Preparations
Over the next two days, Mrs. Mendalhall had Marty help her to prepare the house for Kiki's arrival. Cleaning the house from top to bottom, Mrs. Mendalhall was doing the laundry while Marty was helping her to fold it. Marty did the best she could for a seven year old. Next they were going to be cleaning the windows and mopping the kitchen and dining room floors. Mrs. Mendalhall was giving Marty the smaller tasks so that she could help out.
"Like this?" Marty asked as she was folding some shirts.
Mrs. Mendalhall nodded.
"Did we wash Sara Beth's things, too?" she asked while Mrs. Mendalhall was fixing Marty's dress. The child would have to wear her best dress for Kiki's arrival.
Once again the housekeeper nodded.
Mrs. Mendalhall had told Marty that she needed to pretend that she was playing house. "Pretend that very important people are coming to stay so that everything needs to be clean," the housekeeper urged. Marty hadn't wanted to clean the house for Aunt Kiki.
Just before Aunt Kiki's arrival, Mrs. Mendalhall told Marty to put on her best dress which consisted of ivory taffeta. The housekeeper had worked hard to mend the expensive garment. She brushed Marty's gorgeous blonde curls and placed a beautiful ivory ribbon in the child's hair.
"You look precious," Mrs. Mendalhall announced as she admired the finished result. "Kiki is just going to love you!"
Marty gave one of her sweetest smiles to Mrs. Mendallhall. "Will Aunt Kiki love Sara Beth, too?" Marty asked.
"Of course she will, dear. Now remember to mind your manners for your Aunt Kiki."
"I will," Marty promised.