The Clubs part 2

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.

The volleyball practice court wasn't as grandiose, but well equipped. We gave our names to the assistant coach. She made sure that our own sports shoes wouldn't damage the parquet before giving us knee and elbow pads.

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.

Smacks applied to the bare bottom in front of the team.

 The assistant coach issued us a backpack with our team uniforms plus two pairs of court shoes. All of that was quite fetching with St M red embroidering.

 At the Coffee Shop of the Sports Complex the banter was about that old poster. Our American roommates teased us. "That sure would sting more than your martinet!"

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."

I added. "I always do when Grandma visits, and as short as possible!"

Mass was as boring as in France. I was quite surprised by the number of communions. I had never imagined Americans to be such churchgoers. Jojo and Tanka received communion. I poked Cricri, and we followed them.

After mass, it was a barbecue on the huge lawn between the old Saint Mary school building with its Greek columns and the tall church. 

There was probably a thousand people, professors, staff, and of course students. I noticed a number of white priest like collars, and ladies wearing a cross on their lapels, but the majority of profs were civilians. 

All of the girls who had been sporting jeans and shorts were now wearing St M embroidered white blouses and light navy or summer skirts.

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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