All in the Blue Unclouded Weather by Robin Klein

Author:Robin Klein [Klein, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2017-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Miracle

‘It’s going to be a fruit-cake with almond icing on top,’ Cathy said. ‘Mum’s going to bake it soon as she gets back from town, but we probably won’t ever get any. It’s being put aside for Eleanor Grantby’s visit.’

‘Four whole eggs,’ said Isobel respectfully. ‘My mum never uses more than two for a cake.’

‘Eleanor Grantby’s kind of special,’ said Cathy. ‘She’s that stuck-up thing who lives on a big property up the river, used to board in town with the Sylvesters when she was at high school. Grace and her were in the same class, and she’s coming here to stay while they make their debut together. It’s still three weeks off, but you should see the way Grace is carrying on! She’s already got Mum chasing all over town buying proper cups and saucers that match and a guest-towel and some serviettes.’

‘Why don’t we make the cake and have it all ready as a surprise when your mum gets back?’

‘But I’ve never baked anything much before, only rock-cakes. And no one would eat them, so we threw them out to the chooks, but they didn’t fancy them, either. Mum tried to paint one and use it for a paperweight!’

‘Fruit-cake shouldn’t be all that difficult. It’s just the same as an ordinary one, only you chuck in raisins and sultanas and lemon peel…’

‘Isobel, I don’t think we’d better. That oven’s a cow of a thing and Mum’s the only one who knows when it’s hot enough for baking. These are the very last eggs, too.’

‘But I want to do it. It’s part of my vocation to act kind to someone every day from now on. There’s a Mission on at our church and Sister’s been making us go to early Mass every morning and Benediction at night, too, but I’m glad now she did. It’s how I discovered my vocation.’

‘What’s a vocation?’

‘Kind of something holy you’re going to do with your life.’

‘Holy? I thought you were going to Hollywood and be in films…’

‘All that Hollywood business was a mistake. The first day the Mission started, Father Cassidy—you should see him, Cathy, he looks just like Gary Cooper, no kidding!—visited all the class-rooms and he seemed to be looking at me directly with these piercing blue eyes. That’s when I realised. I’m not going to be a film starlet any more when I leave school. I’m going to be—a nun!’

‘But…that would mean you couldn’t ever have a perm, and you’d have to give up tap-dancing! Honest, Isobel, I just can’t see…’

‘Doesn’t matter. I’m going to give up everything and mortify my flesh. I’ve got such a strong vocation I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I ended up doing miracles and being made a saint! Father Cassidy—he’s got one of those Kirk Douglas chins with a cleft in it—was saying everyone could be saints if they tried. He reckons every little act of kindness counts, every kind word and thought and deed.’

‘Like in Girl Guides?’

‘It’s not a bit like Girl

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.