Mother Superior

A chapter from a book I hope to write.

“Sister?”
Sister Jesse turned to see Sister Rose hurrying toward her. She was smiling as usual and very excited.

“Mother Superior arrived this morning”, she said.
“Wonderful”, Sister Jesse responded. “Have you met with her?”

“Yes, she called me in this morning for a chat and to review my records”.
“Well then tell me”. Sister Jesse scrunched up her cheeks and furrowed her brow. “Is Mother S. really a witch with a crooked nose thats full of warts?”

“No way!” she laughed. Sister Rose has known Sister Jesse for eight years and is her roommate. She enjoys her company and her devilish persona. Her friend invariably pursues undertakings that fall outside the box, sometimes quirky, but mainly unconventional tasks that push the boundaries of everyday living and her perceived responsibilities.

“Mother Superior wants to meet with each of our group sometime this week, nothing heavy, just small talk and a review”, said Sister Rose. “She asked me to ask you to call her for an appointment”.
“Okay”, smiled the Nun. “I’ll call her”.
Sister Jesse returned to her office and deciding not to wait called Mother Superior’s office for an appointment.

“Hello”.
“Hello, this is Sister Jesse Jarnel and I’d like . . . “
‘Oh hello”, interupted a happy voice from the other end. “I am so glad you called Sister Jesse. I have heard so much about you and cannot wait for us to meet”.
“I feel the same about our meeting Mother Superior”.

“Oh, just call me Sister Analeta. I’m kinda leery of that ‘better than thou’ title”.
Sister Jesse laughed, she liked the ‘break from the norm’ attitude of her new supervisor. Hopefully they will get along famously.

“When will you be available to stop by my office and chat”?, asked Sister Analeta.
“I’ll make time at your convenience” Sister Jesse responded.
“Would today be to soon?
“Actually, I am free as we speak”.
“Then c’mon down young lady”, giggled Sister Analeta.

Sister Jesse checked for messages then headed to their meeting.
Her knock prompted an immediate, “Come in please”.
She entered and Sister Analeta moved to the front of her desk, arms spread wide for a big hug.

“Have a seat”, the Nun said and returned to her chair behind her desk.
“I have had the most enjoyable day, setting up shop, meeting hospital staff and still finding the time for mini conferences with your colleagues”.

Sister Jesse smiled while observing a stack of folders on the desk to the left of the nun and a single folder to her right.
Sister Analeta reached for the lone folder, “Your retiring Mother Superior, Sister agnes, was so orderly and her files are so up to date.
“To break the ice, so to speak, I grabbed her files on the Sisters that serve here at Mother of Mercy hospital. You know, to sorta get to know one another and together review your accomplishments”
“I see”, murmured Sister Jesse. “I understand you served in Oregon before coming here”, she added.

“Yes, served seventeen years at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Portland. Thank you for asking”.

Sister Analeta opened the younger Nun’s folder, pages of each notable occurrence were paper cliped together. She reached for the top packet and her eyes followed her index finger through the print.
“I see you became head of the hospital’s Children's Adoptive Agency, about four years ago”.
“Yes”.

“Wonderful”.The Nun continued skimming the page, “Well!” Sister Analeta looked up from the page with surprise. “Says here that you have placed forty-one children with families?”.
“Yes”, The younger Nun nodded.
Sister Analeta’ mouth dropped, “That’s absolutely extraordinary!”
“Thank you”, Sister Jesse replied.

The older Nun was awed at Sister Jesse’s success. She stared at the younger Nun for the longest time trying to think of additional accolades without seeming facetious. She grabbed a second packet and continued chasing her finger.

“Wow, this is neat, you held a flower show in a Kroger Supermarket with proceeds of $1300.00”.
“Well, sorta”, Sister Jesse replied. “We encountered a minor problem”.
“Oh? I do see here that $250.00 was subtracted from the total. Why was that?”
“I insisted that we pay for the fumigation”.

“Fumigation?”
Sister Jesse lowered her eyes, “Yes, the flowers were infested with insects and Kroger’s had to fumigate their entire produce department”. Sister Analeta grappled with this news.

“But should the place where you purchased the flowers be made responsible for the infestation?”
“I think not. I purchased the flowers through an ad I read in a magazine. They were very cheap and direct shipped from Indonesia”.

“From Indonesia?”
“Yes”. Sister Jesse perked up and spoke rapidly, But the insects were beneficial insects, Green Lacewings and parasitic flies and were confined mostly to the Bachelor Buttons”. The Nun slowed and spoke in a firm voice. “No harm was done at Kroger’s and only three customers demanded their money back”.

A slight smile could be seen on Sister Analeta’s lips as she reached for another paper clipped packet and began reading the summation.
The Nun spoke in an astonished tone, “You organized a football game between children from Our Lady of Guadalupe and Blessed Sacrament?”.

“Yes, This was five years ago, before I was offered my current position” said Sister Jesse.
‘But these schools, are they not educators for the mentally challenged?”
“Yes”.
“Proceeds from ticket sales, concessions and donations totaled $5800.00?. Is that correct?”

