"Tom Porter.  What can I do for you?" Father George's voice filled the church with echo, soft and loud at the same time, as he emerged from the annex.
                          
"My daughter has come to confess a sin, Father."
                          
The priest's gaze fell upon Catherine.  "Very well.  Follow me my dear.  Tom, will you be kind enough to wait for us here?"
                          
He nodded, and Father George lead Catherine to the annexing room.
                          
"What is your name, dear girl, and what sin have you come to seek forgiveness for?"
                          
"I'm Catherine.  And I'm only here because my dad wants me to confess."
It was obvious in her voice that she did not want to be there.
                          
"I see.  Well if your father wants you to confess, surely that means you have something to confess about, no?"
                          
"Well, yeah I guess.  But it isn't that major."
                          
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that, and tell me what it is you did."
                          
"Okay.  Well I suppose I have to say I disobeyed my father, then."
                          
"You don't seem so sure."
                          
"Well I did, but I don't see it as something I should confess about.". Her tone gained assurance.
                          
"Why did you disobey?  Take me through what happened."
                          
"You see, all I've ever wanted is to go to school and become a teacher, but dad won't send me to high school because girls aren't worthy of an education according to him.  So on the first day of school I convinced my older brother John to sneak me into school with him.  It was the best day of my life!  I learnt so much, and there were a lot of girls there.  Then mom and dad found out and he was grounded.  But then over the next few days John brought me some work sheets his teachers had given him so that I could keep on working.  They found THAT out too, and well here I am.  My punishment was that I lost my books for two weeks, had to confess to you and I have to take Cotillion classes."
                          
"And you obviously don't think that punishment is fair."
                          
His words caused Catherine to think for a minute.  "Well...I DID disobey.  So I guess that does require some form of punishment, like taking my books away.  Cotillion is sort of understandable because it's not good manners to run away or disobey but the classes are more axed towards being polite and how to dine properly, which I don't really need.  And I don't think a confession is necessary because I don't consider it a sin to pursue your dreams, no matter what."
                          
"You know Catherine, I have to agree with you.  It wasn't the best punishment to give, but it is the one your father decided to give you and I can't argue with your father's parental power.  It however doesn't mean that no punishment is needed because you did disobey." Catherine nodded in agreement. "So how about this: you follow those Cotillion classes and show him they weren't the best punishment because you are a very well-mannered girl, and I accept your confession and you can go home."
                          
"Sounds great." A smile illuminated her face as she thanked Father George and returned to her father.
                          
"Well Tom, I think everything is in order here." Father George shook Tom's hand.
                          
"Thank you very much Father."  He said as he lead Catherine outside and back to the car.
                          
The drive home went by in silence as well, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as the ride there had been.  This time both Catherine and Tom smiled inwardly, content with the turnout of the visit.  Tom felt he was finally gaining control over his daughter again.  Soon enough she would learn that he was right and that there wasn't any point to going to school.  Catherine's talk with the priest had, on the contrary, only made her determination grow, wanting more than ever to stand up to her father and prove to him her opinion was valid.  Both smiling about the same thing but for opposite reasons.  Both thinking they had control over the other.