Chapter  One

       “Carrie, what possessed you to sign us up for this volunteer project,” whined her sorority sister Marlene.  “We could be having lunch with Fred Jessop and Stan Buckman instead of driving to Ogden to help a bunch of nuns pack up their convent.  Come up Stacey, you haven’t said a word about this kidnapping . You’ve been silent about this entire volunteer idea.”

       “Marlene, when will you quit whinning. You know we have to get our volunteer hours done before the end of this semester, especially you.  If I recall, you didn’t meet your quota during the first semester. Too busy with cheerleading and that football player… oh what was his name?”

      “You’re just bitter,” snapped back Marlene. “You were at the soup kitchen while I was trying to fix you up with a date for homecoming and the Christmas Ball.”

      “Okay ladies, we’re all on the short side of our total volunteer hours for this time of the year. If we want to take a Spring Break and not use the time to catch up on our hours, a weekend at this convent is just what we need. Do I hear any more objections about this arrangement?” Carrie smiled. She looked in the rear view mirror at  Marlene to see or hear any affirmation. Marlene nodded her head.

      Carrie took advantage of a serendipitous stoplight. She touched Stacey hand, raised an eyebrow, and looked her in the eyes. “ Okay, said Stacey,  "I won’t whine about this any longer, but can I just get a few issues aired and then I’ll be a model volunteer?”

        “Okay, “ Carrie began driving again. “This will be your own chance so have at it. Then once we get to the convent you two will be model volunteers.”

         “Why the weekend?” moaned Stacey as she took out her lip gloss and spread it across her plump lips. “A weekend in Ogden is not my idea of fun.  We are staying in a convent to boot.”

          “Stacey, the convent has been condemned. The nuns need help to move out.  Father Dominic asked me if I had any women friends who could stay a few days at the convent to help the nuns. There are only two of them living there now. The convent use to house as many as 15  nuns. They are retired and probably as old as my grandmothers.  It is a historical building. “

         Marlene chimed in from the back seat,  “I understand it is the oldest convent in Utah.  It was built shortly after the railroad was completed. It has a lot of history.”

         Twisting in her seatbelt trying to face Marlene, Stacey asked,  “Why Ogden? Why not Salt Lake City?”

          Carrie smiled and looked at Marlene in the mirror.  Marlene responded, “Stacey think about your American history. Who built the railroads?  Where did they come from?  Why did they settle?

         “Well, according to Professor Kelly, everyone thought the Chinese built the railroads, but they were not the only ones. There were the Irish and Eastern Europeans looking for better work and a better life. Oh! I get it!!  Many of them were Catholics and when they settled they had children and the children needed schools. Gotcha!”   Stacey then  turned around and looked out the window.

        “What are you two babbling about?”  asked Stacey rubbing her eyes. “Holy  Moses, how long did you say this convent has been here? Why are they tearing it down?”

           “Let’s find a place to park. Meet the nuns and get started on our projects,” urged Carrie.  “We will have a day and a half to ask questions.”

            As the three young women approached the convent’s path, the door opened and a small white haired women with a wide smile and clear blue eyes shouted,  “Welcome! Welcome to St. Agnes Convent and School. I am Sister Karen Kelly.  Come, come inside and meet my roommate Sister Mary Helena. We have some tea , coffee, and some homemade cookies  ready for you.  We are so glad you can stay for the weekend.”

            Carrie was the last to enter the convent.  As she turned to  close the door behind her, a gust of wind blew and made it difficult for her to close the door. She was glad they made it to Ogden before lunch. If there was going to be a snow storm, she didn’t want to have driven up the mountain in blinding snow.