Reincarnation: Chapter Seventeen

Mr. Houser pulled the cart up to a small building which looked like a chapel and looked back at me saying:

“Here we are girl, Mother Superior will be awaiting on you.”

I didn’t move, still looking at the backs of the girls moving away from me.

“Well let’s get a move on with you." Mr. Houser was saying "Sister Teresa Mary here will show you the way."

Sister Teresa Mary whom I had not noticed emerged from shadows which had concealed her and stepped up to offer me a hand off the cart, and also reaching for my small knapsack.

“Here here darling," she said, her large brown eyes looking dull in the light.

"Mother doesn’t like to be kept waiting."

I dismounted still looking around hearing Sister Teresa, mumble to herself “I guess best to get you settled first in your room before evening prayer, and I expect you be hungry after the long journey and all. Best to get you fed too."

She looked at me expectedly to follow her .

I hesitated looking back at Mr. Houser and he nodded that I should follow her.

“Good luck.” I could hear him say as I entered the building.

It was a side door and I was astonished by the sight of small chapel with an altar at the front but at the back was a table which looked designed to seat at least fifty or sixty people.

I guessed that the pulpit at the front of this small chapel made it a dining area as well as a chapel.

Sister Teresa led me across this room and out of the building again to an adjacent structure of two stories and upon entering I saw a long corridor running the length of the building with rooms on either side.

I saw a few sisters walking in the corridor peeking into the rooms, which I guessed were where the girls had retired.

It was eerily quiet.

A sister close to Mr. Houser said:

“Mother is waiting inside.”

 I moved toward the room which was apparently to be my new home and Mr. Houser urged me to move forward and to enter.

I did and inside there was a large woman who Sister Teresa stated was Mother Superior.
She was kneeling at the single bed in the room and did not look up as I entered. On the wall was a single picture of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The Mother Superior clasped a rosary in her hands was reciting the rosary with a familiar "Hail Mary Mother of God" prayer.

She did not look up as I entered and rather continued her prayer, muttering only “Kneel child.” under her breath as I entered. I kneeled and she continued in her prayer.

Finishing she looked sideways at me indicating with a motion of her hands that I should sit on the bed.

She took a deep breath making the sign of the cross and stood, looking at me intently.

“Well, she said slowly. We should start by letting you know what the rules are around here.”