Olivia (Logan 5)

"Oh, Winston, don't be an ogre," Mr. Collins

said. He was one of Daddy's business partners. "A

young girl graduates high school only once." "Thank heavens for that," Mother said and

everyone at the table but me laughed.

Belinda rushed around the table to give

everyone a hug and a kiss. She even stopped to throw

her arms around me.

"Thank you, big sister," she said. "I love the

suitcase."

I had given her a quality piece of luggage for

her trip to finishing school. It was a practical gift, one

of the few she had received.

Peter gave me a weak smile and hurried along

as Belinda tugged on his hand.

"Bye," he called.

I gazed at Daddy. He watched, them go, looked

at me, and then turned to talk to Mr. Collins. We left the restaurant a little over an hour later.

The night proved to be as beautiful as the day. It was

actually balmy. I looked out toward the ocean as we

drove home and thought how wonderful it must be to

be at a beach party right now. A nearly cloudless sky revealed so many more stars. The Big Dipper never

looked as clear or sharp.

When we arrived at home, I went directly to my

room. All I wanted to do was fall asleep, fall asleep

and forget, fall asleep and dream I was someone else,

someplace else. It took me a long time because I

tossed and turned, lying there at times with my eyes

wide open. Sleep was behind a locked door and not

ready to embrace me.

You have to suffer first, I thought. You have to