Brendan, I think you may be overextending some religious thinking (it is the season) and overlooking the point that nuns are not a very good focus for sexual energy and yet that's what jean is doing in DeDaumier Smith's Blue Period. Maybe the idea of beautiful and talented nun is what the young man needs to hit his head against to continue the hurt of adolescence, and when his art and manhood mature enough, he can focus on "the American Girl in Shorts." After all, jean never hears from sister Irma but stays in touch with bambi kramer! Will