Lesbian Nuns (7 of ???): More from the same author...

More from “God Was an Innocent Bystander”, by Jean O’Leary (with Jan Holden) (1966-1971; 237-238):

Carrie and I were seen once walking by the lake, holding hands and kissing under the light by the bridge. The novice mistress called us to her office. She said we shouldn’t walk by the lake because we were breaking the rules. Nothing else. We knew she knew, but she said nothing.

One night the postulant mistress, Sister Martha, caught us. Everyone was in the rec room. Sister Martha was working on a mosaic. She asked me to get more tiles from the laundry. I asked to take Carrie with me. At first, Sister Martha said no. But when I said I’d like company because it was dark there, she consented. Whenever Carrie and I were alone we became very passionate. We always schemed for those moments of privacy. Getting the tiles shouldn’t have taken long, but once we were in the laundry, it was dark and quiet and we were alone, lost in a world of each other. Suddenly the room was thrown into glaring light. Sister Martha stood in the doorway. She just stared at us. our headdresses were off, and there was no question what we were doing.

I was in agony that night. I knew that I was going to be kicked out. I knew tomorrow would be my last day... We went to bed without talking. I didn’t want to leave the convent; I wasn’t ready for the world.

Sister Martha called me into her office the next morning. I could barely look at her. I wanted to be anywhere but in that office, knowing she was going to dismiss me. She said, “The least you could have done was talk to me.” I was stunned. She wasn’t angry. She wasn’t going to throw me out. She was jealous! I left the office floating.

The next day Sister Martha asked me to take her to the store. When we returned, I drove the station wagon into the garage, turned off the ignition, put my arm around Sister Martha, and kissed her. It was that simple.

Sister Martha had been in the convent for twenty years. She followed the rules meticulously, and she set the rules for everyone: lights out at ten, no radios, no smoking, walking correctly, no cutting up, maintaining an attitude of dignity. She didn’t encourage familiarity.

After we began having the affair, Martha changed dramatically. She began to express her wonderful sense of humor. A spontaneous, warm, creative person emerged. And, of course, the convent changed, too. We became a family, a community of intimacy and love. Not that we were open or direct about our love, but the atmosphere became completely supportive and nurturing.

. . .