Susan Of Narnia

Chapter Two: The Church

And then she'd grown older; she'd become only more practical and progressive. Though she never liked reading when she could go to a party, she'd heard much of the authoritative books claiming the impossibility of God's existence. How could she believe?

Church was good for socializing. And Susan would go enough so that she was never looked down upon. But she'd decided long ago that God was myth just as Narnia was, and so the sermons were now an unbearable bore.

"You won't go?" Mrs Pevensie asked.

Susan shook her head. "I'll go with you all when you're back from vacation."

Mrs Pevensie stood, pressing the wrinkles out of the skirt in her dress. "All right, Susan." But Mrs Pevensie didn't sound as if everything was all right. .

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Susan couldn't get back to sleep no matter how hard she pressed her eyes shut. So once the house was empty of her family, she gave up and got out of bed. With nothing pressing to do, Susan ran a hot bath and took her time bathing and dressing.

Afterward, there was still much time before her family would be home from church, so she went to the parlor. It was quiet compared to the night before. She sat on the sofa and reached for a book lying on the lampstand. It was the book Peter had been gifted for New Year's. Susan tried to read, but could not focus on the words and wondered how Peter could like something so dull as she returned it to the lampstand.

A long oval mirror hanging above the fireplace attracted Susan's attention. At first she was hesitant to look inside as she remembered last night, but then she scolded herself. "Mirrors are not to be feared."

She noticed her curls were awry so she stood and went to the mirror, rearranging her hair until they satisfied her. But once done, she couldn't move. She couldn't help but remember back to when she was a child and how they had pretended they had become kings and queens.

Queen Susan the Gentle.

Queen Susan of the Horn.

How childish. Yet almost romantic. What would Carl think if she told him? In their imaginations, Susan had grown tall and graceful. Her black hair had reached her feet—she nearly missed that, even though hair of that length was out of fashion now.

Everyone had loved her, especially all the men. Susan had loved that, just as she did now.

But Susan liked the men in the real world much better—none of her dates had been as distasteful in name or character as Prince Rabadash of Calormen.

One difference, though, was in her fantasies Susan hadn't allowed the attentions of others to distract her from her studies or charity. She was both intelligent and kind as well as beautiful—but then a child is always better in their games than when they finally grow up.

Susan grimaced then laughed. "What imaginations we had. And, oh how I wish Carl were home today and not tomorrow. I am so bored without him." Susan left the fireplace and curled up into a ball on the sofa, waiting for her family to arrive home.

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The next morning, the house was turned upside down as Mr and Mrs Pevensie packed their suitcases for their honeymoon holiday. With their suitcases waiting at the door and Edmund waiting to take them to the station, Mrs Pevensie couldn't bring herself to say goodbye to her children.

"Are you sure you will be all right alone?" Mrs Pevensie asked for the fifth time.

"Of course, Mum," Lucy said. "You leave us every year—we always manage just fine."

"Yes, but it's different this year. You'll be traveling too and Susan will be completely alone except for ... the maid."

Susan stiffened as she suspected that her mother was about to say Carl and thought better of it. Really, they should trust her better. She was already twenty-one and hadn't even let Carl kiss her. She wasn't incompetent. But Susan smiled, stubbornly determined that her mother shouldn't worry and thus change her mind, and said, "Mum, everything will be fine. This will be good practice for me for when I have my own home someday."

"Yes, I suppose ... " Mrs Pevensie looked as if she wanted to say more.

But Edmund spoke, "We should probably leave before the train leaves you both behind."

"Yes," Mr Pevensie agreed, picking up his and Mrs Pevensie's bags. "Let's be going, dear. The children shall do just fine."

Mrs Pevensie kissed Peter, Susan, and Lucy goodbye one last time. With relief, Susan waved goodbye to her parents.

As soon as the door closed, Lucy sighed. "I shall miss them."

Susan laughed, "Really, Lu? You'll have a blast with Jill, I'm sure."

"Yes." Lucy nodded, then her eyes lit up with hope. "But I'd have ever so much more fun if you were to come, too. How we'd love to have everyone together just once. All the friends of Narnia in one place."

Susan pressed her lips together hard.

Peter said quietly, "Lucy, don't pester Susan. There's no hope."

Susan's mouth dropped open but before she could collect her wits and retort, Peter and Lucy were gone to their rooms to pack.

Finally, only one thought came to pacify Susan—tomorrow could not come soon enough, for she could not wait to be rid of her siblings and to have this house to herself. 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Do you think it's a coincidence that Susan has both chosen to forget Aslan and no longer loves God? Is it wrong that Susan likes the attention of others? Are sad to see the Pevensie children leaving? Oh, and are you excited to be meeting Carl soon . . .