Where the Sun Sets Read Online Free

slices
and peanut butter when Sister Katherine’s voice entered
authoritatively through the intercom. “Sister Ursula, will you
please come to my office for a moment?” Click. Sister Katherine did
not wait for a response.
    Sister Ursula placed a gentle hand on the
shoulder of Antonia. “You be an angel and finish your snack. I will
be but a moment, I promise I will be right back. Wait here at the
table for me.” Eye contact from the child was the only response.
Antonia looked up at Sister for a brief moment and then back to her
snack. Sister silently said a ‘Hail Mary’ for the child on her way
to the office.
    Arriving back the office, she knocked twice
and stood aside waiting for consent to enter. Sister Katherine
opened the door for her, and motioned for her to come inside.
“Sister, would you be so kind as to take Miss Josephine up to her
quarters and help her get settled?”
    “It would be my pleasure, Mother,” Sister
Ursula said as she extended her hand toward Josephine.
    “Please, see to it that she returns to the
entrance hall in one hour’s time.”
    Sister Katherine dismissed her and the child
quickly. She needed the parents’ full attention for the financial
procedures. Josephine took hold of Sister’s hand without thinking,
but once she held it she grew nervous. She glanced back to her
parents before exiting the office. Her mother’s face could not hide
her emotions. There were tears forming in her eyes. However her
face held a smile that said “I love you”. Her father’s expression
was full of love that beamed from his eyes without hesitation,
however he sternly said, “Make me proud”
    Josephine bent to pick up her suitcase and as
she straightened her back, she looked up at Sister Ursula. Sister
looked at the child with gentleness and said, “Well then, shall we
get started?”
    Sister took Josephine the long way around the
main building. She purposely took her through the kitchen. Antonia
was still sitting at the table. Her snack had been finished and her
dish had been pushed aside. “Come, child.” was all that was said.
Antonia stood and pushed her chair in. She grabbed hold of Sisters
free hand as the three left the kitchen.
    The main building housed the chapel to the
right as you entered and to the left a small library, primarily
used to keep visitors occupied as they waited. The admissions
office was located in the center, behind which was the kitchen and
dining room which exited out to the yard. To the left and right as
you stepped out of the office, were stairs that led to the dorms.
Two levels on each side. The left side housed the younger girls,
ages seven through eleven; to the right, those from twelve to
sixteen. The younger girls of each side were located on the lower
levels.
    Each dorm room was decorated exactly the
same. Two twin beds, separated by a single night stand, which held
a single lamp. There was one closet in each room and on either side
was a stand up dresser, consisting of four drawers each. A single
foot high cross hung on the wall over the night stand and a statue
was placed on either dresser. The Blessed Mother to the left, St.
Agnes on the right.
    The School building was separate and directly
to the rear of the main building. The girls exited their dorms to
the rear of the building at all times. There were several smaller
buildings placed sporadically throughout the perimeter of the
school. These were for staff and supplies, laundry and medical
treatment.
    Josephine felt totally lost. Antonia felt a
pinch of sorrow for Josephine. For some reason, Sister Ursula felt
confident that these two children were meant to be paired. She was
sure that God had placed each girl at precisely the right moment.
They stopped in the room already occupied by Antonia. Antonia had
chosen to sleep in the bed closest to the door, so Sister directed
Josephine to place her bag on the bed next to the window. Antonia
politely sat on the end of her own bed while Sister explained