Whispering Black
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Sister Catherine stood up in front of the girl in the first seat in Mary Catherine's row. “Take out your scribblers class and do the first sum.” As they started in to work , Sister Catherine screamed “Lucy - Stop!”. Mary Catherine looked up to see what was going on.
Sister Catherine stood rocking back and forth on her heels in front of the row. She looked at the girl sitting in front of her. “Stand up please Lucy”
Lucy stood up nervously. Sister Catherine walked to the desk and turned with her back facing us. She took something out of the drawer.
"Lucy” she said quietly her back still to us. “Are you forgetting something?”
"I'm sorry sister”. Lucy was shifting her weight from foot to foot, almost hopping.
"I see.” She turned around slowly. She had two things in her hands. One was a rope and the other was a long, thick-looking belt. Mary Catherine's heart started pounding . Oh my God she's going to hang her! Someone has got to stop her. She started to get up, but Charlie held her arm. She looked at him and he motioned to his scribbler. He had written the words. Don't move or you'll get it too!
Sister Catherine walked up to the shaking child. “Lucy what is your left hand?
"A tool of Satan sister” Her shaking voice replied.
"So you do remember. Why did you write with your left hand Lucy?
"I can't help it sister! I forgets - I didn't mean to” Lucy started to cry.
"Hold it out!”
"No Sister, please Sister, I didn't mean it, I promise I won't do it again.” She begged, sobbing uncontrollably.
I SAID HOLD IT OUT NOW! She screamed.
Lucy held out her left hand. Slap! Sister Catherine brought the leather belt down on her hand. “Say it Lucy!”
Lucy could hardly speak. “My left hand is a tool of Satan”
Slap! She hit her again. “Repeat!”
"M-my left hand is a t-t-tool of Satan”
Slap! She hit her for the third time. “Now” she said. “You know what to do”
Lucy was sobbing as she sat down. She put her left hand behind her back. Sister Catherine tied the rope around her left wrist and then tied it to the desk.
"You know Lucy we wouldn't have to do this if you weren't so forgetful” She turned to the rest of us. “Carry on with your work please.” Lucy picked up her pencil in her right hand and started to write. You could see the tears hit her scribbler.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Mary Catherine Dooley lives in poverty, literally on the wrong side of the tracks. The Dooley’s life is typical of the area, populated with poor, mostly totally devoted Catholics. Mary Catherine, like her brother and sister go to the Catholic school, in their community, the place where the parents think their children have a chance to better themselves, the place where they think nurturing compassionate nuns will care for and teach their children. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
About the Author
Marilyn lives with her family in Eastern Canada, while she has been writing for years, this is her first published book. Until recently she was a self-employed software consultant.