A Problem Like Maria

Chapter 1

"Maria! Come down!" Came a voice from below. Maria was sitting on the roof outside of her window, enjoying the view of the mountains in the distance and feeling the cool breeze tickle her hair. She inhaled as she heard her adopted mother call her from inside the house. The teenager crawled back through the window and into her picture and plant filled room. She grabbed a pair of shoes from her floor before heading out to the small landing, then she mounted the banister and slid down.

"Maria!-oh good Lord! How many times have I told you not to do that, you could get hurt" an older woman rounded the corner as she saw the girl ride down the stairs.

Maria hopped to her feet "Sorry Aunt Peg, but you sounded like you were in a hurry, I didn't want to leave you waiting." She explained as she readjusted her shirt.

"It's alright" Peg sighed "now go get your windbreaker, we're going to the church"

Maria walked around the staircase to cupboard under the stairs where the coats hung, and grabbed a light blue windbreaker.

"Can we stop and grab donuts for breakfast tomorrow?" Maria pleaded as she put on her jacket.

"Maybe on the way back, but we're running late already and you know how Bertha gets" Peg said while glancing at her watch.

"Oh we better run then" the teen made a face. The pair exited the cottage and got in the tiny car. As they drove Maria listened to music, but soon became too curious for her own good.

"What are we doing today?" Maria took an earbud out.

"Margaretta, Bertha and I are discussing which women we want to add to the ladies board, but of course none of us could agree quickly so now we're meeting to hopefully let the poor women know." Peg explained as they turned right.

"I want to help! Oh please, you know how I've always come in clutch in the past-" Maria got excited. She had so many ideas, especially when it came to VBS and involving young families.

Peg shot her a look that silenced the teen.

The pair arrived at the church. It was one of Maria's favorite places. One of her earliest memories while living with Peg was coming here with her as her daughter for the first time. Peg had taken her out to buy new clothes and found a cute little blue dress with ruffles at the bottom and tiny white flats. Maria had never felt so dressy and clean in her short 7 years of life, but she felt like she was finally worth of stepping into the glorious building, she had been in the past, but at that point she finally felt safe there.

The church was tall, and had a steeple of course with stained glass windows around the sides of the building. The pews were dark wood with dark green cushions, honestly ugly, but to Maria they were the most comforting seats in the world.

She and Peg entered and the familiar smell of wood and old lady perfume filled their nostrils.

"Well it's about time" Bertha looked at her watch as she approached "we were about to start without you"

"Whatever" Margaretta rolled her eyes. She was the youngest member of the ladies board and was working toward a masters in psychology. She was secretly Maria's favorite.

"Come on, we have to start. I told Alice to come at 3:30 so we need to to get a move on" Bertha stared at her watch once again.

"You know the drill" Peg looked at Maria.

"Yes ma'am" Maria saluted and the ladies began to converse as they walked into a meeting room.

Maria immediately made her way back outside, the church had a daycare service attached so when Peg had a meeting, Maria would go outside and play with the kids, but otherwise she sat under a tree by the building. Today there were no toddlers, they had just been picked up.