Melody sits down at the table. In front of her is a baked potato, some rice, and some artichoke. Melody smiles at Mr. khipf, who is sitting at her left. He smiled back. Lettuce sits at the head of the table and watches her daughter bow her head.
"dear God, thanks for this food, and this table. Its a good table and yummy food. Please bless Mommy, and Mr.Khipf, and me, that we all remember to thank you every day for every blessing you gave us. Amen." Melody finishes. she was always good at doing table grace. "why do you always do that before you eat?" questions Mr.Khipf. Melody looks up and says, "because we're thanking God for giving us the food we need," she answers. At her school, there are many non-Christians, so she is used to being asked this.
Suddenly her mother looks up. She turns and stared at the door frame. Melody twists around too, to see what is the matter. Upon seeing nothing, she turns back to her mother. "whats the matter, Mommy?" questions the six year old. "I though I saw someone standing at the doorframe," lettuce replies. "what did They look like?" asks Melody. "she had white hair, but she looked very young. she had cherry red lips and deathly pale skin," replies Lettuce. Melody smiles inwardly. Emily. she must have come for a visit and seen they were eating and decided to come back later. Emily is another surreal friend of Melody's. She is a lovely artist, who sometimes appears in the mirrors around the house. Melody has sometimes seen Emily's face instead of her own.
When Melody Is done, she scrapes her plate in the sink. Then she rinses it and places it in the dishwasher. "I'm done, Mommy, may I be excused?" Asks Melody. "alright," said Lettuce. "Is your homework finished? And take a cookie." "yes, Mommy, I'm nearly done with my homework. I just have to make a small poem using the word pink." Lettuce sighs inwardly. Her daughter is too smart for this. "alright, then, sweetie. finish up your homework now," Lettuce says in a falsely cheery voice. Melody smiles and takes a cookie.
as she ventures up the stairs, though, she senses something off. The air seems to be full of steam. before she can call for her mother, everything goes dark.
Lettuce eyes the ceiling. "she's being awfully quiet. Usually when she's done with her homework she listens to music. She really does like that girl Rihanna," Lettuce comments. "I'm sure she's fine," says Mr. khifp in reply. "well, I'm going to go check on her," says Lettuce.
A few seconds later, she comes running down the stairs. "Pai, she isn't there! She dropped her cookie on the stairs and her room is in order, but she isn't there!" cries Lettuce. "calm down," says Pai. "Maybe she went for a small walk. Did you try calling her name?" "Yes!" cried Lettuce. "and she couldn't have taken a walk! We would have heard the front door. It's to loud, Pai! I can't find her!" shreiks Lettuce in panic. Only then does Pai begin to worry.