Fifteen-year-old Agatha was asleep one night when a strange sound woke her up.

At first, Agatha could not tell what it she realized that it was people cheering a short distance away. She got out of bed, but just as she reached the door, someone opened it. It was Rebecca, who was now eleven years old.

"Oh, Agatha, the news is all over Vanford! The war is over! The Allies have won!" squealed Rebecca.

Dumbstruck, Agatha's mouth fell open. "Really?" she breathed.

Rebecca beamed. "Yes! Just ask Mother or Father and you will see!" she laughed.

Nodding, Agatha followed her to the parlor, where her parents and Theresa were staring out of the windows.

Agatha stood next to them. "Is it true?" she queried.

Theodore glanced at her, his eyes only three inches above hers, for Agatha had grown rapidly in the past four years.

Agatha was now six feet, three inches tall. She was taller than her friend Ruby and most of the students in her school. The only students who were as tall as she was were the students who participated in sports. Even her teachers seemed to have shrunk.

"Yes," Theodore replied shortly.

Behind him, Theresa sighed in bliss. "I'm so glad. My father is safe; he doesn't have to fight anymore. I'll be able to go home soon too," she murmured.

And good riddance, Agatha thought to herself, smiling secretly in glee. I am happy that that bitch is leaving.

Elizabeth chuckled. "Yes, you will. We are going to miss you though. You must visit us every once in a while."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Trunchbull. I will." assured Theresa.

Suddenly, fireworks lit up the sky. Everyone in the Trunchbull household cheered.

"You know," Elizabeth declared some time later. "We ought to have a party today to celebrate the end of the war. We will have a farewell party for you too, my dear," she added in asides to Theresa. "We can invite our friends and ask them to bring food and drinks. Of course, we will have to set up the table on the lawn."

Agatha let out an inaudible sigh. She was greatly relieved that she did not have to cook a load of food for this party. Setting up the table would not be a problem as long as someone helped her.

No one slept for the rest of the night. They mostly listened to radio reports of people sharing their thoughts about the war's end.

Later that morning, Elizabeth sent party invitations to every wealthy family in Vanford. Many of them agreed to attend.

Then, Agatha, Theodore, and Elizabeth brought out the long table and place about fifty chairs around it.

The guests arrived around one o'clock. They brought pots of various stews, soups, and vegetables. They also provided chicken, beef, ham, goose, duck, and were casseroles and pans of Shepherd's pie. The desserts were assorted pies, puddings (A/N: Nachos anybody?), cakes, and ice creams. The cold drinks were water, iced tea, lemonade, and punch. The hot drinks were tea, coffee, and cocoa. Others brought wine, cider, and champagne.

For the first time in her life, Agatha enjoyed a party. It felt good to eat someone else's food. She sampled almost everything, and it was all very delicious, even the coffee!

When dinner was over, the children began to play. The teenagers and adults fell into groups and talked amongst themselves. Agatha sat off to the side with Ruby, whose family had been invited.

"It's a good thing that we don't have to have air raid drills anymore. I'm tired of sitting in my cellar. It's freezing down there, even in the summer," the latter commented.

"Yes. My cellar is not cold, though. It just smells a bit strange," Agatha said.

Ruby chortled. "Well, at least it isn't cold. Oh no," she groaned suddenly. "What does she want?"

Agatha turned and saw Theresa walking towards them, smiling smugly.

"Hey, Mellows! I'm surprised that Mr. and Mrs. Trunchbull invited your family to the party. You know that they wouldn't want your parents to let you associate with street urchins," Theresa taunted.

Ruby glared at her. "Shove off, Hilton!" she barked.

Theresa snorted and turned, running away. However, before she eve took seven paces, she slipped on a plate of spilled cake and fell into the flowerbed.

Agatha and Ruby slumped over laughing as Theresa slowly stood up, looking crestfallen. "Whose the street urchin now?" Agatha whispered to her friend, causing another round of giggles.

Elizabeth, who also saw what happened, rushed to Theresa. "Oh my goodness! Are you all right, dear?" she cried in distress.

"No. I'm not all right," moaned Theresa. "My clothes were spoiled and this is my best dress!"

Elizabeth rubbed her back. "Do not worry, my dear. Just wear your second-best dress. You will be fine."

So, Theresa changed into her ruffled-green dress. However, she only sat down at the table dejectedly for the rest of the day, her pride having received terrible bruises.

Agatha smirked again. How sweet was revenge when the powers that be interfered!

(A week later)

Agatha was in the kitchen preparing three pans of Shepherd's pie for Theresa's farewell party. Elizabeth told her to make it because it was Theresa's favorite dish. Agatha did not mind doing this in the least, enthusiastic that Theresa would be leaving them early the next morning.

In the parlor, the rest of the Trunchbulls and Theresa were waiting for the latter's friends and admirers to arrive. More than twenty people were coming.

The table was set up on the lawn again, as well as a banner. It said: Good-bye, Theresa! We will miss you! The best china plates and silverware were to be placed on the table.

The flowerbed was neat again, for Agatha had been instructed to straighten it back up the day after Theresa fell in it. She still snickered over that event every time she thought about it. Ruby often teased Theresa at school, telling her that she looked like a ragamuffin.

