Habit to Heels Chapter 05

Chapter 5 Sorrow/ Transformation

Key events shape characters in stories like Romeo and Juliet or Hamilton, or even the tragic sinking of the Titanic. It's also like how we expect Goose to die in Top Gun. But the real focus is on what happens to the characters who are left behind.

Sister Tara sitting in her usual spot during morning prayers next to Sister Andrea. Novice Sisters Asia and Alexa (Only 1 week away from their Profession of Vows Ceremony) are right behind Tara and Andrea during prayers. Alexa moved into St. Rose as Asia's roommate, at least until the vows. Leaving Tara to live on her own.

Finishing prayers, Tara, still for a moment, hands clasped, praying for Ruth. Tara goes to St. Rose Convent's occupational office for her biannual work evaluation meeting. Sister Eugene, late fifties, wearing a habit that seemed a bit more worn than most. "Good morning, Sister Tara." Eugene sets down a pen and looking up. "I trust you had a peaceful prayer time?" Sister Eugene is straight to the point. "I've just received some news. The board of directors for Maple Tree... they're considering selling the rest home."

Tara concerning. "Oh my, what does that mean for me?"

Eugene pauses "It means the future of Maple Tree is uncertain. If it's sold, there's a chance that you may no longer have your position as social worker there."

"I see," Tara looking down. "What options do I have, then?"

Sister Eugene matter of fact. "Too early to start jumping to conclusions, but you could try to find another position on your own. Or... you could help out here at St. Rose. There's always work to be done with the other sisters."

Tara replying. "I love the work I do at Maple Tree. Helping those residents, offering comfort... It's been... my calling."

"I understand Tara," Sister Eugene gently. "This is a lot to process. Besides nothing is final yet. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

"I need some time to think about it," Tara reaching out holding hands to with Sister Eugene.

The phone rings and Sister Eugene answers. "Hello... Yes this is she. Yes Sister Tara, she is here with me in my office today... Yess I will tell her, and send her there. Thank you and may God be with you." Eugene now more urgent hangs up.

"Sister Tara." Eugene says. "That was Maple Tree Rest. I have some upsetting news. Ruth Daniels has just passed, they mentioned you were close. I am so sorry my dear."

Tara motionless Ruth-not even a chance to say goodbye. Tara rising quickly "I must get there at once."

Racing to get down the corridor to Ruth's room. Tara finds it difficult to run with her Habit.

Brenda, Jenna's friend, stops her teary-eyed. "Oh, Sister it is so sudden."

Tara responding. "I'm so sorry I was very fond of Ruth."

Brenda responding. "There is no family, if you want any belongings hurry, before everything is boxed up and sent to charity."

Tara walks into Ruth's room. Yellow light shows through the curtains. She quickly finds the sheer taupe negligée, the sheer gloves,  with the matching silk belt. She holds the gown up to the light, as before, admiring the beauty and sheer. A note falls seemingly out of the sky: Tara reads the scratchy handwriting. "À ma très chère Tara, porte ceci pour garder ma mémoire près de toi. Ruth." (Tara understands the French.) Wiping her tears she quickly places the gown, gloves, and belt in a paper bag. She walks back into the main corridor.

Then, out of nowhere, a voice. "Tara! Hey, Tara!" Tara blinking, startled. Taylor standing a few feet away. "Sister Tara, you have a second?"

Simply staring at him. Not in the mood for conversation, she needed a moment. But he was there, determined to have a conversation. "Sure," she her voice thin and distant.

Taylor is not able to notice Tara's stoicism. "So, listen, I've been meaning to ask you--what did you think of the shoot the other night?  Would you ever want to pose for a shoot with me?"

Tara trying to focus. She didn't have the energy to engage him. "I'm not interested!" Short and abrupt, her tone more curt than she meant.

Finally reading the mood. "OK, thanks, Sister." Without another word, he turns and walks down the hallway, hands in his pockets.

Tara peeking inside the bag at the negligée, watching him walk away something inside her shifts. As if an empathy gap guides her not to shut out the world. Unable to stop herself. "Taylor..."

Surprised when he hears the sound of her voice; Taylor stops dead in his tracks.

