I read this days ago and still remember it... something about the story behind these sisters, the sadness, the way you care enough to have wanted to see their joy too.

I know many sisters and those of faith who were in middle schools (and high schools) and instilled discipline. They wanted to exemplify the example of a Christian woman. But the sadness in this is that we must feel free to express all sides of us too. When I went to Catholic school, some of the clergy laughed, told stories, played cards and just "chilled" with us. Perhaps they were simply trying to relate but I guess the message is it's okay to show the human side, not the stern side always, but the silliness or relinquishing to a childlike smile. Indulging on that.

To witness and have looked up to this women yet never seeing that beauty of a smile is heartbreaking. It leaves the reader a little chilled and sad to picture. The fact that you shared the sister's name too, and the ones like it as there are many similar biblical names to take, that you wish, while she was living, she could have rejoiced and you could have seen that and rejoice too even.

You have captured wonderfully the feel here of Nuns or how they are often perceived. A piece cleverly woven with undercurrents of sadness. Nuns like most of us have some that are good and others maybe not so much. I have heard tales of such cruelty in their attempts to drive away sin from young minds yet equally of great feats of kindness. Underneath their wimples they are I guess fraught with the same flaws of personality as everyone else. Milly x