After her last unforgettable vow, Scarlett fell asleep. She had been standing with all her strength and power before her bed in her room. Only a few seconds after, she fainted and collapsed onto her bed. From the outside, not a single sound was heard. Suellen cilmbed next to the door and swung it open. She was fearful that Scarlett would have killed herself by now. But Scarlett laid on her bed, motionless in a peaceful sleep. Suellen dragged her almost weightless body onto the bed and left, closing the door behind her. Ella then stood.

"What's going on Aunt Sue?"

"Nothing dear, you may all go back to bed" Suellen announced and placed her hand on Ella's shoulder.

The entire little family climbed back up the stairs to their rooms where they slept comfortably.

Scarlett slept for what seemed like hours, but was in reality a few seconds. When her eyes opened, she could only see the bright sun seeping in through the window. How strange thought Scarlett. She usually had her curtains closed as to keep her world silent. However this day, she had a new feeling her breast. It was more along the lines or excited and youthful. Scarlett barely lifted her head to look back and she gasped. This wasn't her room! It was too bright and open with warm colors. Then in horror, Scarlett looked down on her blanket. It wasn't her blankets. Oh by God Scarlett thougth angrily. Surely Suellen had done this! After all, Suellen always did encourage her to move around and stay healthy, but Scarlett always refused. Scarlett then paused. What was she thinking? All her thoughts towards Suellen and anyone else she had hurt were kind! Yet...

"Miss Ellen! Ah wen' ter da feels and a wo'am es jes layin' dar" a farmiliar voice cried.

Scarlett sat up in her bed, now alerted and full or energy. She suddenly threw her legs off the side of her bed and ran to window before she realized what she was doing. Scarlett screamed! There were negroes outside! Scarlett didn't stop screaming. What was going on! Was she seeing things? Someone ran into the room but Scarlett couldn't see. She fell over and sprawled onto her elbows and beat the floor. She had to be dreaming!

"Scarlett dear. Scarlett! Oh dear what's the matter" a soft, but warm voice soothed.

The mysterious woman bent down next to Scarlett and lifted her chin. She then gasped to see the insane look in her child's eyes. Scarlett screamed. It was Ellen.

It was a while before Scarlett could come to terms what had happened. She was sixteen again, and vivacious. Sixteen and young. Oh God had granted her wish! Oh dear, good, kind, loving God. As Ellen left, Scarlett fell backwards onto her bed and cried. She praised the Lord over and over again. She loved everyone. She loved Suellen, Carreen, Ellen, Gerald, Mammy, Prissy, Dilcey, Wade, Ella, Ashley, Melanie, oh anyone! Then her thoughts stopped. Wade! Ella! Her rejoicing suddenly stopped. What would she do? Now that she knew what lay ahead, she couldn't marry Charlie! She couldn't marry Frank either! Oh how would she get Rhett to love her again! And what of Ashley? Before she could finish with her question, Mammy entered with her black head held high. Scarlett backed up from the mirror she had peered in stood straight.

"Miss Scarlett. You ain't draissed. Was da matta wid you? You lookin' like a pale ole lady"

Scarlett suddenly realized that the look in her eyes wasn't the one of a vivacious young belle, but of a sorrowful old lady. What look did she hold? Oh dear, life would be worse if she could not find her life and passion. Oh you fool! Scarlett told herself angrily. Tears entered her eyes. How could she win Rhett's love as a given up old lady? Scarlett shook her head, that could not be. There had to be a way. She turned toward Mammy with confidence and youth in her newly fresh green eyes.

"I'm fine! You don't need to burst into my business Mammy" Scarlett's voice now sounded like a bell, which a simple but beautiful touch.

Mammy did not look hurt but set her lips in a pinched way.

"You ain' takin' ter me dat way. Ah's gwine ter tell Miss Ellen 'bout dis. You akin lak you owe dis worl'"

Scarlett suddenly felt regret in her heart. Here she was, able to do her life over again! And yet she did nothing but nag at everyone! But if she did not, surely Mammy would suspect something! It did not matter, Mammy would never find her secret. Scarlett stumbled backwards and smiled unsurely.

"I'm sorry Mammy. I'm better now. I'll get dressed" Scarlett headed towards the dresser, panic going through her heart. What would she wear? Suppose she choose the wrong outfit? She would need to wear something pretty and catchy, didn't Ella like dresses like that? And Suellen was always telling Scarlett of how much Ella was like her. She was unaware of Mammy beside her and screamed when she noticed her. Mammy was taken aback and backed up against the wall, her look full.

"Miss Scarlett! You ain' gwine ter da ba'b'ku tommorer ef you doan' settle dawn" Mammy threatened moving closer to Scarlett.

Scarlett looked in the mirror and tried on a bell-like look and was satisfied. It looked as though she were sixteen again! Scarlett stood there for a minute,admiring her own beauty as she had done as a sixteen-year old, she imagined it like that. She dragged her soft, ladylike, uncovered hands down her baby smooth, colorful face. Her green eyes couldn't be more green and her smile more lively and sweet. And she knew what to do. After all these years, could she still be the beautiful, spirited southern belle. Scarlett moved towards a few stretched out dresses and her hand went towards the prettiest one she could find. It looked like a ballgown. The top was red and white with ruffles, the bottom was much smoother, yet still beautiful. Scarlett, excited, pull the dress to her chest and danced around. Mammy watched her in curiousity. Scarlett then turned to Mammy, her eyes wide with wonder.

"I think I'll wear this one Mammy. It's awful pretty, don't you think" Scarlett asked taking to her bed and rolling over.

