Author's Note: Thanks to all my lovely reviewers! You've all been wonderful. I'm still finding time to write and edit around my work on my thesis, but I can't guarantee that will continue. Here's hoping, eh?
Growing Up Chase
By Rebel Yell
Part Fifteen (Age 17)
"Please, come in, Robert." He nodded silently and stepped into Monsignor's office.
" Have a seat, child." Rob said nothing, but took the seat and waited to be told why he had been called in to see the Monsignor. He couldn't think of any rules he'd broken recently. Well…not particularly recently, and he'd already been punished for those.
" Is something bothering you, Robert?"
" No, Monsignor. Why do you ask?"
" Father Kopczick handed me this earlier today. Would you care to explain?" Robert carefully took what was clearly an exam -- his history exam, considering all evidence -- and winced at the mark at the top of the first page.
" Clearly I didn't study sufficiently, sir."
" Robert, you could have slept through the course and done better on one of Father Kopczick's exams than that. Your marks are normally among the top in your year. According to Father Kopczick, you've done extremely well on your previous work for his course. I've spoken to your other instructors today -- Robert, they've all noticed a change in your work over the last two weeks."
" I've just been distracted. You know how I can get."
" You've not left this campus in a fortnight, and there's only so much distraction even you can find in a seminary, Robert. Although I admit, you are occasionally creative in finding distractions for yourself and your fellow students. In fact, you've been remarkably well behaved since you were sent on retreat. I thought at first some of the prayer and reflection had worked another of God's wonders, but clearly something is bothering you. You're quieter, your teachers say you're withdrawn in class, your work is suffering. I'm concerned about the trend, Robert."
" I'm fine. I'll work harder. Nothing is bothering me."
" You are rather bad at telling mistruth, Robert. Has anyone told you that before?"
" Yes. Apparently no one appreciates the virtue of being unable to lie convincingly."
" I would appreciate it more and it might seem more virtuous, if you did not attempt to lie, rather than simply being unable to carry it off. Robert, we're concerned. If you wish to continue your education beyond this college, you can not allow your work to drop off to this degree. And if something is bothering you, I'd like to know. Perhaps we can help."
" I know, Monsignor. I'll sort it, honestly. It's nothing you can help with."
" I thought you were fine -- which would imply there was nothing to sort."
" I'll be less distracted, is all I meant."
" I'm happy to hear you'll be paying more mind to your academics, Robert, but that is not my sole area of concern. If I were to speak to Colin, I think he might have some very interesting things to report, don't you?"
" I'll do better, Monsignor. It's really nothing. And isn't it rather sneaky for a priest to be using my roommate as a spy?"
" I'll be checking with your instructors regularly for awhile, Robert. I truly hope to see a swift improvement on your work. You are far too intelligent to be receiving such low marks. As for the rest, I shall be just that sneaky if I feel the situation warrants it. Colin is virtuous enough to not attempt to lie."
" I knew you had me room with him for a reason." Rob was smiling though, he was genuinely fond of his roommate. Colin was one of the sweetest, most genuinely virtuous people he'd ever met. Which was bloody annoying sometimes, when he seemed so perfect you just wanted to slap him. Then Rob would remember that Colin had faults too, the most obnoxious being that he never put his clothes away and left his papers all over the room in no discernable order or system.
" If you're certain you don't wish to talk, you may go, Robert. Oh, and please ask Father Bennett to step in, won't you?"
" Yes, Monsignor." Rob quickly left the office, managing a tight, only half-fake, smile for his advisor in the outer office. He liked Father Bennett quite a lot, but he had a feeling that the two priests would be talking about him, and he didn't like being discussed.
" You may go in now, Father Bennett."
" Thank you, Robert. Have a good evening."
" You as well, Father."
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"Did he say what is bothering him?" Father David Bennett was 82 years old and still teaching. He knew when one of his students was troubled, and he hadn't been surprised when Monsignor asked to speak to him this afternoon.
" No. Oddly enough, I already know."
" Then why not tell Robert that you know?"
" Confession is good for the soul, David."
" So, what have you discovered, John?"
" Dr. Chase was married the weekend before last. It was in the society notices of the Sydney papers, which apparently one of Robert's friends from home sent to him. I spoke to Colin earlier about Robert's mood. However, I was hoping Robert might voluntarily come to one of us to speak about this."
" Robert? Volunteer to speak of himself? Are we discussing the same young man?"
" Occasionally, I allow wishful thinking to sway my thoughts. I agree with Colin, that this is probably the source of Robert's current difficulties."
" He wasn't invited. Even Father Kopec would have allowed Robert leave from campus -- despite his current disciplinary record -- to attend his father's wedding."
" If he was invited, he made no mention of it to any faculty. Colin seemed relatively sure that he wasn't informed of the wedding before it occurred. I'm sure that troubles him, yes, but also it's been only six months since his mother passed."
"Yes, but the divorce was five years ago. Surely Robert was aware that his father was seeing this woman? Also, it doesn't bother you to be using Robert's roommate as a source for personal information about him?"
" As I told Robert, who asked a remarkable similar question -- I am as sneaky as I need to be when it comes to understanding, and hopefully finding a way to help, one of my students. No doubt Robert was aware of his father's relationship. But for all his…difficulties in obeying certain strictures of the Church and this college, I believe Robert still felt in his heart that his parents were constrained by the sixth commandment and not free to marry another -- until death do us part. Dr. Chase also is rather devout and old-fashioned, in his own manner. The speed with which this sort of wedding came after his mother's death, it was clearly planned before she passed. I believe Robert may feel that his father and stepmother were rather grimly waiting with 'bated breath' for his mother to pass so that they might marry in the Church."
" I'll speak to him. You're probably right, the timing is suspicious, that his work should suffer so suddenly at this time. He really is a very good-hearted, sweet boy. He's absolutely a wonder with the children from the primary school. Very popular with his fellow students as well."
" Yes, and if only he could keep himself out of Father Kopec's office, he'd be a model student."
" He's a good boy. I'm just not sure he's cut out to be a priest." Father Bennett amended, a broad smile on his face.
