THE HABIT

THE HABIT

Long ago and far away there was a boy who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. People were constantly telling him that he was just white trash and would amount to nothing. He heard it so often that he began to believe it himself.

His only real friend was a girl who was poorer than he was; she was nick-named "Snot-rag" because she never had a clean hankie. He felt sorry for her with her bucked teeth and uncut hair. He heard they got their school clothes from the Salvation Army!

After awhile, he decided to quit the small Catholic school at aged 16 and bum around his hometown for a year or more until he was old enough to join the Military. Boot camp was Hell but he lost weight, muscled up and began to look like a real man.

But inside, he knew he'd never measure up to be anything special. He read alot, kept to himself and studied for his High School diploma. He re-enlisted for another four years without even going home to visit his family. He was enrolled in University now which the Military paid for and he surprised himself by making the Dean's list. But he had no-one who cared so he kept it to himself.

One morning when he'd just turned 23, he was out with his Regiment and volunteered to go ahead as the first soldier, looking for booby traps and land mines to disengage. Most of the guys were married or had someone special waiting back home; he had no-one who cared if he lived or died. They hadn't gone far when his right foot stepped on a land-mine and he was blown up.

Unconscious, he was air lifted to the nearest Military Hospital where his right leg was amputated. He wasn't expected to live and a Nun held his hand while awaiting the worst. She was used to these brave, young men and women dying but it still broke her heart.

His face was cleaned of debris and the swelling began to subside. He looked so young and yet he also looked familiar. The doctors offered little hope that he'd ever wake up or live for much longer.

Sister Maria sat with him and read the Bible aloud; there was no response or much life left in him. But she couldn't leave; he needed someone and she knew all too well how that felt.

The next morning, as she was bathing him, she saw his name on his dogtags and couldn't believe it. Was this really Zack Marshall? She studied his burnt face and saw a similarity. He slept on in his unconscious state while she held on to his hands for dear life and prayed for his recovery.

She was sitting with him the morning he opened his eyes. After adjusting them to the dim light in the room, he saw a shadow and asked "Who's there? Where am I?"

Sister Maria went to get the Nurse and the RN arrived with a doctor; she heard him cry aloud when told they had to remove a leg in order to save his life. Soon he blacked out again but the doctor said the shock alone could do that and he should begin to recover now.

The next time he awoke, she was asleep. He watched the Nun's head nodding and bobbing as she sat beside his bed in a hard chair, the Bible on her lap. She had a beautiful face in a small petite body which was covered head to toe with her black habit . He thought of her as an Angel and strangely felt ok now. What's a leg anyways? He was alive!

Sister Maria awoke and watched him sleeping. She prepared his bath and when he was alert, she gently cleaned his wounds and applied fresh bandages. Halfway through, she stopped to ask him where he was from. He confirmed all she had suspected; she was overcome with joy! But said nothing......

The day arrived when he was being discharged to be flown home. His family would be waiting at the airport but he had not kept in touch with any of them. He was expecting to get a small apartment once he was capable of looking after himself. The future looked bleak.

Sister Maria arrived to tell Zack goodbye. He couldn't begin to thank her enough! She looked into his deep brown eyes, which were nearly black, and thought how very handsome he was. His Uniform was put on him and she jokingly saluted him. He was misty eyed when he hugged her small frame; she smelled so good! He wondered what her hair looked like? She had the most beautiful brown eyes, soft lips......

He wheeled his wheelchair down to a waiting van and Sister Maria followed. He said "Sister, I..."

"Call me "Snot-rag" she said with a smile. He quickly turned to look at her and was totally surprised. It couldn't be! This woman was beautiful! Her smile and laugh told him it really was her. He said "Maria Pensky??"

"Yes, Zack. Maria Pensky. Small world, eh?"

Suddenly, he was embarressed. She had bathed his naked body for over six weeks! She saw how ugly his stump was and he could not look her in the eye. She sensed what he was thinking and said "Zack, I'm so proud of you and your bravery. You saved nine lives that day in the woods and almost lost your own."

He and her talked and laughed and dined together before his plane left for America. She had been a Nun for five years now and was a virgin. He had been around the block but never found a woman of substance. But he knew there was one standing in front of him!

They kept in touch via computer and telephone and when she returned to their small town to visit her family and Priest, she came to see him. He was walking now with his "new" leg and doing very well with his teaching profession. She was surprised and so happy for him!

After two weeks of dinners and car rides and picnics, he knew that he loved her. She was packing her Habit that night when she suddenly burst into tears. Surely God would forgive her if she couldn't devote her whole self to Him anymore. She fell to her knees in prayer.

When Zack called her to say goodbye, he was crying. And she knew that he felt the same! "I want to be with you" he heard her say. He couldn't believe his own ears! He rushed over to her house and they drove around their small town all night long. When the sun rose, he pulled the car over on top of a cliff to kiss her soft mouth. She kissed him back; the radio serenaded them as he held her in his strong arms.

"Will you marry me?" he asked Maria. She threw her soft arms around his neck and cried "Yes! Yes! I will, Zack!"

So it was that Zack married "Snot-rag" long ago and far away. Five children later and many vacations to Banff, they were so very blessed and happy to share their special lives with one another. They lived and loved for 54 years when she suddenly got sick and died. He held her hand until the very end. She opened her eyes one last time and saw him crying.

"Don't cry, my darling. I'm just going home to God." And he knew she would wait for him there.