Aunt Kiki

Marty and Mrs. Mendalhall arrived at the train station to meet Kiki. It was a busy place, so Marty held tight to Mrs. Mendalhall's hand. She didn't want to get lost in the crowd. Many people stepped off the train, but Marty didn't see Kiki.

"Aunt Kiki isn't coming. Let's go home," Marty urged, tugging on the housekeeper's hand.

Just then Kiki Saybrooke stepped off the train. "Well if it isn't my dear little brother Marshall's only child, Margaret," Kiki said as she walked up to Marty and gave her a tight smile. "Hello again, my dear."

"Hello," Marty said quietly, hiding behind Mrs. Mendalhall's skirts.

"My name is Francis Mendalhall. I was your brother's housekeeper. I wrote the letter," the Mrs. Mendalhall said, introducing herself.

"My name is Katherine Saybrooke, but everyone calls me Kiki. What on earth is wrong with this child?" Kiki asked, frowning as Marty tried to conceal herself from her aunt's disapproving gaze.

"She's just a little shy. Come with me. I will take you straight away to the residence," Mrs. Mendalhall offered.

Marty left the train station with Mrs. Mendalhall and Aunt Kiki. As soon as they got back to the house where Marty had lived with her parents, Kiki announced that she no longer needed Mrs. Mendalhall's services. "I have no need of a housekeeper," she said to the woman who had worked for Marty's parents ever since Marty could remember. Marty couldn't believe what she was hearing; Mrs. Mendalhall was like one of the family!

"You may get your things and you may go immediately," Kiki said coldly.

"But I don't want Mrs. Mendalhall to go away," Marty said sadly. "I'll miss her ... just like I miss Mommy and Daddy."

With a heavy heart, Mrs. Mendallhall knelt down at Marty's level. "Now that your parents are gone, your aunt is the lady of the house now. She has decided she has no need of a housekeeper. I'll miss you, Marty. But I must be going," the kindly housekeeper stated.

Marty wrapped her little arms around Mrs. Mendalhall's shoulders. "I- I don't want you go," she said, trying not to cry.

Despite Marty's protests, the housekeeper gathered up her belongings and prepared to leave. She gave Marty one last hug, then hurried out the door. To Mrs. Mendalhall it was like leaving her own grandchild behind. As Marty watched the older lady leave with tears in her eyes, she could no longer contain her own.

"Stop that incessant whining!" Kiki growled hatefully as Marty quietly sobbed. "I don't like children. And I HATE that whining! If you don't stop bawling immediately, I am sending you away to boarding school!"

Marty tried to quit crying; she really did, but the fact was she was miserable. Both of her loving parents were dead, and her mean Aunt Kiki had just sent sweet, old Mrs. Mendalhall away. All Marty had now was her precious Sara Beth. She hugged her doll tightly, trying to be a brave little girl.

Kiki walked towards the kitchen and left Marty there. She didn't want to hear the bothersome noise anymore.

Marty buried her face in her doll as she clutched her. "Sara Beth," she sobbed softly. She tried to keep her voice down. She hoped it didn't sound like she was crying.

Aunt Kiki was so mean. Marty didn't want to be with her anymore. She wanted to be with Mommy and Daddy. Why did Mrs Mendalhall have to listen and go away like that?

"Sara Beth, what are we going to do?" she whispered to her doll. Her face was tear-streaked. Nothing felt right anymore.

"Aunt Kiki made Mrs. Mendalhall go away, did you see?" she whispered to the doll.

Why hadn't Mrs. Mendalhall taken her with her when she left too? Why couldn't she go with her?

"Why did she make Mrs. Mendalhall leave?" she whispered. "Who's going to take care of us now?"

Just then Kiki walked into the room, glaring at Marty. "Stop that howling now or I'll take that doll away. If you don't stop being such a snot-nosed brat, I am sending you away to boarding school!"

Marty cowered, listening to her aunt's hateful rants. She wasn't sure what a boarding school was, but it sounded horrible. Why wouldn't mean, old Aunt Kiki just go away?

Marty decided she would do something terrible, something absolutely AWFUL, something so horrendous that mean, nasty, evil Aunt Kiki would have no other choice but to go away forever. She wanted Kiki to leave and go back to Boston and never, EVER come back!