If You're going to San Francisco
"Mary, I hope you have a wonderful new life in San Francisco. Will you be teaching with your sister?" asked the school's Reverend mother about Mary's biological sister, a nun, who followed a classmate to San Francisco and was teaching music at a parish school.
"No, I'm going to join a cloistered convent."
"Oh you'd make a wonderful teacher, Mary."
"I chose not to. "She mumbled.
"May God Bless you Mary."
"May he bless you too." Mary had felt void of emotion lately. She said goodbye without tears.
Once she arrived in San Fan Francisco, she was met by her Aunt Elizabeth. Who then took her home.
"Mary I'm sorry for your loss. I understand how you feel." She had been devastated when she learned of the death of Mary's parents five years ago and now felt the same way about Mary's fiancé.
"I don't think you do." Mary said coldly.
"I am very sorry for your loss, though, dear. Will you be joining your sister as a teacher?"
"No, what churches have a cloistered convent?"
"You aren't going to teach?"
"No" Mary said quietly.
Poor, dear. Maybe Robert can talk to her when he comes home, thought Elizabeth of her husband a psychologist. Once Mary was shown her room, she declared she would stay there until dinner. Robert had just come in the door.
"Hi Robert."
"Hi Elizabeth. Where is Mary?"
"Oh, Robert I'm so worried about her. She's really depressed."
"It's understandable. She's so young and war is a horrible way to lose a loved one."
"She refuses to leave her room until dinner."
"Maybe I can help."
"Oh please do Robert!"
"I will honey."
There was a knock at the door.
"Hi, Robert."
"Hi, Father O'Brian. Still can't stand Angelica's cooking?" He asked of the priest's housekeeper.
"No I told her I'd been invited to dinner. You are kind enough to tell that your door is always open."
"Why don't you fire her if she can't cook", asked Elizabeth.
"Oh it doesn't seem right. She is such a sweet older Italian woman. She thinks working for me is wonderful! Has your niece arrived yet?"
"Yes, she's very upset", said Elizabeth.
I will pray for her. Do you think she'd want to talk to me?"
"She's told me about her desire to join the convent. It's all she wants, it seems."
"Maybe we can talk after dinner."
A few minutes later, Mary came down for dinner.
"Father O'Brian, this is my niece Mary."
"Hello, Mary."
"Hello, Father. Aunt Elizabeth was telling me about the convent. Could you tell the Reverend Mother I want to become a nun?"
"I can give you her phone number, Mary."
"Oh thank you, Father!"
The next morning Mary called the convent and explained hastily why she wanted to join the convent.
"Reverend Mother I feel now that since I can't be William's bride, I am called to be a bride of Christ."
"If you truly feel that's God's will. I would be happy to accept you as a postulate", the Reverend Mother replied. She then gave more information about the religious order and the convent. Mary was convinced; this is where she'd belong. She had visited her sister earlier and didn't think she could work with young children, she wanted to spend her life in solitude and reflection.