Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-19
Daily !SheEs SseDg'V
'Outside the Door

/ about Perry. ReVeren d
Mother Sister Imclda found
herself clutching the raytighter
Reverend Mother looked upset;
usually she was calm, a real
saint.
Ellis father wants us 10 make
sure Perry always goes home
with his goyerness. II his mother
should call. he's not to go with
her not 10 see her"
Reverend Mother looked as il
she'd like TO say something more
but couldn't find the words.
That's all. thank you, Sister"
For the first time, Sister lmelda
wished she weren't the FORTRESS
She PRAYED Mrs. Barclay wouldn't
come 10 The door. She prayed tina,
whatever Mrs. Barclay had done,
her husband would forgive her,
and let her see her little boy. II
couldn't have been real wicked
ness she couldn't have meant
real wlckedneSS.
But Mrs. Barclay didn't come,
that much prayer was answered.
And then ii was Reverend Mother
Feast Day. and Sister Imelda was
too busy opening the door to think
of anything else.
The school was giving an enter
talnment Parents were invited.
Which meant mothers and aunts
and GoVerneSseS because
fathers didn't get off in the after
noon.
She was signing for a telegram
when she felt a tug at her sleeve.
Perry, dearw She looked
down at him in his khaki soldier
suit. He had two lines to say,
and the flag to wave three times.
what Is 1t, love: Did Sister
Monica send you with a mes
sage?"
He shook his head.
"Do you like me In my uni
fOrm?"
He had run downstairs to show
her! She admired it extravagantly
"But you shouldn't he here,
dear. Hurry back :. your class
is first on the program! I'll run
up and see you =.
SISTER" His voice was a
whisper. his eyes desperate. II
shouldn't be surprised II my
mother my mother might
come to see me. Tell her not to
go without me :"
Poor little Perry. Poor lamb
Sister Imelda watched him trudgt
upstairs. And what could hi:
mother be feeling by now :. three
weeks without look at him?
HUDDLED IN CORNER
But no one was there. She
peered through the glass curtains
and her heart jumped. On the
corner a little figure waited, hud
died into itserlf. With a LITTLE
hat. and little muff
Poor thing. She'd rung the bel
and run away like naught.
child. But she was waiting on tn,
corner. She knew it was Sister
Imelda who would open the dool
F. and look through the glass
curtains and see her waiting
Sister Imelda ran through the
parlor and up the back stairs, tc
the huddle of little boys just off
the stage. Giggling and pushing
Geliciously naughty in their shirts
and shorts. with Sister Monica
struggling frantically to get them
changed.
Perry was sitting on the step at
the turn, his chin in his hands,
waiting. Sister Imelda beckoned
him down, her fingers to her lips
1T II my MOTHER"
"She's outside, Perry"
Sister Imelda hurried him down
to the buffers pantry behind the
parlor. She must find something
TO put on him. God was good
There was the big box for Bun
dies for Britain things col
lected from all their converts. She
dug into it and found snow suit
"Put this on. love E"
Nobody saw them in the base
ment. The lay sisters were on tn,
fourth floor, getting the ice cream
party ready for the kindergarten
Sister Imelda opened the trades
mems door.
"TeII mother Sister Imelda
sent for you 10 minutes. Ten
minutes, Perry. Tell mother to
leave you at the front door :"
He wouldn't be missed for tina
time, one little boy. in the excite
ment of Reverend Mothers feast
day.