A/N: Thanks to Jessica Gardner, who found Miss Minchin's first name for me. :-)
Maria Minchin was sure her Papa would be proud of her. After all, she had swept the whole house, dusted the parlor, and cooked Papa's favorite, ham and potatoes, for supper. At only eight years old, she kept head of the house, since money was tight and Mama had to work to make ends meet.
Maria glanced out the window to see Papa coming up the street. She hurried to finish setting the table, knowing Mama would soon follow, and that both her parents would be famished from the hard day's work.
"Ria?" Amelia, Maria's three-year-old sister, peeked out from her bedroom.
"Come, Amelia, and wash up. Mama and Papa will be here soon," Maria said, as her Papa stormed through the door. "Oh, no," she whispered. "He's in one of his moods."
Amelia grinned and prepared to run and greet her Papa. Maria grabbed her and said sharply, "Come!" In the washroom, Maria poured water into a basin.
"Maria! Where are ye?" the man roared.
"Coming, Papa!" Turning to her sister, she instructed, "Now wash up," and stepped into the hall.
"Where's yer sense, chile?" He held in his hand a box of paints. An open, spilled, and spoiled box of paints.
Amelia. There was no other explanation. That morning, Maria had found her in the backyard, fingers soaked with what she assumed was berry juice.
"Are ye daft?"
Maria forced her mouth closed, swallowed, and spoke. "N-no, Papa. I thought--Amelia--"
"She's yer responsibility. Ye'll have to repaint the front porch tomorrow."
"But Papa--"
"No buts." He turned and walked down the hall towards the washroom. Maria briefly wondered what kind of scolding her sister would receive.
"Papa!" Amelia's delighted scream rang through the house, and Maria held her breath.
Her Papa laughed, sweeping Amelia off her feet. "And how's my little princess?"
Biting back tears, Maria said, "I cooked supper, Papa. Ham and potatoes. Your favorite."
She received no response.