Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

"Golly/' one of them said, looking at Connie, "at least it's nice to know who jour friends are." "So she's chicken and can't take us," the other said, not looking. "Well then, good riddance to her." And they walked away. . . . The nun's farewell Connie sat waiting in Sister M 's ioffice a little while later. She'd been waiting only a few minutes, but it had seemed like days. She wished the nun would hurry up and come, so they could get this ever with. She didn't feel good, all of a sudden, for some reason; her head was aching and her stomach was making noises, and she wished — oh come on, come on, she wished — that they could get this over -with. Sister M , when she finally did come back to the office, said nothing at first. She just sat down in her chair and she looked at Connie with those suddenly sad eyes of hers. "Well, you gonna kick me out now?" Connie said after a minute, figuring that maybe she was the one who was supposed to start the conversation. "No," Sister M said, shaking her head. "I'm not going to kick you out, as you say, Concetta . . . I'm going to let you out." "Same thing." Connie said. "No," Sister M said again, shaking her head. "It's not the same thing. Concetta. Bad girls, really bad girls, get kicked out of here. But good girls, really and basically good girls, like you — " "I'm not so good," Connie found herself saying. " — But good girls like you," the nun went on, "well, it always gives us much sorrow to find out they don't want us, any of us, and that they don't want to stay with us." Then the nun said, "We'll have to notify your father, and tell him that you want to go. Where can we locate him right now, Concetta?" Connie told her. "All right," said the nun. "I'll phone him in a little while. He can send somebody over to pick you up . . . and then you can go." Connie took a deep breath and rose and started to head for the door. "It might take a few days," the nun said, as she did. "I know," Concetta said, placing her hand on the doorknob. "And," the nun said, "meanwhile, if you want, you can keep on coming to classes. Or you can stay in your room. Or do anything, Concetta. . . . "And," she went on, smiling a little again now, the way she normally did, "while you remain here, if there's anything you want, want to talk over, anything, you just come down here and you still consider yourself free to talk with me. Any :ime, Concetta ... Do you understand, my dear?" Connie's hand tightened on the door ] knob. She tried to turn it, but she couldn't. Because it felt heavy in her hand now, and her hand felt very light, both at the same time, and she couldn't, she couldn't open the door. "If you'd like to stay . . ." She stood there for a long moment, trying. And then the ache in her head got worse, suddenly, and her stomach began to feel more and more upset. And she began to cry, suddenly. "You!" she screamed then, looking up from her hand, and over at the nun. Youuuuuuuuu!" Sister M got up. "What's the mat ter?" she asked, all concerned. "What in the world's the matter?" "You!" Connie screamed again. "Why do you have to be so nice like this? Why can't you be mean like me? Why do you have to go making me feel so bad . . . now?" She was bawling by this time; not crying, but bawling. "I don't deserve it," she said, the bawling growing louder, " — you being so nice to me." She leaned against the door. "Why," she bawled, " — why don't you just let me go in peace?" Sister M rushed from where she was standing, and over to Connie. She put her arms around the girl. She held her j close, and gentle, as she let her cry it out. And then, when the crying had stopped, she said, "Would you like me to get you some water?" "No," Connie said. "Is there anything you'd like?" the nun asked. Connie said nothing. "Is there. Concetta?" Still, Connie said nothing. "Tell me," said the nun, very softly. "Come on . . . don't be a baby. If you'd like to stay, just tell me." "You mean I can?" Connie asked. "I'm not in too hot water? Hey, how'd you know, anyway, that I wanted to stay?" Sister M just smiled that little smile of hers. And Connie, figuring she'd better get back to her classes while the going was good, whispered something about a thank you, and turned towards the door. And once again she brought her hand up to the doorknob. And this time, she saw, she could turn it, very very easily. . . . Talks with sister You would have thought Connie had taken a lease on Sister M 's office, they were together so much after that incident — that is, when Connie wasn't in class or up in her room doing her homework or spending time with lots of the girls who'd become her friends. She spent lots of time with these friends now, hour after hour, nice pleasant hours. But her happiest hours, by far, were those she would spend in Sister M 's office, whenever Sister M had the time to spare, and where they both would relax, and talk, talk, talk. They talked about many things, the two of them — religious things, lay things, what you might call hygiene things, happy things, sad things, current events things, future things, past things, all things. And though many of these conversations they had are just vague memories to Connie now, swept away by the sands of time, as they say, some of the things that happened between her and Sister M , and some of the conversations they had, these Connie will never forget. Like their conversations that day Connie was feeling blue. "I feel sometimes, Sister," she'd say, "like things are wrong, even though I don't know what's wrong. And I get all chokedup feeling inside me. And I'm really not much good, much fun, to be around . . . And I don't know what to do till the feeling passes." "Well," Sister M had said, "if I were you, I'd use that time to catch up on some of my prayers, to begin with. And I'd use it to read; that's a perfect time to sit alone with a book, you know. And," she'd asked, "you like to sing, don't you, Concetta?" At least, I hear you sometimes, singing softly, when I'm passing your room?" "Yes," Connie had said, "I love to sing." "Then sing aloud," Sister M had made lovely in minutes "'"Marvel Nails — a new liquid preparation that hardens into long, glamorous finger nails. Now you can change broken, split, bitten nails into strong beautiful nails — stronger than your own nails. STOPS NAIL BITING. Will not break or crack. Stays on until your own nails grow out. Can be filed, trimmed and beautifully polished. Each nail is made in one minute. You can do any type work while wearing fhese nails. No preparation like It. MARVEL KIT, 59* DELUXE JIFFY KIT. $1.50 If not available at your favorite store, send 65$ tor SI. 651 to: MARVEL NAILS, Dept. 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