"Well, no one's going to answer it," she
decided, "Whoever it is away if we just pretend no
one is at home. It's dark enough downstairs and I
won't make a sound."
"No," I moaned.
She walked out and closed the door gently. I
heard the doorbell again and I waited and then I didn't
hear it anymore. My heart shriveled with
disappointment. It was as if someone had brought the
blanket up and over my head. I closed my eyes and
when I opened them again, it was so dark in the room. I thought I really was under a blanket. Overcast skies kept the stars and moon from shining any light through the windows. I had no idea about time, of
course. so I didn't know how late it might be. My fever hadn't broken. It lingered and drained
me. My mind kept wandering. Images of different
people flashed before me. I saw Randall Glenn in
England smiling at me from his bed. I heard laughter
and saw Catherine and Leslie. my French girlfriends
at the School of Performing Arts. giggling.
Then I heard something on my right and when I
looked. I saw my Great-aunt Le
onora rocking in a
chair in her bedroom, holding a large doll in her arms.
Her shy maid. Mary Margaret, stood beside her, her
head down and then looked up at me, tears streaming
down her cheeks.
Off to my right. Mama began to sing. I called to her and then, everyone popped like
bubbles and left me in darkness.
Moments later. I heard the door open and saw
my Great-aunt and Great-uncle's horrid butler Boggs
approaching me.
"You overslept," he accused. "Get up and get to