Our Lady of Mercy convent included property that runs south to a brook in the woods. Angelina studied hard to become a teacher; the sisters are kind but firm with her as they expect her to become kind but firm with her future students.  Sometimes it was kind and firm, or kind yet firm. Whichever way said, the word firm was drawn out.

After class and before vespers Angelina liked to go down to this particular spot and pick through an item or so that filled her wonder bag. She had learned that if she opened that bag to select an item or two, all the rest spilled out and had be sorted.

There were trout in this brook, and if she sat still long enough they ignored her and she wondered what was on their minds as they sometimes darted and sometimes were almost motionless and gulping. She wondered if a trout would go to heaven if it died, and would the mayor or her uncle be there.

“I am longing to sit by the banks of the river

There’s rest for the ones by the evergreen trees

I am longing to look in the face of my Saviour

And my loved ones who have gone, they are waiting for me.”