Birgitta the Nun

Part 27 - The Reunion

The journey started out sullenly. The nuns were sullen because they were happy to see each other but didn't want to admit it. The nag was sullen because of the extra load. And the merchant was almost sullen because the sullen air infected her. But it was a nice day, with a blue sky and a persistent sun, the weather not wanting in on the sullenness.

Birgitta noticed her feet aching. As long as she was walking she could ignore it, but now the pain came creeping up. She removed her boots and gave her tired feet some air and massage. Then her eyes fell upon the abbess' feet—and her shoes, or the lack thereof. A pair of ridiculous clogs were dangling from her venerable toes, making her look not so venerable at all. Birgitta followed the dangling movement of the clogs. She couldn't take her eyes off the ridicule. It was pathetic. The clogs were painted yellow and green - a rather screaming combination on the background of a black and white vestment - and it seemed they were put there with the sole purpose of mocking her.

The abbess stretched out on her seat. She put her hands behind her head, leaning against the wall, and watched Birgitta as she watched her clogs. No comment was made. No explanation was given. Then, the abbess lifted one of her legs and put it across the other, making one clog go in a small arch above the other. Birgitta's eyes followed the operation. Now the clogs had switched places and their dangling took on a slightly irregular form; the abbess' feet no longer being side by side, but on top of each other, made the clogs bump into each other in the most unreliable manner.

Birgitta clenched her fists. The abbess watched her watching her feet. Then, the cart jolted and one clog dropped. It unhooked itself from the abbess' toes and fell to the floor. Birgitta jerked, as if the thud of the clog had caused her pain. The abbess picked the clog up and put it back on her resting foot. The irregular dangling continued. But soon it was interrupted, again: the same clog fell. Birgitta snatched the clog and threw it out of the cart. The abbess shrieked and got to her feet. And the fight was on.

The merchant pulled hard on the reins and made the cart come to an abrupt halt. Both nuns lost their balance and fell in a heap on the floor. They looked at the merchant in surprise, but her back was still turned to them, shoulders heaving.

She took her time, the merchant, breathing heavily, then slowly turned towards the nuns and said, "Maybe we should set up camp?" She smiled a strained smile and made it clear it wasn't negotiable.

The nuns collected themselves and did as they were told. A small flat spot, not too close to the road, would serve as a camping ground and the company all helped to make the arrangements.

Birgitta had never seen a tent before and curiously followed the merchant as she hammered the tent pegs. At first it didn't look much. But then, after some pulling and hoisting, a small cloth-house took shape. Birgitta was almost impressed. She wasn't sure she wanted to sleep in it, by no means, but still it was something to behold.

The abbess narrowed her eyes as she saw the merchant hand Birgitta a sleeping bag. It was a full size sleeping bag. But she didn't point out the injustice. Birgitta was scared of the dark—that would be her punishment for tonight.

Birgitta didn't dare to mention her fear of the dark. She waited till the merchant and the abbess were fast asleep. Then she roamed the cart. Any kind of light was welcome.

She found all sorts of useful devices: lanterns, flashlights, candles etc. She put them all up, every brightening object she could find, and made a scene around their camp. The light from the spectacle penetrated the tenth cloth just enough, and Birgitta soon had her sleep. When morning came everything was burned out. Every device used to brighten up the camp was out of either power, oil, or stearin.

The roar from the merchant woke the nuns up. The rest of the morning they kept very discreet and very quiet.