Snowflakes
"Now, my children, please turn to page fifty-eight," Sister instructed. The postulants obeyed, a quiet flipping of pages filling the air.
All but one. Maria didn't seem to notice as she stared out the window.
"Oh look!" she exclaimed, standing at her desk. Her eyes widened. "It's snowing!" She bolted from her seat and ran to gaze outside.
Not seeing Sister Margaretta's mouth drop at her sudden action, Maria stared at the peaceful sight, watching the snow lay upon the sleeping garden. Her fellow postulants strained their necks to see as well.
"Maria," the Mistress of Postulants said patiently, "I'm sure it's very pretty, but –"
"Oh, Sister, may we go outside, just for a few minutes?" Maria asked, a childish hope lighting her countenance. Sister Margaretta studied her for a moment and looked around at the other postulants, all looking similarly expectant.
She smiled. "Very well," she said. "For a few minutes."
The girls had vanished before the nun could think twice. She followed the group outside, delighting in hearing their excitement. She looked over at Maria, who had turned face upward and was catching snowflakes on the tip of her nose.
Maria looked up at Sister Margaretta and laughed. The girl's eyelashes were speckled with snowflakes, and she brushed some moisture off her nose. Sister Margaretta smiled and wiped some snow off her own face.
Maria ran up to the nun and smiled. "Thank you, Sister," she exclaimed. "I just love the first snow of the season!"
