Sister Lucia stood at the windows of her office, looking out over the courtyard of the convent.
The sun had long since set, but the walkways and lawns were lit up by lampposts, bathing the crowds in a warm yellow light. However, they were not hooded and the light pollution was blocking out the view of the stars. She would have to have that rectified.
She stepped away from the window and moved back to her desk. She sat down in the large chair, took in her new office. Large felt rug on the floor, comfy couch running along one end of the room, trophy cabinet along the other, massive fireplace behind her. But best of all, more than enough space for her other... activities.
Sister Lucia smiled, and turned to the binder on her mahogany desk. If she was to mold the Convent of St. Theresa of Avila in her own image, she would need a personal assistant who was not one of the nuns. As it turned out, putting out an advert in the local village that the new Mother Superior needed someone to handle her phone calls, calendars, and... miscellaneous tasks, it had caused quite a stir, and she had been flooded with CVs. The job was so coveted that even though she had specified only women need apply, there were some thinly disguised CVs from the local unemployed men.
Those, needless to say, went directly into the fireplace.
Just as she was about to close the binder and call it a night, one CV jumped out at her: twenty-two years old, went to a Catholic high school, mother sick with cancer... desperate for the health insurance. Sister Lucia smiled to herself as she removed the paper from the binder and set it aside.
Tomorrow was going to be fun.
*****
"Good morning, Mother Superior."
Sister Lucia regarded the nun in front of her. It was no secret that Sister Ethel had been expected to take over from the previous Abbess, and she was shocked when she was passed over in favor of an outsider who was older than Sister Ethel, had spent less time in the habit. Sister Lucia could read the barely disguised fury on her inferior's pretty freckled face.
"Morning, Sister Ethel. What may I help you with?"
"Well, I and the other sisters wanted to welcome you to Saint Teresa's, and to- "
"What other sisters?"
"Excuse me?"
"You talk of other sisters, but as far as I can tell, you're the only person in my office right now."
Sister Lucia was aware that she gave off a menacing aura and most lesser people cowered in her presence, but Sister Ethel sat up straighter and cleared her throat.
"The role of Mother Superior is a very demanding one, and you might not always have the time for the minutiae of the convent. The other sisters have me as a leader, to bring to you any concerns- "
Was this rehearsed? "If they have you as their leader, what does that make me?"
"It's just that- "
"I not know what sort of arrangement you had with Sister Ruth, God rest her soul, but I'm in charge now and- "
"I understand that, Sister, but- "
Sister Lucia slapped the table, and Sister Ethel flinched. Looks like the girl's composure was not as strong as previously thought.
"You will not interrupt me again, and you are to always refer to me as Mother Superior, or so help me God I will make your life hell. I will address you and the other sisters at suppertime, and unless the convent is on fire, I do not expect to see any of you in my office between now and then. You are excused."
The steel was back in Sister Ethel's eyes, but she stood up, bowed, and left the office.
Sister Lucia got up from her chair and walked over to the window. The snow had melted but the spring sun was not yet upon the convent, and the nuns sweeping the courtyard were wearing scarves and mittens. There was a soft knock on her door. Had they already disobeyed her orders?
"Come in."
The door opened, and someone walked in. The footsteps were too slow for a nun, who were used to rushing around. Sister Lucia turned around.
The girl was black, something Sister Lucia had not been able to pick up on the phone last night. Her hair was not done in any of the latest trends and was held back by a band, but Sister Lucia could tell it had been undone very recently. Last night? This very morning? The girl was dressed in a sensible long-sleeved shirt and skirt, and her shoes were flat pumps. Her acting skills were subpar and she was obviously uncomfortable. Sister Lucia stifled a smile.
She walked up to the girl and sized her up. The girl's head barely made it to Sister Lucia's chest, and she shrunk away from the Mother Superior. "Who are you?"
"Alice Meyer, ma'am. I'm here for the personal assistant job."
"Firstly, I am the Mother Superior, and that's the title I expect you to use at all times. Second, you are here for the job interview. Working for me takes a lot of grit and determination, it's not as easy as I made it out to be in the interview. And when I look at you, Alice Meyer, I'm not sure you have what it takes, and I don't know where you get the audacity to assume you've gotten the job without even meeting me.
She looked like she was on the verge of tears, and was visibly trembling. Sister Lucia had to stifle a smile.
"I promise, Mother Superior, whatever you need, I'll do it well, and I'll do it fast. But I really need this job."
"Do you need this job, or does your mother need the insurance?"
Alice stared at her blankly.