Surprisingly, Theresa never gave a response or retort. She would only turn away from Ruby and walk over to her friends. However, Agatha noticed that Theresa's fists would clench and that her eyes filled with rage, humiliation, and embarrassment.

Consequentially, Ruby was not invited to the party. This meant that Agatha would have to sit by herself while Theresa and her friends talked amongst themselves. Agatha sighed.

In due time, all of the guests arrived, and everyone sat at the table.

Once Agatha served everyone, they said grace and ate their food. When the meal was over, Elizabeth stood up and cleared her throat.

"May I have your attention, please!" the latter called. The children grew quiet at once.

"I would like to give a speech in honor of Theresa.

"Theresa came to us five years ago because the war made living in London unsafe. I did not realize, when she first came here, what a wonderful little girl she was. I am glad to know her, and I will surely miss her after she leaves. Thank you, Theresa, for being all that you can be," concluded Elizabeth, raising her glass. "To Theresa."

"Theresa," everyone else chanted, raising their cups as well.

Then, Rebecca came up to Theresa and held out a bouquet of bright-blue lobelias and daisies. Theresa smiled, accepted them gratefully, and everyone applauded.

Next, Agatha cleared the table while everyone started to converse with each other. Once she put the dishes in the sink, she went outside and sat on the steps. She gazed wistfully at everyone, wishing that Ruby was invited.

While Agatha was thinking of this, Theresa sauntered up to her.

"Hey, Agatha! It's a shame that your little friend couldn't be here today, isn't it?" she sneered.

Agatha did not reply. She only glowered at her feet.

Theresa did not leave her alone. "Well? Aren't you going to wallop me in the stomach? Swear at me? Slap me in the face?" she questioned mockingly.

Agatha still remained silent.

Theresa grew angry. She was not used to being ignored, and she hated the silent treatment. Scowling, she grabbed Agatha hair and jerked it hard.

It took all of her self-restraint to keep from beating Theresa to a pulp. As it was, she had no choice but to keep ignoring her. She did not want to get in trouble with her parents.

When Theresa saw that Agatha would not fight back, she stormed away in a huff.

Agatha brightened a little and looked back up. Theresa was now chatting with a group of friends, casting dirty looks at her from time to time.

I cannot believe that she pulled my hair just because I would not pay attention to her. Who does she think she is-a princess? I will show her! Agatha thought vehemently.

Her chance came later that evening.

Theresa had just bidden all of her friends a very tearful good-bye and went in the house. Theodore, Elizabeth, and Rebecca followed after her.

Agatha groaned at the fact that she would have to put the table away all by herself. Sighing resignedly, she moved to one end of the table preparatory to folding it.

As she did, she noticed that Theresa had left her bouquet on the table. She glanced at the windows to make sure that no one was there. Then she took the bouquet, went into the trees at the edge of the yard, and tore the flowers to shreds. Once she was finished, Agatha put the table away and went inside the house.

Nobody remembered the bouquet.

(Next morning)

Agatha woke up at six o'clock and went downstairs to cook breakfast. Normally, she did not prepare the first meal of the day this early. However, since Theresa had to leave the house at 7:15 just to catch the 7:49 train, it was best. It took fifteen minutes to reach the station, and Theodore and Elizabeth wanted to be there early.

Breakfast was very noisy, due to the fact that Agatha's parents and Theresa were going through last minute things. Theresa was fluttery with excitement.

"I can't wait to see Mother and Father again. I missed them so much. I'm glad to be going home," she sighed happily.

Elizabeth smiled. "Neither of your parents will recognize you. You have grown so tall and stylish," she observed.

Theresa chuckled.

At 7:00, breakfast was over. Theodore placed Theresa's trunk and suitcases in the back of the carriage. Then it was time for them to go to the station.

"Just leave the dishes, Agatha. You will wash them when we come back home," Elizabeth stated.

Agatha nodded and went outside. Once her mother locked the front door, everyone climbed into the carriage and went on their way.

The ride to the station was quiet. They reached it in due time and waited on the crowded platform.

At 7:49, the train puffed loudly into the station. Elizabeth and Theodore turned to Theresa.

"Have a safe ride home. Be sure to write to us when you are settled. Good-bye, dear," Elizabeth declared, embracing her.

Theodore and Rebecca embraced Theresa and said good-bye to her too.

When it was Agatha's turn to bid her farewell, she and Theresa glared at each other for a second. "Well," muttered Agatha, breaking the silence and holding out her hand. "Good-bye."

Theresa nodded stiffly, taking Agatha's hand and shaking it briefly. She handed her trunk and suitcases to a uniformed man, gave a final wave, and boarded onto the train.

"All aboard!" a man suddenly yelled. The last remaining stragglers clambered onto the train. A whistle blew, and the train lurched forward. It moved faster and faster until it rounded the bend.

Theresa was gone. Agatha could barely refrain from whooping and cheering.

(A/N: Sorry if I bored you silly with these past couple of chapters, but do not worry. The next chapter is when things will really start to happen. Read chapter 2 again, the Christmas section, for the title of the next chapter will be one of the presents she received, and will give you a clue as to what will happen next. Ten points to anyone who guesses the title and what happens correctly. Once I finish writing it, I will post it. Take care, everyone.)