Heaven-
I watched in embarrassment as my younger sister made a fool of her self in front of everyone. She would have mounted Phillip then and there in that dinner hall if he asked her too. I avoided everybody before school. My therapy session was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. So I hurried past everyone in the game room so I would not be interrogated.
I sat down on the nice sofa Dr. Ash had in her office. It looked like a standard office. Large desk, tons of books. Of course Flowers. I was beginning to notice a pattern throughout the house. It was pleasant, but still professional.
She sat across from me in a leather armchair, clipboard in hand. We just stared at each other for a moment. She was about in her sixties I suspected from her white bob, and style of clothes. She was wearing a beige pantsuit with brown dress shoes. She had wrinkles, but not a whole lot.
"Well Heaven, how do you like it here?" She started, leaning back a bit to get comfortable. We had an hour.
"It's nice. I like my room." She laughed.
"Well what about your other housemates. Tell me, what do you think of them?"
I shrugged. "Theres not too much to tell. Some look like they need to be here, others I think seem pretty normal."
"Who do you think need to be here?"
"Well, Fanny, Clara Sue, Giselle for sure."
"What about them makes you think that?"
"Well they are falling over themselves trying to get the boys attention. Fanny is acting like a tramp from the mountains."
"So what about the other girls? Dawn, Carrie, Cathy?"
"They seem pretty normal. Carrie is so tiny, I don't quite understand why shes the only young one here. Dawn seems kind of stand offish, like she could be hot-tempered. Cathy just seems more mature than everyone else."
She began to write things on her clipboard. I wanted to question it, but I didn't want to be rude so I refrained.
"How about the boys? Is there anyone who sparked your interest?"
I snorted.
"No, Phillip was all over Fanny like two dogs in heat. Beau and Paul seem nice, although quiet. I think Paul would be a nice friend."
"Have you spoke to anybody in particular yet?"
"No not really, most of us are just with the people we came in with."
"Do you want to make friends?"
"I am indifferent. If I make some, that would be nice, but I am just as content with working on my studies."
"What about the food? My head cook has been with me many years."
"The roast was good. I think it can definetly bring us all together often." She smiled contented with that.
We chatted about other stuff about the house for awhile. What I enjoyed, what I did not. She asked me if there was anything I needed. For the first month we were not allowed to write or call but she could request things or try to get them herself.
I politely declined. My grandmother made sure me and Fanny had everything imaginable so she would not be bothered. She did not like Fanny at all, but in her defense not many women did.
"Well at the end of our sessions, I usually ask you to do something during the week, or at least try. This week, I would like you to make one friend. Even if it is just a study buddy. By next Sunday. Can you do that for me?" I nodded hesitantly. We ended the session like that and I hurried back to my room so that no one would think that was where I was.
I was reading a book in my room all to myself when there was a knock on my door. I planned on ignoring it, but I saw the shadow of tiny feet. I couldn't ignore little old Carrie.
I sighed and put my book down to go to the door.
There she was, holding a board game. The box looked comically large in her little hands. "I wanted to see if you wanted to play a game with me and Dawn. We need a third player." I shrugged and followed them to her room.
For such a tiny thing her room burst of huge personality. It was covered in bright reds and purples. She had her own pictures hung up of people presumably family, and puppies and other animals. Besides the flower wallpaper it was unique for sure. It was very inviting compared to my room that had no personality to it.
We sat on the floor playing Monopoly for the afternoon. They were both so friendly. We joked about some of the other people in the house and how we were all basket cases for being here. It was nice to have some companionship.
We looked up and saw it was getting close to supper so we packed up and agreed to hang out afterwards.
I didn't bring too many dress clothes for dinner but I did find a nice, simple blue one with a white trim collar to put on. I fixed my hair with a white headband to match. I could only imagine what my sister right next door was putting on.
I was happy to hear in my session that the walls were thick and almost soundproof. I don't know if we would get any sleep otherwise. I knew for a fact Fanny loved her music loud and all night. She brought in her own record player to the house. My grandmother got her one for Christmas this last year.
Dr. Ash told me when she had this house built some thirty years ago that was one of her main concerns. She said she knew she would have problem children and some that were more quite so she wanted to accomidate everyone.
I commentated that it must have taken an awful lot of money to make this house and she just nodded and blew it off, saying she inherited money but helping others was her true calling. It made me wonder if she was close to her family, but I wasn't going to be the one to ask.
I went down to dinner to see Dawn, Carrie, Cathy and Christopher. Everyone else was missing. The food was brought out at exactly six o clock. We all agreed to wait 5 minutes for everyone else. Everyone trickled in within that time, Fanny was last of course.
Tonight was roasted Chicken breast, with mashed potatoes and green beans. Rolls galore like last night. I noticed that Fanny sat across from Phillip and wasn't eating much. I commented that her plate was still full.
"I'm watchin' ma figure Heavenly." She retorted. I just shook my head and finished my dinner. She looked ridiculous. She had bright red lipstick on and her hair was curled. It looked like she put on fake eyelashes. Not to mention her outfit. I waited until Dawn and Carrie had finished and we hurried back to Carries room to giggle and enjoy our normalcy.
