One Small Thing

Pappy left in the horse drawn carriage. Regina watched until the carriage turned the corner and she was all alone. She turned back from the entrance to the Miss Porter's school and walked back up to her room. This was her home now. These people would be her family, her friends. If she could make it through Gran's funeral without crying, she could do this. She knew she could.

The room was painted white: white walls, white floor, white drapes over white shutters, and white bedspreads. The sink was white porcelain and even the closet doors that faced one another were white. Inside the closet was a wooden dresser, but if the closet was shut, it was a sea of whiteness. Regina looked at the two beds, trying to decide if one was better or worse than the other and finally just sat on one. She realized that this side of the room would get more of the morning sun, but she was sure Miss Peale wouldn't allow them to sleep in very often, if at all. Yes, this bed would do.

While she and Pappy had been lunching, her bags and trunk had been delivered to her room. She opened the first bag and slowly began to put her things away. As she opened the second suitcase, she found a small wrapped package inside that she knew she hadn't packed. She tore through the floral paper and inside there was a grainy portrait of her parents in an ornate gold frame.

'Pappy, you're going to make me break my promise not to cry... but thank you.'