There were sixty-six boarders at the school. Each child was given a number. We each had our own space in an enormous cupboard in the dining room. Each boarder kept food sent the from home in her space. Everyone could see the amount of food a girl received. It was a measure of the love your family had for you. During my years at the school, my space was always empty. Eggs were special. They were brought from home and kept in the kitchen. Each boarder painted her number on the outside of the egg. For breakfast we all had bread, butter and jam. Mother Mary then brought in a big container full of hot, freshly boiled eggs. She picked up the eggs one by one and placed them in egg cups, reading out the numbers. You walked up to her when you heard your number and collected your egg
If your number was called by Mother Mary, it meant that someone from home loved you enough to bring you eggs for he your breakfast. The breakfast egg, more than anything, separated us into two groups: loved ones and the unloved ones. I, of the ry ourse, was eggless during the whole of my stay at Sacred Heart. We had lessons from eight in the morning to midday, and from one-thirty to three-thirty Tea was served in the dining room at four This was the hour when the difference between the haves and the have-nots really showed. As well as the usual bread, butter and jam, out came the chocolates, cakes and fruit that had been brought in during Sunday visiting hours On birthdays, the birthday girl was allowed to wear a pretty dress instead of school uniform. She stood next to Mother Mary behind an enormous birthday cake. We sang 'Happy Birthday' The cake was cut up and the birthday girl went around the room, giving out her cake. She then opened her presents in front of everyone.
I always went into tea a little late, ate my bread, butter and jam as fast as possible, and ran out of the room. I knew there would never be a birthday celebration for me. I would never be able to give anyone a piece of my cake. My friend Mary Suen and I did not speak to each other about this, but I often found some good things from her laid out on my plate: a few sweets or a piece of fruit. Mary was not very clever at her lessons, and often had to ask me for help, but in other ways she was as wise as someone much from an unhappy family. After tea there was an hour of free time. I usually visited the library. This was magic for me. There were books on every subject under the sun. When the library closed, I came out with my arms full of books Once I helped Mary solve a mathematical problem, and my