The School of Doris

"Do you want to come to a rave?" Trojan Pete asked me on Saturday night as I was just finishing my beer ready to head home.

"Ah, thanks," I said. "But that's not really my scene."
"Only for a drink, I like talking to you, I want to talk to you some more."
I smiled as I said: "I should really be getting home. I want to go to Church in the morning and don't really want to miss it."
"Are you religious?" he asked, looking at me with a shocked expression.
"Well, more spiritual really. The Church I'm going to does Latin masses sung by a choir. It's very beautiful, like a free concert."
"That sounds good," he says. "I was bought up religious but I didn't do my confirmation or nothing so I don't go to church."
"I was bought up religious and I rejected it when I was 17. I tussled with God, tried to become an athiest, couldn't do it, found spirituality in my mid 20's. I've reconciled myself with it all now. I've started going back to the church of my childhood but in my head I'm a member of the School of Doris."
"The what?"
"The School of Doris. You know, que sera sera?"
"Oh yeah!" His eyes light up. "I know Doris Day. I love her!"
"Do you?!" Quite surprised I was!
"Yeah, she's like early reggae!"
"Is she? I never knew that! But yes, School of Doris. I'm not a leader, only a member because I find positive thinking so difficult!"

It's why I pray. A prayer is a positive affirmation. It's why I believe in Angels, because Angels are light and good. I believe in God and Jesus and Mary too, and all the saints. You don't have to believe in any of what I do to be a member of the School of Doris. That's the beauty of it.

I went with him to The Grand Union. They were playing rock and roll and rockabilly. I drank coca cola in a bottle through a straw and pretended I had my Pink Ladies jacket on. I danced and danced until I could dance no more.

Then Trojan Pete walked me to the end of my road and we parted company. He'd asked me for my number but I'm not in the right space for any of that. I think he understood.