#fridayflash: Patience

Patience, her mother had once told her, is a Virtue. She wasn't entirely sure why. Patience was a horrible, grubby little girl who liked to pull her sister's hair when no one else was looking. That definitely wasn't very angelic. Of course, her mother could have meant something else entirely but Charity wasn't sure what.

Charity is also a Virtue, her mother had tagged on, as if not wanting her to feel left out. But charity as a virtue often went by the name Love, and Charity did not feel very loving, especially when Patience was kicking her in the shin.

"Would you stop that?" Charity asked irritably.

Patience continued kicking. "What for?"

"It hurts."

There was a slight pause as the six-year-old considered it. A few seconds later, she resumed her rhythm.

Charity tried to grab her younger sister's leg. "Patience! Stop trying my... patience." She groaned.

Patience sniggered. "Okay. I need to practice some charity anyway." With an angelic smile, she got up from the table and went to her room, leaving Charity in peace.

No, Patience was definitely not a Virtue. And neither was Charity.

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vir·tue

ˈvərCHo͞o/

noun

1. 1.

   behavior showing high moral standards.

   "paragons of virtue"
2. 2.

   (in traditional Christian angelology) the seventh highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

Wait. What?