A wonderful warm day in the Midi. A favoured area for those seeking a taste of French peace and quiet. Little breeze abounds, along with the singing of birds, and the yawning four-legged furry creatures, completes the scene. It is a remote valley with a scattering of cottages, but few owners living in them. Bright green grasses, and millions of wild flowers, with a few cows mowing the grass non-stop. Dominating the scene is a classical, Victorian-style building which is a nunnery dedicated to St Clare and besides which is a smaller church with a steeple reaching to the heavens. The nuns are a closed order, mainly nursing local people, and of course those who are in holy orders. Jacques de Lor is a local carpenter and a regular at the nunnery, although his religious beliefs don’t coincide with his holy customers. Cupboards, shelves and furniture are a mix of new and repairs, for which he is regarded as a par excellence craftsman. Today, he has to finish off a group of shelves which he has built for the laundry room. As usual, when he rings the bell, only Sister Monique will come to the entrance, as all the other nuns are not allowed to see visitors, being a closed order. “God Bless my child”, says the sister in a low voice. Jacques nods, and is let through the grill, passing some beautiful carved furniture, a holy statue and a few religious oil paintings on the walls in the reception. Following her rustling skirts, Jacques enters the lift to the top floor. It is big enough to take beds and wheelchairs to and from the infirmary. They reach the top floor, and Jacques prepares to finish the job. An hour later, he buzzes Sister Monique and she comes up to collect him and his tools. They enter the lift, and start to descend, but Mon Dieu, the lift suddenly stops dead between floors. Trouble is, that when sister presses the alarm button, the buzzer sounds at Sister Monique’s desk – and she is in the lift! But luckily, Mother Superior just happened hear it while passing, so she telephoned the lift company immediately. Unfortunately, it would take about one hour for the mechanic to arrive, due to the remote location of the nunnery. The trapped pair stared at each other with some disbelief, then broke out into laughter! Sister perched on the folding wall seat, and Jacques on a tool box. Although in Jacques case, his parents were devout Catholics, he just couldn’t fall in with the concept. The sister told him how she had become a novice many years ago, and was happy and totally committed to service as a nun. Some of the sisters called her the laughing nun. Jacques explained to her his doubts, and the confinement became a sort of diluted confession box. Jacques became more interested when Sister Monique very gently suggested he attend a mass when the priest came next time, but suggested he should sit right at the back of the church, so he could escape - if he felt like it. He was impressed with her high intelligence, and for the fact she didn’t push religion down his throat, and so their conversation was a sort of levelling session. Jacques glanced at his watch and the picture of our Lord on the wall of the lift, them mused on the interesting conversation – first ever with a nun, that’s for sure! After over an hour, there was a crashing and banging above the jammed lift, as a mechanic tried to release it. Then a humming of an electric motor and with a mighty jolt, the lift began its descent. The doors opened, and there was Mother Superior to greet them. Jacques took out his tools and bowed to each of the nuns, “No charge for this Mother, as Sister Monique and I have had a fascinating conversation”. The conclusion to this tale is that Jacques did appear at Mass, and sat at the back of the church as Sister has suggested. He didn't leave early, so whether he did continue with going to services or not, only Sister Monique would know, and the writer doesn't know how to contact her in any case, so we will all never know. 28615