Chapter 7 reaming oir Magic Lands The Heart School and orphanage, run by Italian nuns Sacred was on Kong Island, facing the sea We climbed up the stone Hong Mary steps to the entrance and were greeted by Mother and Mother Louisa Sacred Heart was one of the few schools which took boarders and orphans. The two groups were dressed in different uniforms and were not allowed to mix with each other. The orphans did not attend classes but were taught to do cooking and cleaning and to wash clothes. My future was in Niang's hands. I did not know if she would leave me at the school as an orphan or as a boarder. She and Franklin went into a private room with the two nuns and talked for a long time. The waiting was horrible. Finally, they came out. I was surprised when Niang smiled and touched me kindly on the head. This was the only time she ever touched me when I was a child. "How lucky you are!" she said. Mother Mary has agreed to allow you to join the boarding school in the middle of the school year