I wasn’t quite sure what to think of Sister Quartilla.

I slipped into room just as the bell rang. I was disoriented by the uniformed sea of the new Catholic school I’d been sent to. The only seat was one smack dab in the front & center.

Peachy.

I slunk to my seat in silence, but the chatter quickly resumed. Many were wondering about the teacher, who hadn’t arrived yet. She was new, & nobody had been able to get a decent opinion from any other students.

Finally the door opened, framing Sister Quartilla. We fell silent, & I think all of us were surprised by her.
Her long brown hair was tied back in a thick braid, tossed over her shoulder. She had a helmet under one arm, & a unicycle under the other.

“Well!” she began enthusiastically, “welcome to Physics!”
She marched around the group of desks to the front counter, stashed her unicycle underneath, & hoisted herself up to sit on the counter.

Her feet were level with my eyes.

And I can’t say I’ve ever seen a nun in Converse before.