|
The following article was published in Australia in the publication
That's Life on 28 Oct 1998.
The Priests Are After Us!
| She wanted to he with her sister and to marry a man
she loved. It didn't seem too much to ask. But to
get it Stephanie had to make a huge sacrifice
|
She knew she shouldn't. She knew her mum wouldn't like
it. But Stephanie Deayton just couldn't resist it. "Can
I watch "Play School" with you?" she asked.
Her friend Amanda nodded and the two five-year-olds skipped
inside and plonked themselves down in front of the television.
Of course Stephanie's mum found out. She had eyes in the
back of her head, as all mums do, and she was furious.
"I've told you not to go next door,"she raged. "The devil speaks
over the television, you know that."
But Stephanie didnt know. "Play School" was full of jolly people
singing funny songs and making silly faces. They didn't look like
the devil to her.
"Why is it so bad?" she asked her mum that night. Her mother
explained: "You were born into the Exclusive Brethren - a religious
cult whose members aren't allowed near television, radio or
computer."
"What else can`t we do?" Stephanie asked.
"Look to your sister for guidance," her mum answered.
Stephanie's sister Priscilla was 11 years older. She never wore
make-up, jeans or shorts and always wore a headscarf When
the time came, she married a member of the Brethren and left
home to live with him.
Stephanie missed her big sister dreadfully, especially when she
started high school and the other kids teased her over her scarf
She rarely saw her sister and looked forward to her visits. But
then, one day, Priscilla didn't arrive as she'd arranged.
"Where is she?," Stephanie asked.
"She's not coming," her mum replied. "She and her husband
were caught listening to the radio in their car. She's been drummed
out of the religion."
"When can I see her?," Stephanie asked and her mum turned away.
"I don't know. Maybe never."
Stephanie couldn't believe it. What sort of religion refused to let
you see your own sister?
Anger bubbled up inside her. She'd show the Brethren they
couldn't treat people like that.
She went through a list of the things she wasn't supposed to
do. "I'll do the lot," she declared and began drinking, smoking
and going out with boys.
To be honest, she didn't like it much, but it was one in the eye
for the Brethren. She still went to church every day and four or five
times on Sundays, but she would just shut out the service completely.
Stephanie was 20 when she discovered the Brethren community
had found her a husband. Suddenly, something snapped. "I've got
to get out," she told herself. "This isn't what I want."
She thought carefully about what she was going to do. She knew
it was a huge and frightening move and that it would change
her life in a way she could scarcely imagine. But she also knew that
she was desperate to see Priscilla again and that she couldn't carry
on living this double life.
She packed a spare change of clothes, sneaked out of the house
and then ran to a payphone.
It didn't take her long to find Priscilla's number and she
punched it in. She was sweating as she heard a ringing tone
and then, finally, a familiar voice.
"Priscilla? It's Stephanie. Can you come and get me?"
Priscilla didn't even waste time asking questions. "I'll
be there before you know it," she promised.
Stephanic waited anxiously at a friend's house.
Within hours, Priscilla turned up with her friend
Sue. The two sisters had time for a quick, tearful
embrace before jumping into the car and heading
off for the three-hour trip back to Orange, NSW.
Suddenly Stephanie glanced behind her. "Two men
are following us!" she cried. I recognise them -
they're Brethren priests!"
"Go faster, Sue!" Priscilla urged, and Sue put down
her foot. But however fast they travelled, however
many turns they took, they couldn't shake off
their pursuers and the moment they pulled up,
the priests leapt out.
"That girl's ours - give her back!" they screamed,
trying to grab Stephanie.
But Priscilla planted herself between them.
"Leave her alone!" she yelled.
Sue threw herself into the fray as well. "The
girl's not yours - she belongs only to herself," she said.
"Get away from her."
The priests weren't used to this. The women in their congregations
were quiet and obedient. Bewildered, they returned to their car.
The two sisters sat up all night, talking and catching up on their
news. The night was just lightening to grey when they heard the
sound of tyres on tarmac. It was followed by a sharp
knock at the door.
"Who on earth...?" Priscilla said as she went to answer it.
Three figures stood outside. Their parents and a family friend.
They were all clutching Bibles.
The two girls' mum rushed in and pinned Stephanic to the wall.
"You've put a hole in my heart," she wailed.
"I'm staying out and there's nothing you can do," Stephanie cried.
And then, because she could see her mum wouldn't believe her
otherwise, she began to tell her about the double life she had
been leading.
She felt the grip on her shoulder grow weaker.
The room had gone quiet and Stephanie's dad pointed. "We have
to get out," he said, gesturing at the radio and television.
"The devil's in here."
As she left, Stephanie's mum gave her one long, desperate glance.
The sadness in her eyes hurt more than a dagger to her heart.
Stephanie broke down. She knew she'd probably never see
her parents again.
Priscilla's arm slipped around her. "You've still got me," she said
gently. "And you've also got a whole new world to explore. Let's
go shopping."
They went to a boutique, where Stephanie tried on a pair of shorts.
"I feel naked," she exclaimed.
"You look great," Priscilla assured her, handing over the money.
"Right," said Stephanie. "Next stop, the hairdresser."
Soon her waist-length hair was chopped and her ears pierced.
"I've always wanted to do that," she laughed.
Gradually, Stephanie adjusted to her new life and, a few months
later, she was out with her new friends when she was introduced to
Keith Scanlan.
As Stephanie told him about her past, he gasped. "But... but
you look so... normal!" he exclaimed.
The two began dating and Stephanie was thrilled when Keith asked
her to marry him.
There was just one cloud on the horizon. "It won't be the same
without Mum and Dad there," she said.
"They must come," Keith said, "Give me their number."
Stephanie's dad answered and Keith explained.
"My daughter knows the situation," her dad said. "There's no
way we can come."
Keith turned to Stephanie shocked. "He's hung up on me."
In the end, an uncle gave Stephanie away.
She was sad not to be on her father's arm on this special day
but she told herself it was better to be marrying a man she truly
loved.
She hoped she might be reconciled with her parents when she
gave birth to her son, Nicholas, and again Keith rang them.
"I'll pass the news on to her mother," was all her dad said.
"I hope she and the baby do well."
Today Stephanie, 25, of Bundaberg, Qld, is expecting a third
baby in April.
Priscilla lives a few streets away and the sisters see each other
nearly every day.
"I'm very happy, but life's not complete without my parents,"
Stephanie says.
"It's heartbreaking that Mum and Dad have never seen any
of their grandchildren. All I can do is hope that one day, they
will also leave the religion and join us. We'd welcome them with
open arms."
|