Chapter 1: Confession box is backed up because of all the guys who couldn't handle it
You'd think that being forced to move across the country and leave everything I grew up with would upset me. Most would assume that I'd throw a fit for being accused for something that I had no part in. But in both cases I was fine. I was questioned a lot about why I gave in so easily. Why I had told my family yes so quick there was no room for questioning. Many questions were That I would willingly move from the sunny state of California to Maine. Most kids my age would cry if they were sent to St. Anthony's School for Troubled Teens.
Why?
When you think of 'troubled teens' what comes to mind? Teenagers that go out and party or ditch school.
No. You didn't get sent to St. Anthony's if you were just a troubled teen. You were sent there if you were a problematic child that reeked havoc and were a menace to society. It was a school where rich Catholic parents sent their kids from ages 14 - 18 so they wouldn't be put into a juvenile home or prison.
I looked up the website on my laptop and the homepage made me want to barf.
Welcome to the homepage of St. Anthony church and school for Troubled Teens (who are in need of a closer relationship to God)
St. Anthony's Parish in Augusto is a community of loving parishioners that come together to proclaim God's Word in Holy Scripture part taking in the Liturgy and Eucharist. We strive to better the teens of today, so they can become part of the community of faith we have here.
//☯/☯//
The cab ride from the airport to the school/dorms was about an hour and a half. It gave me a lot of time to think. When my family had dropped me off the only people that came to say goodbye was my younger brother and sister, Natt who was 13 and Olivia who was 9; they came with Aunt Deb.
"Tatum I'm going to miss you so much." Olivia cried wrapping her tiny arms around me. All I did was rub her back and sigh.
I had to go. I needed this.
Natt and I were very close, and even though moving to live in Maine was something necessary for me, it still sucked because I was leaving them. We were one another's rock, partners in crime. We practically did everything together and had no secrets, even though there was a slight age difference between us.
Just one look at Natt and a tear had escaped my eye. His face was red with anger. He knew there was no legitimate reason for me to leave since I was innocent. He knew and it upset him because he didn't want me to go.
"Can I please have a hug?" I asked him, while trying to keep it together.
Don't cry. I kept chanting to myself. After sighing he quickly came up and wrapped his arms around me squeezing, then just walked away with Olivia silently.
I need this. I want this. I told myself as a reminder to not let Natt get to me.
"You know, as much as it kills me to let you go miles away from us I truly believe this is a good thing." My aunt spoke breaking me from my thoughts. "I'm sure God has a plan for you. Even though you started to act like Marcus a bit and it frea-"
"Good-bye." I screeched kissing her cheek and leaving before she could continue to compare me to him.
//☯/☯//
Pulling up to the school started to make my heart rate increase. I was here; my new home.
Waiting for me in the front of the school was a nun and a priest.
