Part 95 (1/2)

for a while.”

When the door opened, both girls struggled up. But it wasn't Sister

Immaculate. Teresa Louise Alcott, the bright and annoying girl from

across the hall, popped in wearing her pink cotton robe and feather

mules.

”What's going on?”

”We're having an orgy.” Marianne flopped down again. ”Don't you ever

knock?”

Teresa only grinned. She was one of the feverishly pert girls who

volunteered for everything, always completed her a.s.signments, and wept

at the Stations of the Cross. Marianne detested her on principle. Being

thick-skinned as well as pert, Teresa considered the insults signs of

friends.h.i.+p.

”Wow. You're getting your ears pierced.” She knelt down to study the

strings dangling from Emma's lobes. ”Mother Superior'll have a cat.”

”Why don't you have a cat, Teresa?” Marianne suggested. ”In your own

room.”

But Teresa only grinned and sat back on her heels. ”Did it hurt?”

Emma opened her eyes and wished Teresa to everlasting h.e.l.l. ”No. It

felt great. Marianne's going to do my nose next. You can watch.”

Teresa ignored the sarcasm and studied her newly manicured fingernails.

”I'd love to have mine done. Maybe after Sister Immaculata comes

through you could do it.”

”I don't know, Teresa.” Marianne pushed herself up to change the record

to Bruce Springsteen. ”I haven't finished my report on Silas Mamer. I

was going to work on it tonight.”