Before Sister Jesse could answer the Nun picked a newspaper clipping from the bundle and read aloud.
“An unprecdented sporting event is being held at Central High School this Friday night. A gridiron battle is brewing between two schools that prepare mentally challenged children to progress to living in adulthood”.

The young Nun interrupted sharing good news, “Sister Analeta, I’m so proud of our community. Everything was donated, the high school stadium, the uniforms, the coaches and even volunteers took tickets and sold hot dogs and . . .”

Sister Anleta’s index finger pointed heavenward, her way of saying be quiet.
“Another minus, $1200.00. What would that be for?” Jesse is nervous and wished she was anywhere else.
“A problem developed Sister”.

The older Nun eased back into the cushiony leather chair claiming a more comfortable position, “Please explain”
Sister Jesse hesitated, “Well”, she said thinking back to that night. “At the end of the evening we had a lost boy”.
“How did that come about?”, asked Sister Analeta.

“Trevor Stokes, he just ran out of the stadium”, Sister Jesse looked past her interviewer. “We called 911 and bunches of people were mobilized to look for him. His parents were so distraught. They stayed close to the police checkpoint hoping for information as soon as it became available”.
Sister Analeta waited for more testimony but none came forth. Thumbing through the packet papers she removed another newspaper clipping.
“A mentally challenged boy, Trevor Stokes, was discovered by his parents on their front porch still clutching the football from a game played at Central High last night., Mr. And Mrs. Devin Stokes who live five miles from Central High were returning home after a three hour search that began at the stadium and fanned out for several blocks in every direction. The search included sixty or more volunteers on foot, sixteen police cars, and a helicopter”.

Sister Analeta put the article on the desk and looked to the ceiling as if trying to solve a puzzle.

“So, did they find out who took the boy home?”
“He just ran all the way”, Sister Jesse said.
“Unbelieveable!”, said Sister Analeta and began reading the clipping once more.

‘When questioned Trevor detailed his trek from the stadium’s end zone. A trek that included asking directions from strangers, climbing fences, traversing six sets of Union Pacific Railroad tracks , then crossing two interstate systems, stopping to water at Cromwell Park then on to his porch at 2218 oak street”.

Lines on Sister Analeta’s brow deepened and she asked , “Why did the boy keep running after scoring a touchdown?”
Sister Jesse shook her head slowly, “I’m just not 100% sure”, she offered.
“Seems I can get more information from these newspaper reports , chided Sister Analeta.

Another paragraph stated, “Children's Protective Agency, along with Mr. & Mrs. Stokes met with officials from Mother of Mercy Hospital including Sister Jesse Darnel. The hospitals attorney was also present”.
Sister Jesse fidgeted, “That was where the $1200.00 was spent”.

The Nun rested her gaze on Sister Jesse and waited. She observed the Nun shifting her posture and wiping her sweaty palms on the pleats of her Habit.
“Okay”, blurted Sister Jesse. “During our endeavor the coach for Blessed Sacrament received a call and had to take his wife to the hospital, she was in labor. So I felt it was up to me to take charge of the team. What could be difficult? I’ve seen these contests on TV several times”.
“You mean football games?”, The older Nun wanted to set the record straight.
“Yes, football” Sister Jesse answered.

“Anyway, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Guadalupe were tied one to one and the referee said there was only time for one more chance to win the game”.
“You mean the score was six to six and only time for one more play?”, asked Sister Analeta.

The Nun threw her hands up, “Whatever”. Sister Jesse’s eyes grew wide as her remembrance brought back the joy of that time. “Sister,the kids were so sweet. Their eyes wide with anticipation and so eager to please. And Sister Analeta, they understood their burden. They knew they had to cross the last stripe in the grass to make a point and win.
So we gathered together and planned our move.

“Wait a minute coach” said the older Nun sarcastily. Cross the last stripe in the grass? You mean the goal line, right?”
“I guess”
“You gathered together, means you huddled?. And you called a play? Sister Analeta was getting louder and noticeably frustrated.
“Well, we got close together so nobody could hear what we were saying”, said the younger Nun.
Sister Analeta rolled her eyes, “Then what!, she almost shouted.

Sister Jesse began talking hurriedly. “I told Nate and Winston that when Robert threw the ball to Trevor they were to push their opponents this way and that way” She motioned one hand going right and one going left. “They were so excited, We will! we will! they yelled”.

“Okay, okay, what happened next!”, gushed Sister Analeta.

“I told Trevor that when he saw the open space between Nate and Winston to run that way. He smiled and said ‘I will!, I will!’. I told him to run beyond them and he was so eager he could hardly wait to do as I asked.. He said ‘I will Sister, I will’. Sister Analeta, flags were flying and the crowd was so noisy and the kids and I were tremendously excited.

I patted Trevor on his head and said, once you reach that open space…Take it on home!!!”.
A merciful silence permeates the office. Sister Analeta’s frustration has ebbed and Sister Jesse’s fist ceased pumping the air. The younger Nun spoke first. “He said, I will Sister Jesse, I will”.
Sister Analeta reached for another of Sister Jesse’s paperclipped accomplishments but returned it with a sigh. “Maybe another time”.