Not sure what she was doing. "What did you have in mind?" Tara sounds vulnerable.

Speaking with astonishment. "I would love to capture your true beauty. Pose any style you are comfortable with. Give me 3 hours in the studio, if you can find the time." Stopping with his excited rant. "My studio has an extensive wardrobe, and add anything else you want to bring."

Tara responds abruptly. "OK---Tomorrow night." Then more tentatively. " I'll be there by 8:00 pm." Head spinning Tara can't believe what she has just agreed to in her moment of weakness.

As if there was not enough going on. Late in the afternoon, Sister Tabby calls Tara at Maple Tree Rest. "Tara we need you to come back it's Sister Willa the music teacher. She slipped on the ice and hurts her wrist. Can you take her to the Emergency Room?"

Checking into the Emergency room, Tara does all the paperwork. Quickly Sister Willa is whisked back to see the doctor and get x-rays in the emergency room.

Tara is sitting in the hospital waiting room alone. There is a Cosmo magazine on the coffee table. A feature article listed on the cover in bold red print catches her eye. How Exotic Dancing and Nude Modeling Changed My Life. Quickly reading the article which was written by a dancer who gained self-esteem and empowerment in life as a stripper. She was able to change her life and solve some of her emotional and financial problems.

Tara has never pictured exhibiting her body that way. Smiling with the revelation that it's not the first time recently the subject of empowerment through nudity has come up. Could this be a sign. Sister Willa appears back in the waiting room with a bright white plaster cast.

The next morning, no problem when the alarm goes off an hour early Sister Tara jumps into action. Sipping her concoction of instant Folgers (switching from Sanka) and Coffeemate, she pops Bee Gee's Night Fever into the 8-Track player.

Standing completely nude in the mirror, she taps her foot to the beat. Humming to the music totally nude, she spins, checks herself out, and begins to transform from nun to fashion model.

With one foot on the vanity, bending over with an emory board, she begins with a do it yourself pedicure.

Showering she lathers up and shaves her legs, making sure to glide the razor over every inch of skin. Going over a second time, she goes as high up as she dares close to her crotch. Next, she shaves her belly, around her navel and the top of her pubic bush. Repeating, to ensure smoothness.

The bathroom is filled with steam, as she sticks her head out of the shower to take a swig of coffee, and steps back into the shower. She finishes by shaving her armpits.

After drying and brushing her hair, she emery boards her fingernails. (Nail polish will go on later.) She tends to the delicate area between her nose and her top lip removing the fine translucent hair. The soft hairs near her ears require a precise touch.

Finally, Tara begins to trim her pubic triangle. 'There is a jungle down there.' Carefully using a pair of scissors to ensure an even length watching very closely in the mirror, trimming her brunette curls. The 8-Track begins the second go around, she muses out loud. "How much skin is this photo shoot going to show??" Snorting as she laughs to herself. Still nude, she spins for the mirror.

Sister Tara, the nun, literally has nothing she can wear for a fashion shoot. She does carefully pack the sheer taupe negligée, gloves and belt, in a bag. Adding her sweats for traveling, she throws it all into the back of the sky chicken.

Tara goes though the day as if in a dream. Anxious about having Taylor photograph her. During lunch break she sneaks by herself into a back storage room. She practices poses and puts on clear nail polish. After work, she changes into her sweats and drives in the cold with no coat to Taylor's studio.

Tara shakes a bit, a combination of cold and nerves, as she knocks on the door.

Taylor answers, and gestures backwards."I hope you don't mind this is Deb. I asked her to help with makeup and wardrobe."

Tara instantly recognizes Deb, as the dance instructor who made risqué jokes in class. "Hello, I'm Tara." Reaching out a hand for a shake.

Deb, shakes. "Hello I hope you don't mind me doing the makeup." Scanning Tara up and down. "Taylor said you were pretty, but wow, Wow." As she reaches over and scuffles Tara's hair. "I remember you,  in my dance class. Looks 10 dance 3." Laughing.

Tara smiling. "Yeah with my friends from work, I'm a social worker. It's ok for you to do the makeup. I usually don't wear makeup, so I need your help." Smiling and laughing. Like Bruce Wayne hides his Batman identity, Tara internalizes her identity as Sister Tara.

