"

"You can. But you sure you'll enjoy this if you really don't want to be here?"

"Who says so?" Mickey glanced at me. "Everything I needed is here."

Upon hearing what Mickey replied, the other club members giggled. Sister Carla noticed the slight commotion but paid no mind.

"Are all of you still lesbians?"

We laughed. I looked at Mickey. If I could only take a photo of how surprised she was. Was that how I looked? I pondered, remembering the day I first met this quirky nun.

"For the benefit of the newcomer," she said, pertaining to Mickey, "Call me Sister Carla, and I have been an adviser of this club since the pioneer members petitioned for a nature club and wished to be separated from the Science Club. I am teaching Christian Living Education to grade school students, so you won't meet me in your classes, fortunately."

Suppressed laughter filled the room before she continued introducing herself as she looked around. "Again and again and again, this is a safe space. But a safe space does not mean that you will turn this club into a girl-kissing club. Please. We are the Green Thumbs Club, not Do Something with Your Thumb Club. This is still a school, all right?"

All of us giggled. Mickey joined too. She looked at me, confused why a nun was in front of us—an old one, for that matter—who approved of girls liking girls inside the campus.

"Your handbook states that 'homosexual activities' are banned in school and are grounds for expulsion, but nowhere does it state that you are not allowed to like or love a person of the same sex. No matter who you like, you are welcomed here. But we will respect the rules. Understood?"

"Yes, Sister Carla," we said in unison.

"Now, introduce yourself to us and why you joined this club. Let's start from our newest member."

Our eyes turned to Mickey. She stood as if she already knew she had to introduce next. "Call me Mickey. Uh, I'm a senior, about to graduate as these two," she said, pointing at Iola and me. "I loved the clubs I tried, I swear. Sports were my thing. But . . . I'm new. I-I mean, a new student. I just transferred."

Her statement garnered murmurs from other members. Mickey scratched the back of her head before continuing. "You may ask me why I transferred here with one year left." She sighed. "I don't want to miss opportunities. I don't like regretting my decisions later. I trust my gut and just go for what feels best. That's the same reason I am here."

"For an opportunity you do not want to miss?" Sister Carla clarified. When Mickey nodded, the nun said, "And what's that?"

"To have fun in this school with the person I cared about the most."

Sister Carla nodded while the others seemed thrilled about a brewing love triangle. I rolled my eyes and tugged Mickey's skirt, trying to get her to sit down, but she ignored me and continued talking. I wasn't able to hear her; my focus shifted to Iola when I heard her softly say, "She's crazy about you."