Chapter 17

           Notmanychildrencouldsaytheyrememberedthedaytheymettheirfather,butVittoriaVetracould.Shewaseightyearsold,livingwhereshealwayshad,OrfanotrofiodiSiena,aCatholicorphanagenearFlorence,desertedbyparentssheneverknew.Itwasrainingthatday.Thenunshadcalledforhertwicetocometodinner,butasalwaysshepretendednottohear.Shelayoutsideinthecourtyard,staringupattheraindrops…feelingthemhitherbody…tryingtoguesswhereonewouldlandnext.Thenunscalledagain,threateningthatpneumoniamightmakeaninsufferablyheadstrongchildalotlesscuriousaboutnature.

           Ican’thearyou,Vittoriathought.

           Shewassoakedtothebonewhentheyoungpriestcameouttogether.Shedidn’tknowhim.Hewasnewthere.Vittoriawaitedforhimtograbheranddragherbackinside.Buthedidn’t.Instead,toherwonder,helaydownbesideher,soakinghisrobesinapuddle.

           "Theysayyouaskalotofquestions,"theyoungmansaid.

           Vittoriascowled."Arequestionsbad?"

           Helaughed."Guesstheywereright."

           "Whatareyoudoingouthere?"

           "Samethingyou’redoing…wonderingwhyraindropsfall."

           "I’mnotwonderingwhytheyfall!Ialreadyknow!"

           Thepriestgaveheranastonishedlook."Youdo?"

           "SisterFranciscasaysraindropsareangels’tearscomingdowntowashawayoursins."

           "Wow!"hesaid,soundingamazed."Sothatexplainsit."

           "Noitdoesn’t!"thegirlfiredback."Raindropsfallbecauseeverythingfalls!Everythingfalls!Notjustrain!"

           Thepriestscratchedhishead,lookingperplexed."Youknow,younglady,you’reright.Everythingdoesfall.