Nun in Trouble

Chapter 1 6 year old Carolina sat eagerly among her mates as they sat on the play mat in the lesson room, ready for Sunday school lessons. Their teacher had promised to tell the story of little Samuel and they were looking forward to it. The bells chimed 8 am signaling the beginning of Sunday school and the door opened. Two women came in --- one, the Reverend mother of the chapel, Mother Beatrice and the second lady, Sister Loveth who was one of the kitchen ladies. Carolina's wide smile slightly deflated as she looked eagerly at the door for their teacher but she saw no one. "Good morning children" Reverend mother Beatrice greeted in a sweet, sing song voice. "Good morning, Mother Beatrice" the children chorused. "Alright, Sister Loveth here will be teaching your Sunday school lessons from now on. Pay attention to her and do whatever she wants you to do" mother Beatrice announced. "What of Sister Olivia? She promised us a story" Carolina spoke up. Sister Loveth frowned slightly at the intrusive child. "Sister Olivia is now in the kitchen and Sister Loveth will tell you the story, okay?" Mother Beatrice replied. Carolina nodded, satisfied. Sister Loveth and Mother Beatrice said some words to each other before Mother Beatrice left and Sunday school began. When it came to storytime, which was Carolina's best part of Sunday school, Carolina paid full attention, grasping word for word of everything Sister Loveth said. Carolina raised a hand as Sister Loveth took a break from her narration. "Yes, little one. What's your name?" Sis Loveth sweetly asked. "Carolina" she replied. "Alright, Carolina, what do you have to say?" Sis Loveth questioned. "How did Hannah have a child? Where do babies come from?" Carolina asked. Sister Loveth frowned and scolded her, "Don't ask such questions, Carolina. You should focus on the teaching and not ask stupid questions. Don't interrupt my class again". Carolina bit her lip in shame as her shoulders slumped. "Trouble maker" Sister Loveth murmured before putting on a sweet expression again and announcing that it was time for the rosary prayers. As Carolina grew, so did her love for God grow even more. When she turned 18, instead of leaving the orphanage like some kids did when they were older, she joined the monastery eager to serve God with all her heart and without any distractions. Carolina became a nun and became known as Sister Carol. Her major department was in the choir and the kitchen where she prepared meals for kids at the orphanage and other nuns, with the matron being in charge of preparing the priests and the bishop's meal. One morning, after the morning mass, the matron in charge of the sisters (nuns) had Carolina and three other sisters stay behind to clean up the cathedral. As they cleaned, Carolina hummed some lyrics of the "Ave Maria" as she wiped the pew seats. "It's Father Sam" she heard some sisters whisper and she turned around in the direction they were gazing at. A man in a black robe with the symbol of The Cross in front and a bible and some rosary beads in hand entered. He walked past the empty pew seats and left through one of the side doors. He had just come from the confession room. "He's so handsome" one of the sisters whispered and they giggled. Carolina shook her head and continued her work, muttering some words of prayer. After the work was finished, Carolina left the cathedral and headed to the side of the building where she washed her hands, still singing. "Holy God, we praise thy name, Lord of all..." Her singing was suddenly interrupted as she seemed to hear a strange sound. Carolina kept quiet and listened carefully. 'is that a baby crying?' she wondered as she headed in the direction of the voice. The sun was up and the whole compound was quiet. Only the sound of her footsteps and the strange noise could be heard. Carolina hurriedly approached the gate of the monastery, only to find a tiny, newborn baby wrapped in soft clothes and kept in a carton, behind the gates. "Ooh" she gasped as she quickly unlocked the gates. "Where are you going, Sister Carolina?" A female voice asked from afar. "A baby. There's a baby here. Someone dropped a baby" she replied as she gently took the baby out of the box, moved with pity and compassion towards the abandoned child. This was the second time Carolina had witnessed this incident. As usual, the person who abandoned the baby was nowhere to be found. Brother Peter, the person who manned the gate wasn't at his post either. "Who dropped a baby there? Where's brother Peter?" The other sister asked as she approached Carolina who was already cuddling the bloody newborn and trying to protect it from the harsh sun rays. The baby wailed as his skin reddened. It was obvious he had been under the sun a long time. "Oh, poor baby. Why are people so heartless?" She wondered with pity. "What are you going to do with the baby, Carolina?" the other sister asked as Carolina rushed away. The baby was in her bosom with her wimp shielding it from the harsh sun. "I'll take him to Reverend mother. We have to save him" she replied. Carolina climbed the stairs to Mother Beatrice's office located on the second floor of the cloistered monastery building. She knocked on the door. "Who is it? Check who it is, Sister Juan" Mother Beatrice answered from inside. Carolina entered before the sister could pull the door open. "Mother, I found this young baby outside the gates. I don't know how long he's been there. He seems to be very thirsty" Carolina said. "Get some water, Sister Juan" Mother Beatrice instructed as she put on her glasses and took a good look at the wailing newborn. Sister Juan brought a bottle of water in which Carolina uncapped and poured some water into the bottle's cap. She gently fed the water to the baby's mouth. The baby lurched at it, taking little sips and appreciating the blobs of water sliding down his parched tongue. Carolina repeated this feeding until the baby seemed satisfied. Carolina smiled at the baby and the baby cooed, now searching for his mother's nourishment. "Ooh" Carolina exclaimed in astonishment as the baby searched desperately for her teats through the black robe. "Carolina" mother Beatrice called out. "Yes mother" Carolina replied, smiling on seeing satisfaction and joy on the baby's face. Its body was still stained in blood and the umbilical cord was tied around its navel. Mother Beatrice took off her glasses and began, "We can't keep taking in children, Carolina". Carolina was shocked. "But, mother..." "Listen to me, Carolina. The orphanage is too small and we're running low on funds. I and Sister Juan here were just discussing on how we'd size down our budget for the coming year" Mother Beatrice added. "But we can't just leave the poor child on the streets, he's been entrusted in our care!" Carolina declared. "I know, Carolina. But this should be the last time this happens. Sister Juan, have Sister Maria come take the baby while you, Carolina will get your robes washed. You're preparing tonight's dinner. You can leave" Mother Beatrice said. Carolina was heartbroken but there was nothing she could do. She headed downstairs, handed the baby to the sister in charge of the nursery, Sister Maria and went to her room.