I shift the weight of my backpack on my shoulder as I walk out of my history classroom, glancing at the priest sitting behind the desk. I want to stay and speak with him, but the other girls would notice. So, I continue, leaving the room and turning left toward the gymnasium. I pull open the door of the change room and head toward my locker. Pulling off my blouse, I glance around at the other girls. Emma is undressing as well and I can see her nipples through her lace bra. She catches my eye, and I look away, my cheeks flushing. I feel a throbbing between my legs. I don't understand what is happening. Quickly, I tug my gym shirt over my head and proceed to change into my shorts.
Bare skin flashes to my right. Mandy is bending over her bag, rummaging through it. Her thong exposes her butt, round and soft. I want to lick it. I glance down and tie my shoes, sneaking a peak every few moments.
I stand and head toward the gym. The throbbing between my legs is intense. Too much. I stop in the bathroom and lock myself in a stall. Reaching under the band of my shorts, I begin stroking myself. I discovered my pleasure button, as I like to call it, by accident. I had been in the shower, washing myself and as I touched there it brought such intense feelings.
I can hear the other girls walking past the stalls and this makes the pleasure more intense. I imagine them watching me touch myself. As I circle my button my breathing comes in short gasps, and I try to be quiet. At last I feel the explosion. It feels so good, but I wonder if it is right. The priests and nuns are always telling us to be pure and refrain from unwholesome thoughts. I have been attending St. Katherine's Academy, for girls, since the ninth grade. I am now 18 and ready to graduate in three months. I have so many questions about the world. And about myself. What are these strange urges? Are they normal? Are they dirty? As I leave the toilet stall and head for the gym, I make a promise to myself to find out.
After lunch, the entire school heads for the church. It is time for out weekly confession. I sit in the fifth pew. During mass, I am nervously wringing my hands. I see Father Matthew sitting in the first pew listening intently to Father Patrick's sermon. I have always enjoyed listening to Father Matthew in class. He has a soft voice and kind eyes and never makes me feel stupid for not having an answer. When it is time for confession, I watch Father Matthew enter his confessional on the left side of the church. After a while of anxious waiting, I stand and make my way to his confessional. As I sit in the chair, awaiting my turn, I can feel my heart pounding. What will he think of me and my sins today?
A short blond girl from the tenth grade exits the confessional and it is my turn. I stand, straighten my skirt, and enter the dark booth. I close the door behind me and sit, waiting for Father Matthew to open the sliding partition.
When he does, I say quietly, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been one week since my last confession."
I can see him faintly through the screen as he nods. "Tell me your sins, my child."
I take a deep breath. "I've been having strange urges, Father. I don't understand them."
He nods again. "Tell me about these urges."
Closing my eyes and recalling the stirrings between my legs, I continue, "Well, they begin when I think about the other girls. Especially in gym class. I see them without their clothes on and I feel a throbbing between my legs. It feels good, but I don't understand it."
He temples his fingers under his chin, then says, "Continue."
Clearing my throat, I say, "It feels wonderful to touch myself there. Is this normal? Is it a sin?"
I hear a soft chuckle and I am mortified. "No," he says softly. "But, I would like to talk to you about this more, outside the confessional. Will you meet my in my office this evening after supper?"
I nod and agree I will. He makes the sign of the cross and I leave the booth.
Supper is a blur of voices and sidelong glances at the other girls' chests. I can't stop myself. I imagine their pink nipples and wishing I could kiss and suck them. I can hardly eat my meal and leave as soon as excused by Sister Agatha.
Leaving the dining hall, I walk as slowly as possible, in my excitement, toward Father Matthew's office on the third floor. As I arrive, I can feel my heart in my throat. Lifting my hand, I knock. There is shuffling of papers, then, "Come in."
I open the door, then close it behind me. Father Matthew looks up and smiles. "Sit down," he says, motioning to the soft leather chair in front of the desk.
I sit and cross my ankles.
"So, Angela, there are things you would like to talk about."
I nod, "Yes, Father. I don't understand these urges. They're so powerful and it's all I can do to stop myself from thinking about it all the time."
"Yes, they are powerful, and they are natural. They are a gift from God. I would be happy to teach you about them, if you would like."
I smile and nod. "That would be wonderful, Father."
Father Matthew stands and walks to his door. He turns the lock, then moves toward a plush couch, motioning for me to join him.
"You said you feel throbbing between your legs when you look at another girl?" he asks as I sit next to him.
"Yes," I say, lowering my eyes.
"Do you feel this right now?" he asks.
I nod and look down at my lap. My hands are wringing the material of my skirt.
"Can you show me?" he asks.