Annie

When Annie's husband Jim dies by suicide, she is employed by the Little Nursing Sisters, as one of Sister St. Saviour's last requests. Her daughter, Sally, lives with her in Mrs. Tierney's house, and they spend their afternoons in the Little Nursing Sister's convent, working with Sister Illuminata in the laundry room. Annie puts up with Sister Illuminata's fastidious laundering guidelines, and resents society women who spend their time throwing parties and collecting money for the convent. When she learns that Sally is considering becoming a nun, she fears that her daughter is already thinking of ways of abandoning her. Sister Illuminata convinces her to let Sally go, but she is gladdened once Sally changes her mind and returns to her.

Annie remembers Jim and all of her unanswered prayers for him. She struggled with his melancholy and spite, and often prayed for him to get out of...