Page 34 - The Mending Season

equivalent ofbeing halfnaked. I had heard once that nuns are very strict about being fully covered.Sister Cecilias voice was a lot deeper than Mrs Allisons. She was so stern and intimidating - her shoulders pushed back and her chin slightly raised - you would have thought she was speaking to soldiers.“Thank you, Mrs Allison. Good morning, girls,” she started. “Now, this year I hope you will all be well behaved. Be respectful of school rules. They are there for a reason. Last year, a few ofyou were caught on the street in your school jer­ seys. None of that this year, I hope.” She lowered her chin, furrowed her eyebrows and wiggled her finger at us.“You will always wear your blazers, no takkies, only proper school shoes and socks.” She paused and took a deep breath before sighing hopelessly. “Now,please girls. The schools repu­ tation depends on you. I want people to say the girls from Ascension Convent are smart and they always look smart. Please,” she pleaded again, and then nodded at Mrs Allison before walking away. Then she paused as if she had just remem­ bered something, and walked back to the centre. “Happy New Year,” she said. I was relieved to see her grin briefly.Mrs Allison resumed leadership. “Ok girls, you heard Sister Cecilia. Please don’t disappoint us. Now, for those ofyou who are new, I’d like to introduce you to our new head girl, Anita Masilo.” A tall Coloured girl came onto the podium, stood with her shoulders so high that she looked awkward, and pushed her chest out. Mrs Allison held up a newspaper clip­ ping with Anitas picture on it. “Were the first school to have a Black head girl, and we’ve been heralded as rebels and trend­ setters in the media.”At this, Mrs Allison chuckled, showing a smile for the first time since assembly began.I thought, “She’s Black?” She had a Black surname but she didn’t look Black to me. It made me think that there were more new things to learn than I had anticipated.34