On Reflection....

The Teachers weren't very nice to me
In Primary

On Monday mornings the Teacher would ask

"Who never went to Mass yesterday?"

And like a Lamb

I'd raise my arm up

She would signal to me....

I'd get up and go to the front of the class

At first there were others with me

Eventually....

It was just me

On my own


I'd have to kneel down before the class

While we all prayed for my soul.


After a few weeks of this

Sundays began to involve a deep pitted sick feeling


On one occasion

I felt brazen

So when the Teacher asked

I kept my hand on my lap


She repeated the question several times

I sat rigidly

And swallowed hard.


The Teacher began to point to pupils and ask,

"Did YOU go to Mass yesterday?"

"Yes Miss!" they replied

Then she pointed at me


What choice did I have?

I thought rapidly....

Definitions of 'Church' and 'Mass' ran through my mind and I replied,

"Yes Miss"

So she said, "What time did you go?"

I thought quickly

"11 o'clock Mass Miss"

She asked the Class

"Who else went to 11 o'clock Mass?"

The boy who lived next door but two to me said, "I did Miss"

The Teacher asked him,

"Did you see Her there?"

Pointing at me...

He said, "No".