Finishing Touches Read Online Free PDF

Laura’s latest problem in an hour or so.
    Five sharp rings of the bell interrupted Cassie’s reverie and grins of relief passed along the three lines of ten pupils on the steps of the stage as the girls recognized Mother
Perpetua’s call sign. What a stroke of luck, her getting a call in the middle of class. It so rarely happened.
    ‘Girls, I have to leave you for a few moments. Please excuse me and remain quiet until I return.’
    ‘Yes, Mother,’ they chorused.
    They obeyed her command for five minutes and then, stretching limbs, they started chattering happily as they let off steam. Aileen O’Shaughnessy, the class wit, and one of the most popular
girls in the school, leapt off the stage, fastened her cardigan under her chin in imitation of a veil and picked up Mother Perpetua’s baton. ‘Girls, you’re like limp
lettuce-leaves,’ she announced in perfect mimicry of the little nun. ‘Straighten up, please. Button those cardigans!’
    ‘Like this, Mother?’ giggled Margy Kane, buttoning her cardigan on to that of her neighbour.
    ‘What other way does one button one’s cardigan?’ Reverend Mother Aileen enquired haughtily as, giggling and skitting, the rest of them followed suit until they were all
attached. ‘Now, girls, I know it’s a little out of season but I think we should sing our class anthem.’
    A wild cheer greeted this pronouncement as, with a frenzy of baton-waving, Reverend Mother Aileen began to conduct and the class began to sing.
    ’Tis the season to be jolly
    Tra La La La La La La La La,
    Stuff Perpetua’s hole with holly,
    Tra La La La La La La La La . . .
     
    ‘More enthusiasm, girls!’ screeched the mad conductor, twirling below them, the sleeves of her cardigan waving wildly around her head.
    ‘
’Tis the season to be jolly
,’ the rest of the class yelled, giving it their all, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Cassie, jolted pleasantly out of her weary stupor,
was singing as loudly as any of them. Even Laura, attached to her by her cardigan buttons, was laughing heartily beside her.
    ‘
Stuff Perpetua’s hole with holly
,’ they bellowed lustily, so intent upon their fun that they did not see the petite figure of the nun slip through the big mahogany
doors at the end of the concert hall.
    ‘How dare you!
How dare you!
’ Mother Perpetua trembled with anger before them. Aileen halted in mid-twirl, her mouth an O of dismay. The others stood stunned, trying to
smother their horrified giggles at the sight of Aileen, with her cardigan around her head, baton frozen in the air as she stared at the furious nun.
    ‘You brazen hussy, Aileen O’Shaughnessy. But what can you expect from free education? It’s the likes of you and riff-raff like you, the dregs of society, Aileen
O’Shaughnessy, that’s what you and this . . . ’ She turned to face the rest of the class. ‘ . . . this crowd of juvenile delinquents are. You are not fit to wear the uniform
of Saint Imelda’s. Guttersnipes! Guttersnipes, the lot of you. Up to the big parlour with you. We’ll see what Reverend Mother has to say about this!’
    In the horror of the moment, forgetting that they were attached to one another by cardigan buttons, the class of 3S made to leave
en masse
. Blue buttons popped all over the floor as
bodies became entangled and Mother Perpetua, almost apoplectic with temper, stabbed at those nearest her with the baton she had grabbed from Aileen.
    Ten minutes later thirty girls stood under the cold eye of Reverend Mother Patrick, the principal of Saint Imelda’s.
    ‘Aileen O’Shaughnessy, as you seem to be the ringleader you will repeat for me the . . . ditty . . . you were singing when Mother Perpetua caught you.’
    ‘Me, Reverend Mother!’ protested Aileen, with wide-eyed innocence.
    ‘You, Miss O’Shaughnessy.’
    Cassie bit her lip at the sight of Aileen looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. She was petrified she was going to laugh, even though they were