Merry Sister Mary: Three Can Keep A Secret

2: Sister Mary has a Date

St. Clare's Monastery pissed as the sun faded. Pissed? Oh dear, I thought I misspoke for a second, but no, I was correct in saying. St. Clare's Monastery pissed as the sun faded.

"Not again," sighed Mother Ariel as her tiny cloth shoes dipped in a small river of running water. "Did Sister Mabel forget the turn off the tap again?" Her shoes clapped the floor leaving wet footprints behind.

I was standing outside the door with Sister Sophia. The cries of Mother Ariel filled the convent's halls. Sister Sophia stepped over the small river.

"I think we have a plumbing problem, Mary. Not a rodent one."

"Daft as always," I responded. "Look for a mop. I'll follow Mother Ariel to the source."

I hobbled down the hall following the stream, careful my dainty shoes touched not a drop, until it led to the door of one of the shared bathrooms. Mother Ariel stood inside. She was holding the elderly Sister Mabel tenderly. The old woman looked dazed. I stepped inside and turned off the tap. Water ceased overflowing from the sink.

"I apologize, Mother Superior," said Sister Mabel, rubbing her forehead. "I had a moment of forgetfulness."

"It's quite ok, dear," said Mother Ariel rubbing the elderly woman's shoulder. "We forget things sometimes. Comes with the path of aging."

Sister Sophia appeared at the door with a mop and bucket.

"Oh my, Mabel, are you hurt?" she cried.

"She is perfectly alright," said Mother Ariel as she patted Sister Mabel's back and moved towards us. "You two need to leave. I'll handle this from here."

Mother Ariel shoved with the force of two strong men. Her strength pushed Sophia and I into the hall. The bathroom door shut behind us. A look of concern fell across Sophia's face. Was it such a blessing to live in such ignorance, I wondered.

"Poor Sister Mabel, this has been happening a lot lately." Sophia walked with me into the garden. Grand camellias hovered over us as we dipped down the steps. "Do you think she will be ok?"

"Age catches up to us all," I said. I glanced back at the bathroom door. "Some people get old and snobby as they age. Others become like children again, forgetful and lost. Don't be surprised if she doesn't get better."

"What do you mean?" asked Sophia.

I smiled while squeezing Sophia's hand. "Don't concern yourself, Sister. You are truly blessed. Now let's get you back to your prayer time."

After consoling Sophia and helping with the clean up, I spent the remainder of the evening sitting in the chapel's back pew. My umbrella, Mr. D Thomas, rested by my side. The golden letters at the base reflected back the light of many candles scattered about the room. My eyes heavy with sleep brooded over the pages of my bible. My hopes scanned the words for references to blindness. My eyes fell on a passage in Matthew. 'Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.' Other passages were not so interesting, but surely mankind has for centuries hunted through this historical text of multi-translated second and third hand accounts for answers. Either God was more encrypted than I had thought, or he was hoping I would find my own way to the answers. I recalled the curious invitation with the hidden message. This left me with a sense of unwavering excitement.

Two tickets, I thought. I wondered who I should bring. Mother Ariel would never go to see a Shakespearean play about witches and murder, and I seriously doubt any of the nuns would enjoy such an experience. I considered calling Inspector Dorsey. Our rocky friendship rested on me not sticking my nose into any more police business. He probably would not share my curiosity with the letter as I did, so I thought of the only other friend I had in town, Sergeant Leblanc. I stood up and walked to the phone in the main hall.

"Excuse me," I said into the receiver, "is Sergeant Leblanc in today?" A female voice answered back, affirming my question. Soon a smooth male voice took the line.

"This is Leblanc, how may I help you?"

"Good evening, Leblanc," I said in a most sensual tone.

"Oh my, it's you," he said with a cringe in his voice. "What can I do for you, Sister Mary."

"Well, not to worry your busy head, but I received a letter with two tickets to a lovely Shakespearean performance, and was hoping you would be interested in joining me."

"If I know anything about you, Sister Mary, you don't just invite me to come along unless there is an ulterior motive."

"My, my," I chuckled and coughed. "Nothing gets passed you. But to answer your query, yes, I have reason to believe something is going to happen at this performance, something bloody unfortunate, possibly sinister. You know me well enough that my suspicions are typically well met."

A long sigh echoed on the phone.

"I hate to admit it, but you do have a knack for finding trouble."

"And at most," I interrupted, "if nothing happens, you will have spent a romantic night with your favorite nun over two virgin mary cocktails. It's been over a month since we last spoke. Much to catch up on."

"So there be drinks served at this performance?" he reiterated.

"Undoubtedly so," I lied. Honestly I didn't know.

"Great. I'll need one. A real one." There was a slight pause. "Leave the information with my secretary and I'll see about making it happen."

"Oh wonderful news," I cheered. "It's a date."

Leblanc chuckled.

"My wife wonders about us sometimes."

After a shared laugh, Leblanc turned the phone back over to his secretary where I left all the details; all details but the mysterious nursery rhyme.

Hanging up the phone, I returned to the chapel to locate Sister Sophia. To my surprise she was nowhere to be found. Instead in place of where she was praying, a young girl knelt at the prayer candles. My presence immediately startled her. I didn't get a good look at her face as she stood to leave. All I noticed was her large auburn hair covered in many small red bows. She had left one behind beneath the candle she had lit. As with many that come through the chapel doors I had never seen one so scantily dressed with cleavage showing and the tops of her knees. She made a slight pause, an effort to turn and address me, but before anything else could happen, she skipped out the door.