E-VITA

Brenda’s Story (collected by Sara de Freitas)

I had come over to the Netherlands for a conference that was for women in the Catholic church, concerned with providing their rights.

The summer was a warm one and the group between sessions wandered around the town of Amsterdam taking in the sights. Brenda was walking along beside the canal when she and the group happened upon a shabby looking canal boat with a group of hippie looking people sitting on the outside. They were very friendly and invited the ladies in for a tea. Brenda accepted their invitation and got into the boat, her friends desisted from joining her. But always one for the adventurous spirit I went in and joined them.The guys were really nice and they talked and talked. I only half noticed that they were using strange substances and didn’t really think that was very good but they seemed like nice and interesting people so I stayed for a while longer. Then after some time, police suddenly got onto the boat and everyone on the boat including me was arrested and taken to the station. I tried to protest my innocence but they took me away too.

It was only when I got to the station that I got a chance to say that I was not with the group. They listened to my story about being part of the conference and that I had only joined them for a cup of tea. They asked for my travel companion’s contact details so they could corroborate my story. When they had confirmed this they released me from custody. My companion came to collect me from the station that evening and we went back to the Hotel for dinner. We laughed at the story for ages that evening. Another time when my curious spirit had led into trouble!

Brenda is a lady of 70 who lives in England. Born to unmarried Irish parents she was placed in a Catholic orphanage as a small baby. Her experiences there led to her mental illness and she was sent to a mental home when she was a teenager for destructive behaviour to the orphanage. She later found her way through religious feminist groups to greater self-assurance as she was blessed with a curiosity and excitement for life. This is what led her to such interesting stories.

Brenda was never to return to Amsterdam, but she often tells the story to her friends, and it always gets a laugh from them. She is still religious and a passionate believer that women should become priests.
 

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