Missing Sisters -SA (16 page)

“How lovely,” said Sister John Bosco, whipping her handkerchief from her sleeve and blowing her nose. “I shall put them at the altar of our Blessed Mother, and we will be reminded to pray for your continued happiness.”

Alice looked a little hidden behind her clutch of blossoms. “Ow,” she said, “thorns.” Then she laughed. “Details,” she continued, almost to herself.

“Shall I call the children inside?” said Sister Francis of Assisi. “To avoid a scene?

Although you know what they’ll be like if we don’t let them stay outside until suppertime. The first snow and all,” she explained to the Coynes.

“Might you postpone leaving a bit?” asked Sister John Bosco.

“The roads, Sister,” said Mrs. Coyne, “they’ll only get worse. And we’ve a lot of settling in to do tonight.” She smiled at Alice, who stared down into the roses, blushing.

“Well, then, Sister, you just have Sister Isaac Jogues take Ruth Peters inside for a few minutes to warm up,” said Sister John Bosco, anxious at least to avoid the worst scene of all. She had already withheld from Alice the information of Sister Vincent de Paul’s stroke and quiet death last week; she would do everything she could to launch Alice as confidently as possible.

“And now if we’re ready? Alice, button up,” she said.

But Mrs. Coyne was already bending over, wrapping the scarf around Alice.

So Alice walked with roses down the long, dark hall, to where Sister Francis of Assisi, Sister Francis de Sales, and Sister Francis Xavier stood flanking the broad double front door.

Both sides of the door were opened to add to the ceremony, and a square of blowing snow showed beyond. Mystery, adventure, and hope. Between the Coynes, Alice stepped out into the world. The girls in the school yard saw her go, and clambered up the short rise to the inside of the fence, calling
Good-bye, good-bye
, and the nuns behind them waved like mad, their black veils slowly turning white with the drifting of snowflakes.

Also by Gregory Maguire

LEAPING B EAUTY:
And Other Animal Fairy Tales

SEVEN S PIDERS S PINNING

SIX H AUNTED H AIRDOS

FIVE A LIEN E LVES

FOUR S TUPID C UPIDS

THREE R OTTEN E GGS

A COUPLE OF A PRIL F OOLS

ONE F INAL F IRECRACKER

THE G OOD L IAR