Sunday Girl
(425 pagges, 101,634 words)

By M.J. Hamm

Summary:

Alena Hughes Conner - a  wife and mother of four sons - logs on to the internet one day to search for a bible quotation.  She wanders into a porn site, which changes her life.

Set in the Flint Hills of Kansas, this is the story of a woman who finds her true self by overcoming the limitations put upon her by her earlier environment.  Her learning is facilitated by Tony, a gay man she meets through the porn site, and her college roommate, Penelope, now an academic administrator at The University of Kansas, where Alena returns to enter the graduate program in Psychology.

Alena's journey of love, denial, forgiveness, betrayal, acceptance, surrender, wholeness and peace are achieved through God, her friends, and spurred by the life-changing impact of a tornado.

Genre: Mainstream: self-discovery

Audience: Women 25-90, from conservative to liberated, will find much to identify with in this novel about becoming whole, balanced and complete.  They will walk Alena's tempestuous path through the internal process of knowing, loving and accepting the Self, and finding peace.

Plot:  Having lost her identity when her four sons grew up and left home, Alena Conner is faced with putting back together the pieces of her life and discovering who she is.  For starters, she finds this does not include her husband.

Time frame:  September 1999 - June 2001

Chapter by Chapter

Chapter 1 -- Rituals

             Alena Hughes Conner, Sunday school teacher and mother of four sons, has a new hobby—a pornographic web site where she watches live naked men and chats with her new best friend, Tony, a gay viewer at the site.

            Alena’s admiration of the male physique is what roped her into marrying Wade Conner in the first place, mesmerized by his tall, muscular body and handsome face when she was fifteen.  Now she’s bored, disillusioned and confused after 29 years of marriage.

Chapter 2 -- Identity

             Wade and Alena live on the 13,000-acre ranch she inherited. Poor little rich girl has a new identity, Playgirl. Her favorite naked model, Marcus, feeds her ego and makes her feel special. But is that who she is?

Chapter 3 -- Paradox

            A disc jockey, Tony can’t believe Alena’s never heard Blondie’s music. Alena’s history in fundamental ity is revealed. She’s a paradox: striving for righteousness but unable to tame the flesh. Is there hope for this mixed-up, middle-aged porn addict?

Chapter 4 -- First Mistake 

            Alena first had sex with Wade when she was only fifteen. Was it her sexual appetite or her hunger for acceptance?

Chapter 5 -- Jackie 

            Aroused by the naked models, Alena attempts to seduce Wade and teach him new tricks she’s learned at the site. She becomes Jackie, her sexual alter ego.

Chapter 6 -- Safe Sex 

            Wade is alarmed by her aberrant approach, and she feels rejected. Jackie was the name Wade had given her genitals. Alena had divided herself into two women, one prim and proper, the other, Jackie—a lustful vamp. Jackie couldn’t be trusted so Alena had turned to religion for control. Will the porn site be Jackie’s ultimate victory?

Chapter 7 -- Old and New 

            Alena’s four grown sons come home for Thanksgiving. During dinner she is shocked to discover her son, Chase, has many similar traits to Tony. Could he be gay?

Chapter 8 -- Journey 

            Alena is coerced to travel to Oklahoma with Wade to purchase a new round hay-baler. Meeting up with old friends from college, Jim and Gloria, Alena discovers she’s not the only one disillusioned with her life. Gloria and Alena determine to embark on life’s inward journey. Will Alena find what’s she’s searching for?

Chapter 9 -- Truth 

            Facing her fear of being alone, Alena realizes a truth she’s denied for years. She’s already alone.

 Chapter 10 -- Need 

            Wade needs Alena to help the ranch hands round up cattle to prepare for a blizzard. The cattle and horses can sense a storm brewing, but Wade is oblivious to the impending clash in his marriage. Does she need him?

Chapter 11 -- Resolve 

            Once Alena moves into the guest bedroom, she resolves to move on with her life and applies for admission to The University of Kansas, a hundred miles away. Will Wade divorce her if she moves out?

Chapter 12 -- Tradition 

            Christmas brings memories, family gatherings and traditions. Is she willing to sacrifice family for her own needs?

Chapter 13 -- Reality 

            Alena’s second son, Hugh, and his wife, Melinda, announce they’re expecting a baby. One by one, Alena explains to the four sons that she’s moving to Lawrence and going to graduate school. Will Wade be able to accept this reality?

Chapter 14 -- Choices 

            As Alena prepares to move she realizes she’s been blaming Wade for choices she has made. Now it's time for her to make choices for herself, not everyone else, including her domineering mother. Can Alena live with her choices?

Chapter 15 -- Roles 

            Beginning classes at KU, Alena attempts to settle into her new role as student instead of mother. She reconnects with her old college roommate, Penelope, now the head of the psychology department. Penelope directs her to focus on her primary role—being herself.

Chapter 16 -- Transition 

            Alena is overwhelmed with setting up her new apartment and tests. She falls apart and gets drunk, alienating her neighbors. Will she survive the transition?

Chapter 17 -- Freedom 

            Although busy with studies, Alena still finds the time to visit the porn site. But now she’s bored with it and realizes how judgmental she was before discovering the site. Tony explains that she’s no longer addicted to porn because now she’s free.

Chapter 18 -- Love 

            Penelope expounds on why Alena has low self-esteem. Alena overcomes her struggle to love the child within through a paranormal experience.

Chapter 19 -- Home 

            Alena’s youngest son, Trent, develops a sudden nostalgia for home and persuades her to spend a day riding horses at the ranch during spring break. Tony encourages her to apply the principles of Power of Now, a book he mailed to her, and to stay in the present moment. Riding in her beloved Flint Hills, she discovers the true meaning of home.

