front porch tales 9

                                                    ~   ~  ~

Later that evening, Victoria was busy brushing out her long red curls and Alice was lounging on her own, beloved bed. Never exchanging polite conversation, not even looking at one another; but when someone knocked on the door the answered in unison. “Come in.” Each was shocked by the other’s voice but they both chose to ignore the annoying intrusion of the other. “How are both of you this evening?” Marie said cheerily. Victoria smiled in return but Alice only grunted and turned her face toward the wall. Marie envied the grit her friend displayed in the face of such opposition. If it were her living in this room, she just knew that she would die. Rumor had it that no one had ever survived the first week in the same room as Alice but Victoria had made it through an entire month!

It was for this reason that Marie decided to extend her invitation to both girls. She sat down on the edge of Victoria’s bed. “As you both know, tomorrow is Sunday and I wanted to invite you ‘both’ to come to church with me.” Victoria looked puzzled and Marie decided to explain. “I know that the girls are required to attend mass but that is only if you have no other church organization to attend.”

This statement seemed to interest Alice because she made a slight move which made the floor boards beneath her bed squeak in protest.

“Is that why I never see you at mass?” Victoria asked and then smirked toward Alice. “That must be Alice’s reason as well.” The words hung in the air with a thickness that hinted at the exaggeration to such a statement. Alice would walk with the rest of the girls but would stop just before reaching the church corner. Out of curiosity one day, Victoria had followed her and could not believe it when she saw her roommate walk into a saloon. Victoria had to hurry back to the church before someone discovered her but she felt the need to inform someone. Talking directly to Alice would only make life more unbearable and it could even land her flat on her back.

Marie recognized the awkwardness of the moment and decided to return to her purpose. “We would have to leave a half hour earlier because the walk is a bit longer and services begin sooner.”