Ruby (Landry 1)

promised.

"We'll see. Wait until Gisselle works you over.

Well, I see you've been brought a nightgown to use

and there's a pair of slippers beside the bed." He

opened a closet and there was a pink silk robe hanging

in it. "Here's a robe, too. You'll find all you need in

the bathroom--new toothbrush, soaps, but should you

need anything, just ask. I want you to treat this house

as your home as soon as you can," he added. "Thank you."

"Well, get comfortable and have a nice sleep. If

you get up before the rest of us do, which is quite

possible the morning after Mardi Gras, just go down

to the kitchen and Nina will fix you some breakfast." I nodded and he said good night, closing the

door softly behind him as he left.

For a long moment I simply stood there gaping

at everything. Was I really here, transported over time

and distance into a new world, a world where I would

have a real mother and father, and as soon as she

could accept it, a real sister, too?

I went into the bathroom and discovered the

soaps scented with the fragrance of gardenias and the

bottles of bubble bath powder. I drew myself a hot

bath and luxuriated in the silky smoothness of the

sweet-smelling bubbles. Afterward, I put on Gisselle's

scented nightgown and crawled under the soft sheet

and down bedspread.

I felt like Cinderella.

But just like Cinderella, I couldn't help feeling

trepidation; I couldn't help being frightened by the

ticking of the clock that swung its hands around to