Chapter 20 -- The Present 

            Continuing to focus her energies in the Now, Alena hosts dinner for her son Chase and his friend, Josh. She blurts the question, “How long have you two been dating?” Chase is relieved to share his secret with his mother. But can Alena not worry about Wade’s and the other brothers’ reaction? Or will she leave it in the present?

Chapter 21 -- Adjustment 

            Penelope continues to help Alena understand that her mother suffers from abandonment issues. The sons force Alena to make family plans for Easter and Wade agrees to host it at the ranch. Chase asks to bring Josh. Does this family have any idea of the adjustments they need to make?

Chapter 22 -- Approval 

            Resurrection becomes the topic of Alena’s meditation during Easter. After a joyous day celebrating Easter with the family, Wade attempts to persuade Alena to come home. Will he approve her answer?

Chapter 23 -- Embarrassed 

            The brothers begin to question Josh’s presence and Chase’s sexuality at Easter. Alena is appalled that they are more concerned with family embarrassment than their brother’s happiness. A professor, Ed Hamer, invites Alena out to dinner to celebrate her acceptance into the graduate program. She hasn’t been on a date for thirty years. Will she embarrass herself?

Chapter 24 -- Friction 

            Tension builds as the brothers babble about Chase. As each one confronts Alena with Chase’s homosexuality she confesses that it is true and defends his right of choice. Tony consoles Alena that “Iron sharpens iron,” but will her family survive without getting burned?

Chapter 25 -- Decision 

            Wade and Alena celebrate their 30^th Anniversary in Lawrence. Alena is torn by the love she has for this man but doesn’t waver when he threatens her with divorce if she doesn’t move home. Why is Wade in such a hurry? Is there another woman?

Chapter 26 -- Independence 

            Alena becomes a grandmother as Melinda gives birth to Tristan Alexander Conner. Alena plans an Independence Day picnic for the family. After Chase confesses to his dad that he is gay, Wade refuses to attend but Josh does. The boys and Josh get into a fistfight during a football game. Alena is devastated. Is independence worth the turmoil?

Chapter 27 -- Denial 

            Wade and Alena divide up the ranch, but Wade balks at giving Alena the ranch house. He never believed it would come to this. A neighbor finds Alena’s mother collapsed in the backyard, but Alena is positive that it’s nothing serious.

Chapter 28 -- Forgiveness 

            Alena is in denial. Her mother has had a massive stroke and is dying. Alena is faced with telling her mother goodbye and appeasing the past.

Chapter 29 -- Time

            The family prepares for a funeral and the brothers offer gestures of reconciliation towards Chase. Tony reveals that he was in a monastery for two years. What else will be exposed in time?

Chapter 30 -- Alone 

            The divorce is final. Alena discovers that Tony had been married and that Wade has a girlfriend. Will Alena always be alone?

Chapter 31 -- Switch 

            Wade’s congenial attitude towards Alena switches to antagonism, and he refuses to join the family for Thanksgiving. When Alena confronts him about his commitment to family he changes the subject and confesses to his mistakes that he’s recognized from listening to a tape on marriage. But where did he get that tape?

Chapter 32  - Obsessed 

           When Alena discovers that Wade has become everything for Monica that Alena had wanted him to be for her, she becomes obsessed with  tracing his credit card expenditures, bank statements and phone bills.

Chapter 33 -- Surprise 

            Tony surprises Alena by flying to Kansas City. He proves himself to be a true friend, coming to her rescue when she needs him. But Wade disappoints again.

Chapter 34 -- Friendship 

            Alena is awed by the devotion of her friends: Tony, Penelope, other students and even Marcus, the model from the porn site. Ed Hamer makes advances. Will Alena succumb?

Chapter 35 -- Together 

            Wade shocks Alena by inviting her and the sons to the ranch for Christmas so Alena assumes Monica is out of the picture. It’s a fairytale holiday. Will Alena and Wade get back together?

Chapter 36 -- Again 

            After a beautiful night of love making, Wade shuns Alena the next day. Alena drives back to Lawrence determined to put Wade behind her, but he calls and apologizes. Will she subject herself to him again?

Chapter 37 -- Mistrust 

            Wade drives to Lawrence to make amends. Alena has never been able to resist his passion. But can she trust him?

Chapter 38 -- Betrayal 

            Chase returns home early on Valentine’s Day to discover Josh in bed with a girl. Alena receives roses from Wade, but she’s suspicious. She checks his bank statement and discovers he sent roses to Monica too. She drives to the ranch at midnight to confront him. Will Monica be in his bed?

Chapter 39 -- Closure 

           Alena sells her mother's house to Wade.  As he helps her sort and dispose of her mother's possessions, Alena copes with letting go of the past, Wade as well as her mother.

Chapter 40 -- Accept 

            Babysitting Tristan, Alena learns to surrender to the moment and enjoy her grandson. But when she goes to help her Aunt Emma recover from a tornado she learns more valuable lessons. Can Alena learn to accept her circumstances?

Chapter 41 -- Whole 

            The tornado changes Alena as she learns to accept the present, not agonize over the past nor look to the future for salvation. For the first time in her life, she feels whole. Can she help Chase get over Josh?

Chapter 42 -- Peace 

            Completing her master’s degree, Alena moves back to the ranch house. The world has become new. She can’t forget the tornado experience or the effectiveness of the Red Cross as she learned to aid the victims. Wade and Ed each ask her to travel with them during the summer. Will she choose Ed? Wade? Or will she decide to go it alone?