A/N: I'm not sure how many more parts there are going to be -- no more than half a dozen though, I'd say. So thanks everyone for the kind reviews, and I hope you enjoy! Updates will probably continue to be sporadic as I have about 40 more pages to write for my thesis (by Apr 4) and loads of editing.
Growing Up Chase
By Rebel Yell
Part Seventeen (age 17)
"Rob, your turn." Rob nodded at Colin as his friend exited and stood to enter the headmaster's office. All the boys had a meeting with the headmaster and their faculty advisor once a term, but this was his final term and the final meeting was always about whether or not the student in question ought to continue to the seminary proper, from seminary school. Rob had little doubt Colin had been encouraged to enter the seminary - he wasn't top of the class, but did well, especially in theology courses - and a lot more doubts about his own meeting. He had the last meeting scheduled of all the students in his year, and it wasn't just because his advisor always wanted the last day of meetings.
"Ah, Robert, please come in. Have a seat." Monsignor Swetlund was headmaster, and Rob was more familiar than he might like to admit with the chair in front of the priest's desk.
" Thank you, Monsignor."
" How's your research project progressing Robert?" Father Bennett was ancient (Rob thought he must be 80 at the youngest but had never asked) but he was head of the science department and he'd been appointed Rob's advisor. He was also pretty fun, for an old man.
" I'm nearly done, Father. It's been…very informative."
" You'll be grateful for the experience some day, Robert."
" Yes, sir. Are we…waiting for someone, Monsignor?"
" Hmm? Oh, yes, Robert. Father Monroe and Father Kopec will be joining us as well."
" It's end of term - I've not done anything. I've not even left my room except for meals and exams for nearly a week." Father Kopec was the school's Dean of Students, and Robert had never had a meeting with that particular priest that hadn't begun with an infraction of the rules, and ended with a painful sort of penance. Last month he'd spent hours kneeling on the stone floor of the old chapel, saying the rosary two hours a day for six days straight.
" You aren't in trouble, Robert."
" For once." Father Kopec added from the doorway, and Robert glanced at his shoes in discomfort. Father Kopec made him feel horribly guilty, even when he'd honestly not done anything. He also assigned the harshest penances.
" He's spirited, Peter, that's all." Father Monroe was directly behind him - effectively towering over the slight Father Kopec - and he always smiled at everyone. He certainly made even literature class entertaining, and was probably the favorite teacher in the school from what Rob could tell.
" Well, since everyone has joined us now, we can begin." Monsignor tried to smile, but Rob knew it was fake. Monsignor didn't smile much at Rob. He never had much reason.
"I can guess that I'm not exactly a star recruit for the seminary." If he said it himself, put out there exactly what everyone in the room knew, it wouldn't hurt as much. If he waited for one of them to say it, well then it wasn't him leaving, it was him being kicked out. He'd been kicked out of enough "homes" over the years, he'd rather leave this one.
"You're the first student ever to come through our school who makes no attempt to follow the rules. You do as you please, without care for consequence." Father Kopec replied, his voice its usual tone of derision and distaste.
" I do try." Rob defended, but he was almost whispering. "I'm just…not strong enough."
" Perhaps you truly aren't called, Robert." Father Monroe began, not sounding like his usual upbeat self. "At least, not to the religious life. You seem to have serious difficulties living in the prescribed manner."
" If by serious difficulties you mean an utter inability to do so."
" Father Kopec." Monsignor rebuked lightly, but Rob knew everyone agreed with the dean. "Robert, you're a very intelligent boy. You have many gifts. But you are right, we won't be encouraging you to continue on to a religious life."
" Have you considered further my recommendation, Robert? You agreed to take the UMAT, but you said you were still undecided?" Father Bennett asked, eyebrows raised. He'd been asking Rob the same question all year, and received the same answer.
" Yes. I just don't want to end up…doing the same things as my dad."
" Which is why I convened this somewhat unusual meeting, Robert. We're here to help you find what path is right for you, since it clearly is not the path to Holy Orders. It seems the Lord intends you to follow a more…secular life."
" I had thought to attend university. I've applied to a few, been accepted."
" I assume these are all co-ed institutions?" Father Kopec asked, eyebrows raised and Rob flushed hotly.
" Well, yes, Father."
" First sensible thing I've heard you say since you arrived at our school."
" We have noticed a…pattern, shall we say, in your distractions, Robert." Father Monroe's smile was more genuine, but still not quite fully real. Not surprising, Rob thought, since they were getting dangerously close to a discussion of a subject which he was fairly sure he knew more about than the others in the room, combined.
" Yes, a 'pattern' of your behavioral issues stemming heavily from your inability to adhere to the code of chastity to which this school, its faculty and its students, are bound. I have sincere doubts, Robert, that you would be any more successful in the years to come at avoiding the temptations of the flesh." Father Kopec spoke before Monsignor could.
" Mother always said I was too handsome to be wasted in the priesthood."
" Yes, well, let's not discuss the issue of your parents just yet, Robert." Which was exactly what Robert always heard, the minute he mentioned his mother. Now his father was fair game - everyone always wanted to talk about Dr. Rowan Chase. Dr. Chase was world-renowned, a wonderful and gifted man who helped so many people. Victoria Morgan was simply a model and a former dancer-turned-actress who died when her liver gave out after years of abuse. The only people who wanted to talk about her, were the sort Rob didn't want to talk to, it'd end up in some rag sheet.
" We've not yet even mentioned your obvious displeasure with the vow of poverty and simplicity."
" Father Kopec, this was not intended to be a meeting to discuss Robert's faults. I think we've had plenty of those in the time he's been with us."
" Yes, Monsignor." Robert agreed, knowing he was expected to do so.
" I want you to consider the sciences Robert. You needn't study medicine --although you'd do quite well -- but you have a very obvious gift for scientific study. A bit of a flare for creativity too, you could be a wonderful researcher." Father Bennett insisted, as if gearing up for a hard sell.
" I've applied to read in medicine, actually." Rob admitted, staring at the floor. He'd spent the last two years telling the priests that he didn't want to become a doctor because he didn't want to spend his whole life trying to live up to his father's reputation. "I'm still not going to be anything like a rheumatologist. But…I like kids. I was thinking maybe…pediatrics."
" You'll make a very gifted physician, Robert, I'm sure of it." Father Bennett looked very relieved - probably because he'd been recruiting Rob for the sciences since the first day he'd attended anatomy class.
" Well, this may be the shortest such meeting I've ever presided over." Monsignor managed a genuine smile, and Rob couldn't help but return it. It was nice to not be the one causing trouble. "If you've already decided on your path, Robert, we've little else to discuss or to counsel you about."
" I'm decided."
