Free The Bright One by Elvi Rhodes Page A

thank you not to call Ennis the back of beyond,’ Molly said.
    Kieran was studying the map, and Kathleen’s instructions.
    â€˜She says we’re to start by crossing the road,’ he said. ‘And then we make for the river.’
    â€˜Cross the road!’ Molly was horrified. ‘However will we do that? Just look at the traffic!’
    â€˜We’ll do it all right,’ Kieran assured her. ‘If ’twill make you feel better we’ll cross with a crowd of other people.’
    â€˜Well, hold on to me tight, girls,’ Molly said nervously. ‘Don’t let go of my hands whatever you do!’
    Since the convent was no more than a mile and a half from the station, Kathleen had suggested they should walk rather than take a bus.
    â€˜If Kieran knows where we’re going I’d much rather walk,’ Breda said. ‘We might not know where to get off the bus.’
    â€˜Of course I know!’ Kieran assured her. ‘Here, you take my hand and you and I will walk in front, so. Mammy and Moira can stay close behind us.’ He shortened his long stride to fit in with her small one.
    Kathleen’s instructions couldn’t have been more clear, he thought. Really, he had no need of the map. He was slightly disappointed at this; he’d looked forward to working it out, facing the challenge of the city. They walked east until they came to a bridge over the Liffey.
    â€˜This is where we cross over,’ he said.
    In the middle of the bridge they stopped, and stood looking at the river, turning from one side of the bridge to the other to see it in both directions.
    It was wide, black, murky, with seemingly little flow to it; not nearly as good as the sparkling rivers of their own county and not at all to be compared with the beautiful Shannon.
    â€˜But at least we’ve seen it,’ Molly said. ‘When we read about the Liffey, we can remember we’ve seen it.’
    They crossed to the north side of the city, where the convent was situated.
    Breda, clutching her brother’s hand, walked the streets with her head permanently tilted back. So many buildings, all of them so high, and of pale stone with fancy doorways and huge windows. ‘Mammy, look at the windows!’ she called out. ‘They’re so big!’
    â€˜Don’t I know it,’ Molly said enviously. ‘Aren’t I thinking how light it will be inside those rooms!’
    They were at the convent almost before they knew it. A plate on the big gate – ‘Convent of Our Lady of Lourdes’ – confirmed it.
    â€˜There you are!’ Kieran said. ‘I told you I wouldn’t lose you!’
    Kieran tugged on the bell at the gate. It was quickly answered by a young nun who led them across the flagged forecourt and into the house.
    â€˜Sister Teresa is expecting you,’ she told them. ‘I’ll let her know you’ve arrived.’
    They waited in the wide, handsome hall, with its wood-panelled walls.
    â€˜And will you look at that ceiling, Mammy?’ Breda whispered. It was not a place where you raised your voice.
    They were all four of them craning their necks to admire it, so high, so elaborately scrolled and moulded, that they didn’t hear the nun’s soft tread as she came back to them.
    â€˜And is it not beautiful?’ she said. ‘Sister Teresa will see you now.’
    Sister Teresa came forward from behind her desk to greet them. She would have seemed imposing in any garb, but her long, grey habit, tied around her ample waist with the Francisan cord, the black veil and high, white collar (like a baby’s bib at the front, Breda thought), all added to what would have been an awesome severity had it not been for her ruddy cheeks, like polished apples, her blue eyes glinting behind round, steel-framed spectacles, and the welcoming smile on her face.
    â€˜Reverend Mother is sorry she can’t greet you herself,’ she