Saint Paul High Misfit

Don’t You Know How to Pray?!

CHAPTER 2: Don't You Know How to Pray?!

Gale is slumped down at the edge of the bed that was positioned parallel to another bed that is clearly occupied based on its messy bedding and folded clothes on top. It's just three o'clock in the afternoon but the lampshade is already on. It gave off a soft yellow light that is neither bright nor dim, just enough to illuminate the tabletop and a portion of the single-sized bed. About three hours ago, Gale was given a rather gloomy tour and was assigned to room 44 of the dormitory not far from the church. The school is located in the back part of the church, connected by a hallway. The dorm is separated and so is the school library and some other buildings.

"I'm so miserable," whispered Gale to herself with a hoarse voice either caused by her overwhelming emotions or because she had not drunk water yet ever since she arrived. Adding to her agony, they confiscated her phone and some other belongings and only let her off with a backpack full of her stuff.

During their tour, Gale noticed that none of the students they came across dared to look in their direction. If one was to do it accidentally, they immediately bow their heads and walk away. Also, the students seem to move like NPCs and not real humans. They were moving slowly and organized, they did not whisper or talk to each other, and they were not doing anything that normal high schoolers do. This was described by Gale as weird.

Loud consecutive knocks on the door broke the deafening silence. Gale lazily walked toward the direction of the door to check on it. She kind of struggled to stand up and walk as she had been in that position for a couple of hours.

"Hello. I'm here to deliver your uniforms and a bunch of stuff." The door opened and a bright smile welcomed Gale. The nun in front of her was very different from the nun that welcomed her to this place and showed her around. This nun is rather young, maybe in her mid-20's, quite a looker, and very pleasant to look at, though she wears the exact same clothes as the previous nun.

"Thank you," replied Gale, and took the things out of the nun's hands. She looked at the stuff that are now lying on her bed. ''A bunch of stuff' bullsht. There are only a few. And what's with these lame clothes?'

Basically, the 'bunch of stuff' are just a pair of maroon formal uniforms that are similar in color to the clothes worn by the nuns, a pair of jogging pants and shirt, three sets of casual clothes, two sets of pajamas, a set of underwear, a pair of running shoes, black shoes, gym shoes, and other necessities and toiletries.

"By the way, I'm sister Nadia. Welcome to Saint Paul, Gale Peterson." Gale was just about to burst into anger when the lady who has not left yet spoke. She faked a smile and uttered thanks. When she made that smile, she felt pain in her lips, so she immediately frowned.

"You might want to drink water, your lips are kind of dry and so is your voice," said Sister Nadia in a concerned yet conversational tone. After a few seconds, she gracefully excused herself and closed the door.

Gale unconsciously touched her lips and finally took a cup and filled it with water from the water dispenser in their room. Her water bottle was confiscated by the nuns, so she was rather skeptical about drinking from the cup and the water dispenser, but she took the advice of sister Nadia seriously and so she drank. Also because she was already close to having a coughing fit.

After a minute of consideration, Gale decided to try on the clothes they provided. The uniform was a little short on the skirt and blouse, but it was not that inconvenient as the uniforms are long anyway. The other clothes are a little big and it seems like they are in men's size. The shoes fit and the socks, too. The bras and panties are not the same as Gale is used to wearing. The bras are not the fastened type and do not have any style at all. They are bralettes but plain. The panties are comfy, like period undies but smaller. Gale is a 5'6 tall female, neither thin nor fat, and has a good body composition, so it is understandable that clothes of her size need to be picked out carefully. She sighed and arranged things neatly.

At six pm, a bell rang, indicating that it was time for dinner. Dinner is served separately depending on the dormitory the students are in. There are twenty-five rooms per dormitory, two buildings for females and one building for males. Gale's room is number 44 so she belongs to the female dormitory 2. Lunch was being served in the dining area on the first floor, so she needed to go down the stairs.

Gale was hungry, she did not eat lunch and her snacks were all confiscated. She was still wearing the same clothes that she wore when she entered the school, which were an oversized white graphic t-shirt and tattered wide-legged jeans, so she was an attraction when she entered the hall. The gazes she gathered were not stares and gossip, the students only glanced a bit and then resumed what they were doing as if it was nothing. But Gale did not care anymore and just grabbed a plate and had whatever was being served, sat in a vacant seat, and ate.

That's when she noticed that none of the surrounding students had taken a bite. They are just staring at their food as if waiting for something. Then, a sharp cough was heard from the front. It came from an elderly woman who was now sharply looking at her. She instinctively put down her spoon and raised her eyebrows, her eyes staring directly at the woman.

"Since you are merely a newbie, I'll let you off today." The woman took her eyes off Gale and scanned the room. "Settle down now, everyone, let us pray."

Upon hearing that, Gale's mind went blank and before she knew it, the prayer was over, and the lady was once again looking at her sharply.

"YOU! Don't you know how to pray?!"

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