From the room I could hear my friends playing in the schoolyard below, so I called from the window that I’d be right down. One girl named Linda, my rival for best spelling honors, shouted up to me, “Brenda, come down the fire escape-it’s faster.” She was right-it was faster than going around to the front door and then circling the building to the back schoolyard. Were there any nuns around? None that I could see. Should I take the chance? I had already lost fifteen minutes of valuable play time, and my mom expected me home by 4:00. I scampered down the fire escape and joined the line of girls waiting their turn.
Catholic School in New England10
