Skipping Mass? BUSTED!

I was a little hesitant to sub at the private school on Ash Wednesday given that it's a Catholic "holy day of obligation" and that I would probably be the only person walking around the halls without ashes on my forehead. Nonetheless, a job is a job, and I have to pay rent this week.

While the entire school (students and staff, alike) was at Mass, I hung out in my classroom and caught up on my reading. Later, I ventured down to the teachers' lounge for a bottled water from the vending machine. As I approached the door, I encountered another teacher in the hall and greeted her with a "hello" and a smile. She stopped, looked awkwardly at me and said, "Are you lost?"

Confused, I replied, "Haha, no. I'm just getting a drink."

Her facial expression suggested a perplexity of thoughts.

"Shouldn't you be at Mass?"

I quickly realized I was in midst of being busted for religious truancy.

"Um..." My inner coward was shining bright. "I'm not a student."

"Oh," she said abruptly as she went in the teachers' lounge, allowing the door slam in my face right behind her.

I felt awkward. We're talking throw-back-to-junior-high-when-your-teacher-called-you-out-for-cheating-on-your-spelling-test awkward. I couldn't even go in the teachers' lounge to buy my water anymore. It was all of the sudden "off limits" to me, again, like I was back in grade school.

I turned around and made a B-line for my classroom. Once I was safely inside, I pondered the situation. Why did she think I was a student? Yes, I look young, but high school? Come on.

Then I noticed my day's attire: khaki pants and a navy blue and white striped shirt- nearly identical to the students' required daily uniforms.