Sister Helena woke early the next morning to pray. She lit the candles on her prayer altar and put her scapular on over her pajamas.
“For Patrick’s soul... for all of them! Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.” She prayed Matins and Lauds; the psalms and canticles exited from her mouth like incense from a thurible, her prayer as an oblation to God. After her prayers, Sister Helena dressed in her uniform pants and a black t-shirt and went to the refectory. Heating up a pot of water, she made herself a bowl of instant oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Once all was ready, she sat down and said grace. As she finished Colonel Larkin, who had just come in from guard duty, made a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.