Warrior Nun: Margo

"Confirmation: Ephesians 4:22-24"

Two years later...

Margo rolled over to the other side of her twin-size bed to silence her blaring alarm. She was convinced that waking up thirty minutes early to her alarm was a far better sound than the 15-minute bellowing of church bells that would jolt her out of her sleep signifying the beginning of morning prayer. She sat up and peeled back her covers and slipped out of bed. Her roommates were still sound asleep. She grabbed her shower caddy and tip-toed to the door and made her way down the corridors to the common area; if sister Francis knew she was out roaming the halls at this hour she would have a few choice words about her following innate instructions even about lavatory use. However, Margo felt it worth the risk because this was the only alone time she would be granted during her day; the nuns ran a tight schedule.

Margo's toes flinched as she touched the chilled ceramic floor and turned the old metallic dial of the shower. As the steam filled the room and the warm drops of water washed over her, her mind faded into dullness replaying the events that occurred two years prior. Her mother was gone and as soon as she landed in Spain, her father gave her up to the church. He said it was for her benefit because she was lost and with instruction through the church, she would find herself in God. Margo closed her eyes allowing the water to rinse over her face and the heat soak into her skin. She tried to drown out the idea of being abandoned; she couldn't understand why she felt so hurt by it, they didn't know each other.

Knock! Knock!

"Margo, it's us!" a gentle whisper said on the other side of the door.

"Us who?" Margo whispered back.

"Marla, Simone, and Paige. We wanted to wish you a happy birthday!"

Margo turned off the steaming shower abruptly causing the old pipes to moan and rattle. She inhaled deeply and wrapped herself in her towel. Her roommates, who dubbed as her classmates, had no sense of privacy. She swung open the shower door to see her disheveled roommates anxiously standing across from her.

"You do know it's not my birthday right," Margo replied slightly raising her brow.

"Oh, we know," Paige said with a smile, "but it's been exactly two years since you came to St. Joseph's, so in a way it's kind of like your birthday."

"Yea, so we wanted to get you something," Marla chimed in.

"Here," Simone said pulling a small box from behind her back handing it to her, "We all pitched in."

Margo opened the small box that encased a small charm. She didn't know what to think. She had tried not to get too close to anyone since arriving at St. Joseph's, especially her roommates. They were always prying for information and trying to include her in stuff. Eventually she realized that they wouldn't give up and their efforts were harmless; they had formed a unique bond, they were sisters.

"It's Michael, the Archangel. Like the one you used to wear around your neck," Simone continued, "we know it's not exactly the same but..."

Margo's eyes welded with tears. The nuns had stripped her of all her jewelry when she came to St. Joseph's, it was forbidden to wear such gaudy things in the church and served as a distraction. That first night, Paige had found Margo on her bunk alone sobbing. Paige immediately gathered the girls together to console Margo. She had explained to them that it was the last birthday present that she received when things in her life were normal, the one happy memory she had of her childhood; before her father left and before her mother turned into an addict.

"Thank you," Margo replied in a low trembling voice, "I really appreciate this," she continued holding the charm close to her heart.

"Well put it away quickly," Marla chuckled, "We can't afford another one if the sisters take that away."

"Yea, especially sister Francis. She has it out for you or something," Paige remarked.

"I will," Margo said wiping the tears away that were streaming down her face, "I didn't even know any of you were awake."

"Oh please," Marla laughed, "You're not exactly quiet when you get up in the morning."

"Sorry, I try to be," she said sniffling trying to force a smile.

"Well, we just wanted to give you this before your day started.... before Father Maurice takes you for your confirmation ceremony."

"What?" Margo said staring blankly at them.

"Shh Simone," Paige said nudging her.

"Ouch what?" Simone said rubbing her side, "I thought she knew."

"Confirmation? Today?"

"Yes," Marla exclaimed, "Normally your confirmed at fourteen but you didn't grow up catholic. That's why they put you in this two-year program to get you confirmed as soon as possible."

"She's still too old," Simone mumbled.

Marla glared at Simone. Her cold stare was enough to settle Simone's blunt attitude towards Margo's belated ceremony. All the young girls that attended St. Joseph's were confirmed together and had grown up in the same boarding schools. It was unusual for a girl to be accepted into such a restricted school after a certain age, but given the circumstances, Margo was an exception. They all understood but sometimes Simone's personal feelings would get in the way; she was a little jealous of the attention that Margo received even if it was negative attention.

"So... how do these things usually go?" Margo asked nervously.

"Well," Paige cleared her throat, "You'll kneel before the bishop while he anoints you and then he'll state your name and seal it with a prayer."

"That's it?"

"Well the gist of it," Paige said, "that reminds me, are you keeping your name?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well you either get to keep your birth name or choose a saints name to go by."

"Oh," she said with a puzzled look, "I think I'll keep my name. I'm named after my grandmother...my father's mother."

"Speaking of your father," Simone interrupted, "I think it's best that you know, that he'll be there."

"What? Why?"

"He's your sponsor. Usually it's like your godparent or something but he's your only living family member."

"Oh," Margo replied softly.

"What's wrong?" Marla asked in a concerned tone.

"Nothing," Margo replied, "I just wasn't expecting to see him."

"Well you'll only have to see him for the ceremony and that's it," Marla said draping her arm around her, "It will be over before you know it."

DONG! DONG!

"I guess that's our cue," Marla said hearing the church bells, "we better get dressed."