That evening, by some strange chance, Norma found herself in the day room with Rosa, alone.
“It’s my chance.” she told herself with a sharp intake of breath. “Now I’ll ask her.”
“Rosa,” she said quietly, “why do you flash a light by the window at night?”
“Oh!” Rosa exclaimed sharply. “Does it show?” Her face was flushed.
“Yes. Just a little.” Norma was trying to make it easy. “But why should you do it at all?”
“I don’t like to tell you.” Rosa backed away. “You’ll laugh at me.”
“Rosa, I’ll never laugh at you about anything.”
“Honest?” Rosa’s dark eyes searched her face.
“Honest. Never! Never!”
“All right, then. I’ll tell you. My mother didn’t want me to join up. She believes much in prayer. She gave me a book of prayers and said: ‘Read one prayer every night.’ I have read one prayer every night. But it was dark, so I hid a small flashlight in my bed. Now you can laugh.” Rosa turned away.