A Girl Called Blue by Marita Conlon-McKenna

Author:Marita Conlon-McKenna [Marita Conlon-McKenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847174581
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2012-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

One Sunday, about a month later, she was helping Sister Monica brush up the leaves near the front door of the convent when she saw a woman approaching. It was a visitor. As she drew nearer she recognised her by her grey tweed coat. It was Eileen, a distant relation of Jess’s, the woman who came to take her out twice a year and gave her the money.

‘Good morning, Sister,’ she smiled. ‘I’ve come to collect Jess O’Reilly and take her out for the day.’

Sister Monica looked up, her face upset, her wrinkled old hands shaking. ‘Oh, my dear. Please … please … step inside to the parlour.’

Blue stood with the brush in her hand saying nothing.

‘No, Sister,’ the woman said softly. ‘I’ll just wait here for Jess. Please tell her to hurry along.’

Sister Monica stepped forward and caught hold of the woman’s arm. ‘Please, my dear, come inside and sit down for a minute.’

The visitor looked uncomfortable, but, seeing the agitation of the elderly nun, agreed to go inside.

‘Blue, run and get Sister Agnes or Sister Regina if you can find them,’ instructed Sister Monica. ‘We’ll be here in the front parlour.’

Blue dropped her brush and took off up the stairs. She’d try the chapel first, then the office, then the garden. Sometimes the nuns walked in the grounds, saying their prayers. The chapel was empty, the office locked and she was just about to run down the back stairs and out the kitchen door when she spotted Sister Regina on the upper landing, having words with Big Ellen at the door of the nursery. Obviously there was some trouble – Big Ellen looked like she was about to cry.

Blue raced up the stairs. ‘Please, Sister,’ she interrupted. ‘Sister Monica wants you to come down to the parlour immediately to one of the visitors.’

‘Oh!’ the nun sighed. ‘Can she not even deal with the simplest of things!’

‘She says you have to come. The visitor is looking for Jess.’

Sister Regina turned around at once and made for the staircase. Big Ellen looked relieved. Blue ran after the nun, trying to keep up with her. As they approached the parlour Sister Regina told her to resume her sweeping.

In moments, the air filled with a loud wailing as the woman, obviously, was told the news about Jess. The parlour door flew open.

‘But my child! My child! I trusted you to care for my child!’ screamed Eileen.

‘Control yourself,’ urged Sister Regina.

Blue stood, appalled. The visitor in her shabby grey coat was overcome with grief. Her face was livid white, her eyes desperate. She looked like she was going to faint, just as some of the girls in the church did in the mornings.

‘Please, Eileen, come back in and sit down!’ soothed Sister Monica. ‘You’ve had a terrible shock. We’ll get you a glass of water.’

‘I gave her into your protection and look what has happened!’

Blue couldn’t believe it. She suddenly realised that the woman standing in front of her was no ordinary visitor, no distant relative.

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