Our second day at Saint Mary was a Saturday, and after breakfast we rode to the Sports Complex for the volleyball tryouts. We first discovered the game hall with its multipurpose floor and stands, and already imagined competing against other colleges with cheers from our fans.
We were over forty girls, and told that only twelve would be selected. At random twelve girls were called, and divided into two teams for a short game. Four girls were kept and while they rested, twelve more fought it out. After having played three games we exchanged high fives as the four of us had been selected.
The G.I. Jane like coach called us in turn for proper registration. I was opened mouth for the vintage poster hanging beside the trophy cabinet. I slowly read it.
Saint Mary Sports Discipline
Late for practice and minor offenses : two smacks
Repeated lateness and serious offenses : four smacks
Missed practice : four smacks
Missed practice repeated and serious offenses repeated : six smacks
Expulsion from the team after twelve smacks within a single month.
Cricri told. "We are no longer getting the martinet..."
She was interrupted by Jolene laughing, and Tanka added. "Lucky girls!"
I completed Cricri's sentence. "We have been promoted, its the belt now."
They both had silent 'Ohs', and blushed. I teased them back. "You're also getting your bums tanned, aren't you!" I had spotted their blushing, and with a wide grin, I didn't make it sound as a question.
They blushed the more as they nodded.
Cricri asked. "Have you ever tasted the extension cord for the vacuum cleaner?"
Jolene giggled. "Is it worse than the one for the sewing machine?"
Tanka didn't giggle. "It sure is worse than the belt!"
I confirmed. "Yes! You get stripes for a week with it."
Then it was Sunday, and mass was mandatory. We also had to wear the Saint Mary summer uniform with St M embroidered white blouse and navy pleated skirt, which had been issued on arrival.
Our roommates had attended a private high school with a uniform, and were surprised that we had never worn one.
I explained. "Very few French schools have a uniform, and they are private and very pricey. Since our fathers are knights of the Légion d'honneur we could have attended the free elite Légion d'honneur school for girls, and we would have had to wear a uniform, but we didn't."
Cricri added. "Its a boarding school, and my parents wanted to keep me with them, and I am thankful they did."
I nodded. "Samo, and even if I had my bum well tanned!" I know they love me."
Tanka echoed. "We didn't want to be boarders, and were happy that our parents kept us."
Jolene concluded. "We never got a tanning that we hadn't deserved."
We all laughed as we agreed on that.
Then we hurried up for mass. I chimed, "It feels strange to be wearing a skirt!"
Cricri giggled. "I feel like am going to show my knickers to the whole world."
We were quite surprised when both Tanka Rae and Jolene laughed out loud. They saw our raised eyebrows, and laughed the more. Then they told. "We always wear skirts and dresses at home, Mom says that jeans are for truckers and cowboys."
"Ah!"
I remembered that their traveling clothes were dresses, and understood why they had been so fast to change into cutoff shorts.
In unison they asked. "You don't wear skirts at home?"
Cricri answered. "We do, but we don't have to."
All of the first years, as us, basically kept with their roommates. The more senior students kinda ignored us. They mingled with their peers. On the other hand the professors mostly mingled with us. We met French professors exchanged with famous Catholics colleges from back home. We introduced our roomies, and learned that their father is a Colonel, same as ours.
Liliane (Lili), Christiane (Cricri), Jolene (Jojo), and Tanka Rae (Tanka)
To be continued...
./.
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