The Calling by Fleur Beale

Author:Fleur Beale [Beale, Fleur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780143774754
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

Sunday arrived, the day for the ceremony when Jeannie and Ada would become postulants. They’d wear black veils now with their black dresses and get their new names. They’d be called Sister and I would still be ordinary old Molly. I tried to accept God’s will with grace and humility.

Maybe I’d been wrong to answer God’s call instead of obeying my father and marrying Eddie. But Mother Joseph’s parents had told her she should get married, and she’d obeyed God and not them. She’d waited and she’d studied just like I was trying to do.

I followed her and the Sisters into the church. Heni from the village shoved at those sitting in her pew to make room for me. She patted my hand. ‘Ka tae mai to ra. Kia kaha, Molly.’ Your day will come. Be strong.

And all around me, people nodded and beamed. ‘Kia ora. Kia ora.’ Two new Sisters and another in waiting — truly a day for celebrating.

Father Soulas conducted the service with grace and dignity. I tried not to grieve as my friends recited the Postulant’s Act of Consecration. Mother took Ada’s hands. ‘Welcome, Sister Bethany.’

Ada bowed her head. I saw happiness flash across her face. Bethany was a pretty name.

Now it was Jeannie’s turn. ‘Welcome, Sister John.’

Our new Sister John beamed, but the name was another blow to my heart. Sister John should have been my name.

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