Deb responds. "I will make you look like a million bucks. But seriously I remember, you need to work on your motion and movements sweety." Striking a pose. "So let's get started."

Deb and Tara go into a room for changing and makeup along the side of the studio. Deb, closing the door waves and smiles at Taylor. "See you in about 20 minutes I'll have a model ready for you."

Harsh lighting makes Tara squint. A long wall of dresses and outfits on one side and a make-up desk on the other. A small mirror on the desk, and a large full-length mirror on the wall. Tara could smell incense (vanilla) burning in the corner.

Deb asking. "What look are you going for my dear?"

"I am planning on a fashion glam look. Clean natural make up." As Tara walks running her hands on the clothes in line on hangers. A few mannequins stand in the corner dressed in long exquisite evening gowns.

"Let's start with the basics." She applies foundation. "OK smooth out the complexion. Not too heavy." Deb pimps Tara for info as she works. "So you work with Taylor?"

"I work where his mom does, he is there just to take pictures." Tara keeps her cards close about being a nun.  "I watched Taylor photograph a model after I did your exercise class incidentally."

"Oh you did, did you." Deb's curiosity peeks. Dabbing a peachy-pink blush onto Tara's cheeks. Using her finger to Blend it upward. "What did you think? Do you know who the model was?" Smiling to herself as she worked. "This color blush will catch the light in the photos."

Tara trying to answer a barrage of questions. "Her name was Dollya, um the model. I went to your class with my friend Jenna."

Deb looking for eye shadow and liner. "Dollya,  yes, of course, she also teaches dance."

"I can tell, she is a dancer. She moves um um hmm gracefully." Tara Searching for the right adverb. "She shot mostly fashion." Tara shy. "She also took her clothing off for nude photography."

Deb, not phased by the nudity comment, showing the eyeshadow to Tara. "I chose this soft light blue color, do you like it?" She brushes the shadow on and smoothes it out with her finger. "Close your eyes tight Tara." After that she applies liner. She finishes off the eyes with a little bit of mascara. "This may tickle if your not use to it."

"It just feels weird." Tara smiling.

"This is not a Fuck me red." Deb showing the red lipstick. "It has a hint of warmth. Pucker up." As she finishes her art, she turns Tara around in the chair so she can see herself in the mirror. "Well, what do you think?"

Tara looks at her reflection in the mirror. "Oh, my reminds me of someone."She is struck by how much she resembles her mother. Bold red lipstick before heading out for a night with Tara's father. "I mean I love it. Wow, beautiful, thanks."

Deb laughs, as she finishes by brushing Tara's hair and spraying hairspray everywhere.  Choking on the hairspray fumes. "Cough. No need to thank me Taylor is paying me. I see you brought something to model in let's have a look."

"Oh, it's nothing." Tara waving with a limp wrist. "An old friend just gave it to me."

Deb opening the bag. "Oh my." She picks up and holds the negligée admiring the color and the sheer in the light. "This is stunning. Basically antique classic style."

Taylor knocks. "You girls ok in there?"

Deb loudly talking to the closed door. "We are fine just picking wardrobe." Turning back to Tara. "Oh dear, you must wear this."

Tara, smiling walks over to a mannequin who is wearing a long dark blue sequin gown. No sleeves or shoulders and exposed back. "Thank you for the confident boost, I like this dress instead."

Deb not ready to give in. "Sweaty try on the negligée. It's amazing, you will look stunning. You gotta wear it!"

Tara playfully. "OK turn around." She removes her sweats leaving on her cream color boy cut pantries and a non matching faded powder blue bra that is more restrictive thank revealing. She slips over the negligée and puts on the gloves and cinches the silk belt. "Ok turn back around."

Deb showing a look of disapproval. "Oh no, take off that hideous underwear." Pantomiming removing her pants with her hands.

Tara is smiling and giddy by now. "OK, give me a sec. I'll be right out."

Deb turning to leave the changing room. Closing the door laughing she utters, sarcastically, the one exact sentence that violently yanks Tara back to reality. "That underwear looks like something a nun would wear."