Call Me Kat

A continuing story.

It had been only a few days since Lucy began her school career. During the three days of the first week, she had made two new friends, Susan and Gloria. She had also filled many pages of her notebook with lines of carefully written letters of the alphabet and memorized the entire alphabet.

She was looking forward to this new week and what she would learn. The morning began in the usual flurry of activity—adults bustling to prepare breakfasts, children hurriedly getting dressed, and the faint clang of Sister Agnes’s brass bell echoing in Lucy’s thoughts. She didn’t want to be late. Sister Agnes would be at her usual station at the top of the stairs leading to the big double doors, ringing her big, brass bell, which beckoned everyone to get in formation. “I can’t be late” she told herself as she hurried on her way.

Class started promptly at 8 o’clock. Mrs. T stood at the front of the classroom, paper in hand, and as she had done each morning, she called out the names of each student, who would then announce “Here.” When she had finished and returned to her desk, a soft knock was heard at the door, and it slowly opened. Sister Rose entered, and as Mrs. T met her, they began to speak very softly, then Mrs. T nodded.

Then, turning toward the class, Mrs. T looked at the students, her gaze stopping on Lucy. All eyes in the class now turned to also look at Lucy, everyone wondering what could be happening. Lucy sat, frozen, also wondering what had happened. What had Sister Rose said to Mrs. T for her to single her out among all her classmates?

Mrs. T spoke gently. “Lucy, gather your things and please come here.”

Lucy quickly gathered her belongings and walked to meet Mrs. T and Sister Rose. Standing still and silent, she waited for whatever would happen next. Lucy didn’t know what to think. Had something happened at home? Had she done something wrong?

Mrs. T spoke softly. “Lucy, please go with Sister Rose. You will be in her classroom.”

Lucy stood in silent awe. Could this be truly happening? She was being removed from Mrs. T’s class and would be in the French class! Lucy’s heart raced, and inside, she was jumping with joy. She wasn’t quite sure how this had come about, but she was glad it had.

What Lucy had not known was that when she had told her Grandmother and Uncle Ted about her first day at school and had mentioned her wish to be in the French class, they had clearly heard her and had worked to make it happen. Her Grandmother had relayed to Lucy’s mother that she should speak with Sister Agnes and have Lucy transferred to the French class, which she did.

Sister Rose greeted Lucy and invited her to come with her next door to the French classroom. Sister Rose was very nice and always smiled when speaking with the children. She appeared tall, slender, and very pretty to Lucy. She was also the youngest of all the nuns and had not yet taken her final vows. She clearly enjoyed being with the youngest students, and they all loved her. Lucy was overjoyed that Sister Rose would be her teacher.

What a wonderful surprise to begin the week!