parrot. There was a cute black and white puppy
tugging at the hem of her full skirt. On each side of
the bed were two nightstands, each with a bell shaped
lamp. But beside a matching dresser and armoire, the
room had a vanity table with an enormous oval mirror
in an ivory frame, the frame covered with hand
painted red and yellow roses. And in the corner beside
it, an old French birdcage hung.
"I have my own bathroom?" I asked, gazing
through the open doorway on my right. The plush
bathroom had a large tub, sink, and commode, all with
brass fixtures. There were even flowers and birds
hand painted on the tub and sink.
"Of course. Twin sister or not, Gisselle is not
the sort you share a bathroom with," my father said,
smiling. "This door," he added, nodding at the door on my left, "joins the two rooms. I hope the day will soon come when the two of you will move back and forth
through it eagerly."
"So do I," I said. I went to the windows and
gazed out at the grounds of the estate. I saw that I
faced the pool and the tennis court. Through the open
window, I could smell the green bamboo, gardenias,
and blooming camellias.
"Do you like it?" my father asked.
"Like it? I love it. It's the most wonderful room
I've ever seen," I declared. He laughed at my
exuberance.
"It will be something fresh to see someone
appreciate everything around here again. So often,
things are taken for granted," he explained.
"I'll never take anything for granted again," I