Bella

Bella

Ms. Isabella M. Swan

You are invited for tea tomorrow, 10 am,

Mrs. E. Mason

"Ooh, Isabella, you've gotten one too!" Jessica cried. "I'm so excited. We must pick out our best dresses; I hear Elizabeth is very scrupulous when it comes to appearance."

"I heard it was character…" I said, staring at the card in amazement. What explanation would such a fine lady have as for inviting me? All over town, from neighbor to neighbor, young ladies were popping up with cards to the Mason's place tomorrow. Ladies without any distinguishing social class or power. So many have been invited to this 'tea' that I am sure it is more of a gala than anything else. These little papers have been arriving week by week. The closest neighbors first, to the farthest from- us.

"I'll wear my yellow ball gown, with the draped bottom. Do you think Lauren would let me borrow her pearl earrings for the tea?" Personally I thought this gettup would be too much. I should settle on wearing one of my knee length sundresses. Mrs. Stanley wouldnt permit her daughter to buy such 'scandalous' dresses 'hemmed up that far!' But my mother let me make my own choices. I wasn't outspoken at all but I prefered the new styles comming out these days and the jazz music even my father frowned upon. Perhaps thats why Jessica always spent time with me; I was something she couldnt have. Afterall, we had practically nothing in common. At eighteen this year Jessica got her first diamond necklace from her father, whereas when I turned 18 in three weeks my father promised to buy me a car and teach me to drive.

"I believe Lauren is going as well and will want to wear them herself."

"Bugger, then." She sighed. Jessica wasn't one to deal with being put out, nor could she stay quiet at a performance. " Did you know there was a rumor going around? This whole event is supposedly a way for Elizabeth to find her son the perfect bride! I would be honored. If it is so, I shall be on my best behavior. Want to make the best impression, don't we? Edward Mason is so fetching!"

"Jessica Stanley," I chastised. "Gossiping is not very becoming on a young woman." We stared at each other for a moment just blinking then burst out simultaneously into laughter. "But really, Jess. Make sure you're not constantly chatting away. And call her Mrs. Mason, not Elizabeth. She is a prestigious lady, and I don't think she'll take kindly to a stranger calling her Elizabeth."

"Pft," She giggled. "Those rich people are always so formal. I wonder if they even allow them selves to sing while they take a bath, or swipe some icing off a cake with their finger."

I shook my head with a smile. "And they call that the good life."

"Well, Isabella," She said regally, taking the card out of my hand so she could pretend to fan herself. She stepped on top of the sofa in my room and boomed out, "When I shall marry Edward Mason I shall be the most well respected woman in the world! And we shall eat caviar by the lake, sip champagne in bed, and have seven little yappy dogs named Sophia, Abigail, and Olivia." All this was said in a horrible English accent we always used to imitate the posh families. She was laughing now. "And…" hiccup. "twenty-three butlers!"

"Miss Swan, Miss Stanley, quiet up there! We're expecting company!" Sophia, my only maid, yelled up the stairs at us.

"Yes, Ma'am," we chorused and quieted our giggles.

"You didn't happen to name one of the dogs after my maid did you?" I inquired.

"That old hag? Why, of course." Jessica's face was flushed. She and Sophia never got along, anyways. Jessica was just too unruly for the household maid that only followed her old fashioned morals. Piousness, she stressed most often, wasn't my strong point either. Mother never went to church, except when Mrs. Stanley offered a good piece of gossip they wanted to discuss, and neither did I. Jessica, however, went almost every Sunday to show off her new dresses and hats with Miss Mallory- who she called Lauren. Lauren and I aren't on friendly standards.

"Well, I must go home to prepare. Good luck with your company, though." Jessica said, bidding me ado as she stepped down and to the door. "Do you want me to drop by so we can walk to town together?"

"Sure, Jess." I grinned minimally. "I'll be ready at 9 tomorrow."

Not five minutes later Renee, my mother, was calling me down to the parlor room. "The Blacks are here, Bells! Come say hello!" I was always happy when the Blacks came to town. They could almost be considered like an extra branch on our family tree. And it was disappointing that they traveled so much, but my friend Jacob always brought home souvenirs for the rest of us and fantastical tales. Some of them were so unrealistic we bickered like siblings over the possibility that he could be lying. Finally the Black family was back from their last escapade.

I ran down the stairs and into the arms of my not-really-brother. "Jacob!" I cheered.

Mr. Black said from his wheel chair- he was, unfortunately, born handicapped. "Good morning, Isabella."

"Billy!" Soon enough he was trapped in one of my hugs as well.

"What is this?" Billy asked, noticing the card I still held in my hands. "Does our little Isabella have an invitation?"

I blushed and turned my head away. Renee snatched the paper from my hands. "Bella, tea? At the Masons? I'm so proud of my daughter. Did you two men know about the extravaganza going on at the Masons place tomorrow?"

I rolled my eyes along with the other two. Who didn't?