Cross posted from Madrona Project
Title: The Tale of Sister Immaculada
Author: kira
Word Count: 570
World: Small village near what was once Madrid
Main Characters: Sister Maria de Immaculada Concepción
Borrow: yes
Summary: Sister Immaculada hates the Feast of Fools…
Sister Maria de Immaculada Concepción grumbled softly to herself, while preparing for the day’s lessons. It was the first of Aprilis, which meant a month long celebration for the Feast of Fools. One would think, being born on the first, the teacher would embrace it as her own, but Sister Immaculada hated it with a passion. Now a dour old battleaxe of a woman, even in her youth she did not suffer fools gladly and she had no patience for those who tormented others, however light-heartedly. As a result, she was not looking forward to teaching a group of unruly young adolescent boys. Normally they were the bane of her existence, but this month long feast promised to bring out the worst in every last one of them and she foresaw several hours spent in confession as she recounted the myriad of ways she wanted to punish them if given half a chance. Not for the first time did she lament that they were not half as good as the older boys, the ones on the cusp of becoming men, that she taught art history to. Those boys were a pleasure to teach.
Sighing softly, she knelt before the picture of the Holy Family and the large crucifix and prayed to God to give her the strength she needed to get through another school day. Sister Immaculada added a special prayer, asking God to keep Fernando Gonzales Santiago from being a major thorn in her side. She had heard stories from the other sisters, who had taught him in previous years, and she was not looking forward to today. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with sand in her inkwell, creepy crawlies in her desk drawers, and the worst one of all, an animal bladder filled with air that made rude noises when sat on, hidden away under her chair cushion. Despite her misgivings about today, Sister Immaculada figured if the Lord Jesus could survive all his temptations and come out on top, then dealing with a naughty child should be a piece of cake… she hoped. With a little snort of wry amusement, if nothing else, Father Tomás would certainly enjoy listening to her confession. It was times like this that Sister Immaculada wished more parents would stop sparing the rod and spoiling their children.
Making the sign of the cross, she rose stiffly to her feet. Sister Immaculada grabbed the school bell from her desk and shuffled out of the classroom. Today was her day to ring the bell to let the children know it was time to come inside. She made her way to doors leading out into the main courtyard, nodding at the various nuns and priests she encountered, and wishing them a Blessed Feast of Fools. It did not take long for her to reach the outside. She stood next to the massive wooden doors and rang her bell. The children scurried to get into two lines; one for boys, the other for girls. They filed past her, quietly entering the school. As Fernando walked by, she caught sight of the large toad; he was trying to hide behind his back. Holding the large silver cross that hung around her neck, Sister Immaculada prayed to God for the patience of a saint, as she had the feeling it was going to be one hell of a start to the Feast of Fools.
Author: kira
Word Count: 570
World: Small village near what was once Madrid
Main Characters: Sister Maria de Immaculada Concepción
Borrow: yes
Summary: Sister Immaculada hates the Feast of Fools…
Sister Maria de Immaculada Concepción grumbled softly to herself, while preparing for the day’s lessons. It was the first of Aprilis, which meant a month long celebration for the Feast of Fools. One would think, being born on the first, the teacher would embrace it as her own, but Sister Immaculada hated it with a passion. Now a dour old battleaxe of a woman, even in her youth she did not suffer fools gladly and she had no patience for those who tormented others, however light-heartedly. As a result, she was not looking forward to teaching a group of unruly young adolescent boys. Normally they were the bane of her existence, but this month long feast promised to bring out the worst in every last one of them and she foresaw several hours spent in confession as she recounted the myriad of ways she wanted to punish them if given half a chance. Not for the first time did she lament that they were not half as good as the older boys, the ones on the cusp of becoming men, that she taught art history to. Those boys were a pleasure to teach.
Sighing softly, she knelt before the picture of the Holy Family and the large crucifix and prayed to God to give her the strength she needed to get through another school day. Sister Immaculada added a special prayer, asking God to keep Fernando Gonzales Santiago from being a major thorn in her side. She had heard stories from the other sisters, who had taught him in previous years, and she was not looking forward to today. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with sand in her inkwell, creepy crawlies in her desk drawers, and the worst one of all, an animal bladder filled with air that made rude noises when sat on, hidden away under her chair cushion. Despite her misgivings about today, Sister Immaculada figured if the Lord Jesus could survive all his temptations and come out on top, then dealing with a naughty child should be a piece of cake… she hoped. With a little snort of wry amusement, if nothing else, Father Tomás would certainly enjoy listening to her confession. It was times like this that Sister Immaculada wished more parents would stop sparing the rod and spoiling their children.
Making the sign of the cross, she rose stiffly to her feet. Sister Immaculada grabbed the school bell from her desk and shuffled out of the classroom. Today was her day to ring the bell to let the children know it was time to come inside. She made her way to doors leading out into the main courtyard, nodding at the various nuns and priests she encountered, and wishing them a Blessed Feast of Fools. It did not take long for her to reach the outside. She stood next to the massive wooden doors and rang her bell. The children scurried to get into two lines; one for boys, the other for girls. They filed past her, quietly entering the school. As Fernando walked by, she caught sight of the large toad; he was trying to hide behind his back. Holding the large silver cross that hung around her neck, Sister Immaculada prayed to God for the patience of a saint, as she had the feeling it was going to be one hell of a start to the Feast of Fools.