Where the Sun Sets  
       
       "The child's parents are both dead then?" The father interrupted. 

     "No, sir, they are not.  The mother has passed away but the child's father
 
is presently incarcerated." 

     The mother looked as though she may faint.  Sister Katherine walked to the
 
water dispenser and poured a cup full.  She then offered it to the mother and
 
without missing a beat, continued on with her saga.  "You see, apparently, for

the past few years, the father had been forcing the mother to prepare the child

for him."  Sister glanced at Josephine, who was watching her shoes bang into

each other.  "When he would come home from work at night, he expected the child

to look every bit like the mother.  He wanted Antonia to perform unspeakable

acts.  He made her do things, no woman, certainty no child should ever be forced
 
to do.  And he would..."  the Sister broke from the sentence.  She took a

measured glance at both parents in the room.  "Apparently the mother could not

take it anymore and finally came to her senses and decided it was time to put

a stop to it.  She hid the child in a closet and when the father returned home

from work, she met him at the door. There was a very big fight.  It ended with
 
the father smashing the mothers head in with his own fist.  Fortunately the

mother had the good sense to call the authorities before the arrival of her

husband.  However by the time police had arrived, it was too late for the woman

and the father was then taken away in handcuffs.  He was incarcerated and the

State is secure in their belief that he will, upon sentencing receive twenty-
 
five to thirty years without parole.  The child was later found hiding in a
 
closet but it is believed she witnessed the whole incident." 

     "Believed?" questioned the mother. 

     "Yes, you see she has not spoken a word since the incident.  No one knows

for sure if indeed she has ever spoken.  No one had ever seen the child.  Birth
 
records showed that she is the age of seven.  However no doctor in the State had
 
seen her since her birth.  She had no school records. Apparently she had never
 
been outside of her house or off their property until she was brought to us.  One
 
can only imagine the horror she had to deal with in her short life time.  But God
 
always fills our plates for us doesn't he?  He gave each of us our road; it is

for each of us to travel." 

     "So you believe the child--" the mother tried to interject. 

     "It is not my place to believe or disbelieve ma'am, my job is to take care of
 
the children who are placed with me for educational purposes.  This is not an

orphanage or foster care facility and we will not be accepting the poor and

homeless.  There are several agencies out there for which this is designated. 

The problem we have is that the child is not an orphan, as her father is still
 
alive.  So therefore, she may not be placed in an orphanage.  Foster care is

being sought for her and she shall remain here until such time, for educational

purpose only.  You need not fear her stay.  Now let us return to the matter at
 
hand, shall we?  Your little Josephine."  Sister Ursula's eyes met the little
 
girl's.  She had mis-spoken perhaps.  She had not believed the child to be

listening but she could see something in her eyes.  Something that said she heard
 
and understood.  She would have to be more cautious in the future. 

     Sister Ursula and Antonia had just settled down at the table in the kitchen,

with their snack of apple slices and peanut butter when Sister Katherine's voice

entered authoritatively through the intercom.  "Sister Ursula, will you please come
 
to my office for a moment?"  Click. Sister Katherine did not wait for a response.     

      Sister Ursula placed a gentle hand on the shoulder of Antonia.  "You be an

angel and finish your snack.  I will be but a moment, I promise I will be right

back.  Wait here at the table for me." Eye contact from the child was the only

response.  Antonia looked up at Sister for a brief moment and then back to her

snack.  Sister silently said a 'Hail Mary' for the child on her way to the office. 

     Arriving back the office, she knocked twice and stood aside waiting for consent
 
to enter.  Sister Katherine opened the door for her and motioned for her to come

inside.  "Sister, would you be so kind as to take Miss Josephine up to her quarters
 
and help her get settled?"

     "It would be my pleasure, Mother," Sister Ursula said as she extended her hand

toward Josephine.

     "Please, see to it that she returns to the entrance hall in one hour's time." 

     Sister Katherine dismissed her and the child quickly.  She needed the parents'

full attention for the financial procedures.  Josephine took hold of Sister's hand
 
without thinking, but once she held it she grew nervous.  She glanced back to her

parents before exiting the office. Her mother's face could not hide her emotions. 

There were tears forming in her eyes.  However her face held a smile that said "I

love you".  Her father's expression was full of love that beamed from his eyes

without hesitation, however he sternly said, "Make me proud".   Josephine bent to
 
pick up her suitcase and as she straightened her back, she looked up at Sister Ursula. 

     Sister looked at the child with gentleness and said, "Well then, shall we get
 
started?" 

     Sister took Josephine the long way around the main building.  She purposely took
 
her through the kitchen. Antonia was still sitting at the table.  Her snack had been
 
finished and her dish had been pushed aside.  "Come, child." was all that was said.

Antonia stood and pushed her chair in. She grabbed hold of Sisters free hand as the

three left the kitchen. 

     The main building housed the Chapel to the right as you entered and to the left
 
a small library, primarily used to keep visitors occupied as they waited.  The

admissions office was located in the center, behind which was the kitchen and dining
 
room which exited out to the yard.  To the left and right as you stepped out of the
 
office, were stairs that led to the dorms.  Two levels on each side.  The left side
 
housed the younger girls, ages seven thru eleven; to the right, those from twelve

to sixteen.  The younger girls of each side were located on the lower levels.  Each

dorm room was decorated exactly the same.  Two twin beds, separated by a single night
 
stand, which held a single lamp.  There was one closet in each room and on either

side was a stand up dresser, consisting of four drawers each.  A single foot high

cross hung on the wall over the night stand and a statue was placed on either dresser.

The Blessed Mother to the left, St. Agnes on the right.

     The School building was separate and directly to the rear of the main building.

The girls exited their dorms to the rear of the building at all times.  There were

several smaller buildings placed sporadically throughout the perimeter of the school.

These were for staff and supplies, laundry and medical treatment. 

     Josephine felt totally lost.  Antonia felt a pinch of sorrow for Josephine.  For
 
some reason, Sister Ursula felt confident that these two children were meant to be

paired.  She was sure that God had placed each girl at precisely the right moment.

They stopped in the room already occupied by Antonia.  Antonia had chosen to sleep
 
in the bed closest to the door, so Sister directed Josephine to place her bag on the

bed next to the window.  Antonia politely sat on the end of her own bed while Sister

explained the house rules to Josephine.  Sister then excused herself, after witnessing
 
through the rooms only window, an incident out in the yard. "I will be back shortly.

I do not want either of you to leave this room until I return."  She made eye contact
 
with each girl and feeling confident she was heard, left them alone.  




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