Judy DeCroce

Judy DeCroce, a former teacher, is a poet and flash fiction writer. She has been published in Pilcrow & Dagger, Amethyst Review, The Sunlight Press, Cherry House Press- Dreamscape:An Anthology, and many others. She is a professional storyteller and teacher of that genre. Judy lives and works in upstate New York with her husband writer/artist Antoni Ooto

Kathy’s Story

The room smelled of dust- chalk dust- and wet wool as the 5^th graders settled into the customary rosary chant.

It happened 12:15 till around 1:15 or later daily, if Sister Mary Annuciata didn’t wake up.

Someone chosen to start, began the monotone incantation of bead one and the next person followed, and the next, and the…

By person ten the good nun was usually sound asleep and snoring softly.

That’s when “our time” started.

Karl and the boys began a card game.

Rachel headed to the cloakroom with Sara to read.

Kathy, Tina, and Mary stepped out for a coke and bagel down the street.

The others began various longed for activities.

At 1:30, someone would shout the last couple of prayers, waking the sleeping nun.

And the afternoon progressed into academics.

But on this particular day, the good sister didn’t wake at 1:30…

2:00…

2:15.

By 2:30, everyone was nervous.

William, the bravest, was egged into creeping up and poking the extremely quiet teacher.

“I think she’s dead!” he stage whispered.

Dead?

Dead!!

All 23 students sat in perfect silence waiting for the dismissal bell.

At 3 o’clock, it rang and solemnly they filed out.

Everyone wondered how long you spent in jail or…

HELL for killing a nun.