April 25, 2026

Suitable

 4/2024 (c)

I had no vocation for religion.

My pastor saw it.

When he baptized us

in the compound’s pool

he asked—three times

if I committed my life to God.

 

He asked the others once.

 

Cindy—my roommate—

regretted kissing a past boyfriend.

Chastity mattered more

than Cindy ever would.

 

While drying off

I’d given Alan a look— I thought said

I was suitable to marry,

despite a broken hymen.

 

Alan looked frightened,

and moved to the other side of the pool.