The Strawberry Chapter 17

The Strawberry Chapter 17

Door Seeds

By Katherine Aguilar

The beginnings of this story start with me mentioning that attending a private school. Please do not set the mindset that we had money. We were as poor as dirt.

It was just pure God's help and determination by my mother.

The school was small and orderly. The nuns were from the Order of the Holy Spirit. The nuns lived on the property. They ran the school like a little fortress. The Principals were strict. They wanted order. There was one principal whom even the parents didn’t want to go into the office. Because when they came out. You would've thought they had just gotten pattled. They were good nuns. They wanted the best from the students. The parents in the era were involved with everything that went on in the school. How times have changed.

Structure

Some additional good soil was being thrown on me during my elementary years. What a strong ex-military family. The monarch of the family meant business. When she talked. You listened. She meant what she said and did what she meant. She and her husband were strong and loving. She loved her family, and some of that love spilled over to my family and me. To be focused, driven, and tolerant. They were not Marines, but the Monarch pretty much could have been. With how she made sure we followed rules and directions. Her family was huge. They squeezed us in. We felt included with her grandchildren because we got to drink carrot juice. Plus, she did a lot for my siblings and me. A very good woman and family. May they rest in peace. I will always be grateful to that family.

Nun

The Nun during my college years was a one of my best friends. She added a new perspective on how the nuns live in the religious order. She said at times it could be very lonely. For they were often misunderstood by society. Because all the time, people thought she was going to start correcting them. So to ease people tensions. She would hand out give Werthiers candies after church. Even to the adults. The parishors seemed to expect them. Just as much as the children did. Sister Elizabeth was mischievous. She was a retired nun in her late seventies. She went into the Dominican Order right after she graduated High School. She knew early on she wanted to be a nun. Her sister also became a nun also. I told her sister she couldn't be mischevious. That she was a Nun! I would go and visiter her with she standard lunch a small personalize size pizza, two tacos and one can of Coke. We would sit and eat long and watch Days of Our lives. I would joke with Sister. Telling her she should be watching the Soap Opera because she was a nun. She laughed. We talked a lot.

Stealing

The only time I felt like I had stolen something was because of Sister. Yes! A Nun had me steal. I blamed her for going to confession. I had been moving into a new apartment after college graduation. I needed to get some household items. I was going on my visits with Sister Elizabeth. As I was parking to take lunch for us. She tells me. "Back in the car and open the trunk". I am asking her, " What for?" Since she was a sister, I didn't ask why. She told me to go to the Mother House and help move some items. I said, "Sure, no problem." They were kitchen items: a coffee pot, a plate. Basically, everything a kitchen needs. It was used. Still usable. She kept telling me. "You are walking too slowly! Speed it up!" I am like what's the hurry? No, lie as I am carrying the last of the items. " She yells!" GO! Sister never yelled. In the rear-view mirror. I see Mother Superior coming out. I yelled back at Sister. Elizabeth " Sister, I can't believe you actually did this me! I have to go to confession now!"

Mother Superior had given Sister a scolding.

On my next visit with her.

I gave her my own scolding. Sister Elizabeth had let me know those items had belonged to a Nun who had gone to the main Mother House and had been left for other nuns to get for their own use. So basically, I stole from a group of Nuns.

To explain the purpose behind writing this, I wanted to recognize people who had a huge impact on my life. In this chapter, I focus on Sister and that family because they deserved to be mentioned. They added good soil and items to my trinket box.

Hmm.. The stolen soil. I didn't keep.

These are door seeds. Doors were open. When others had been shut.

My trinket box is getting full. I'm throwing seeds your way. For you to take it as a seed. Or as soil for a seed you are throwing. Or discard it altogether.