Mammy watched in shock. Scarlett was never one to fool around, yet here she was? Mammy shook her head and looked over at Scarlett who sat upright in her bed with her legs crossed, and her eyes wide and shining with innoncence. Mammy loved Scarlett like her own. She had only wished that she would be happy. So Mammy let it go and smiled. If Scarlett was happy, she was happy. What could she do? She gripped Scarlett by the hand and pulled her up.

"Weel den, Ah gessin' dat you doan wantter waid a moment win you doan got one ter spare" Scarlett then hoped to her feet happily and handed the dress to Mammy.

Scarlett walked out of Tara feeling as fresh as anyone could. She wore her head high and shoulders loose, like Ella did. She hoped she looked attractive and sweet, like she had. Of course, if she did the same things as Ella, she would be just as good. Tara was more beautiful than Scarlett could remember, with the nearby lake shining brightly underneath the hot sun, the flowers blooming and rivers skipping by. Scarlett happily skipped a few rocks, rejoicing over her new youth, not thinking of the future. After awhile, Scarlett decided it was time to make decisions. First of all, there was how to get Rhett to love her. She just needed to act beautiful and vivacious. Yes, that was it. Beautiful and vivacious. She would greet everybody with a smile and bow. And when she looked at Rhett, he would see the selfishness and spirit in her eyes. She would have to make that happen. Her eyes no longer held her old lady look whenever she thought of her future, Rhett, and children, and Melanie of course! Dear Lord Melly! thought Scarlett jumping up from her daydream. How on Earth would she get to know Melanie? How did she get to know Melanie? Scarlett lay down on the grass and turned on her elbows in thought. Then she remembered Wade's soft, gentle look and his shyness. She married Melanie's brother of course! Charles! Yes! That was his name. But how could she marry him knowing what what was ahead? And that she would be a widow all over again. And Wade Hampton? Why did she need it now that Rhett loved her, or would love her?

The sky seemed to turn darker every second. With all her experience with the night sky, Scarlett could easily tell the time by looking up. It was noon at least. Perhaps they were having lunch. She did not want to go. Her heart was upset over her predicament. And Frank! What would she do? Scarlett let out a cry and buried her face into the grass. Suppose she did not marry Charles. What would Rhett look forward to? Did he really love her at first sight? Or did wanting her drive him to love? And how would she and Melanie be so close if they weren't sisters. Scarlett turned her eyes back up in anguish and fear. What of Ashley? She surely had to do something about him. Wouldn't that make Rhett want her more? Suddenly there was a shout from a distance that drove Scarlett back to reality and her posture. She immediately sat up before Big Sam came into sight.'

"Miss Scarlett, es dat you?" he asked, slowly moving forward.

Scarlett spun around and got to her feet. It was a shock to see Big Sam as it was Mammy, since they had both died long ago. Scarlett sobbed and ran to him. She then threw her arms around him tightly. Sam's eyes widened and he stiffened.

"Was de matta Miss Scarlett. You okay" he asked gently, pulling her away.

Remembering herself, Scarlett nodded and looked up.

"I'm sorry Big Sam. I just- well I just need some time" Scarlett broke away from his grasp and began to walk away when he grabbed her shawl.

"Miss Scarlett, es time ter eet" he told her quietly/

Scarlett turner around and faced him.

"Oh go on Big Sam. I-I'll catch up" she told him.

He bowed to her and left her. I won't think about it today she promised herself. Afterall, tommorow, she'd know what to do!

Scarlett sat outside with the Tarleton twins later in the evening. She had offered to go with Ellen to baptize the young baby of Emmie Slattery, but Ellen had told her that she should stay home. Not wanting to sound supicious, Scarlett accepted. She had talked along and flirted with the twins vivaciously and hoped that they didn't notice any difference. And thankfully, they didn't seem to. They talked of the barbeque and parties before, which Scarlett was happy to talk about since she could hardly remember any of them. And when they told her of their prank that got them expelled, Scarlett burst out laughing she had never done in her life. She tried to think of something to say but could only come up with.

"I bet the two of you and Tom don't mind getting expelled, but didn't you say Boyd was into this kind of things? Was it that hard on him?"Scarlett asked running her smooth fingers through her lickery black hair.

"Oh he can read law in Judge Parmalee's office over in Fayetteville" answere Brent carelessly "Besides, it don't matter much. We'd have to come home before the term was out anyway.

"Why?"

"The war, goose!" The war's going to start any day, and you don't suppose any of us would stay in college with a war on, do you?"

Scarlett stayed still for a moment without talking. What would she way next? She could remember at the back of her mind saying something of there not being any war. These words haunted Scarlett. These two boys would die in the war, and even worse, she knew it! How could she say that? She had to stop it from happening somehow!

"Fiddle-dee-dee, the only thing you two are going to do off in war is get yourselves killed. War is an ugly business and I don't know why you two think it's so grand. Besides, I'm tired of hearing of this war. It's sickening. Just suppose we lost! What would happen to your generous, good Conderacy" Scarlett told them sharply.

Both Stuart and Brent were shocked at this and looked at her in awe until Stuart spoke up. They both apologized for bothering her with the subject and were silent for a moment. Then Scarlett spoke up.

"Oh let's not get into that! Let's talk more of the barbeque or something else! Anything but this in face" Scarlett smiled at them and fluttered her eyelashed which charmed them in the way she had hoped it would.

"No, I'm tired of talking about the barbeque!" Stuart confessed looking down "Unless you promise you'll dance with us and eat supper with us!"

Scarlett laughed in her windy laughter and then smiled in the way they liked so much at them.

"I'll do it" she promised.

"Good!" Brent cried and then softer "Do you want to know a secret"

Scarlett sat up happily, sure the news of Ashley was coming up.

"Of course!"

They both looked at each other in humor and then turned to her.

"Well, you see, you know Melanie Hamilton?"

"Of course I do, Ashley Wilkes's cousin, right?"

"Yeah her, she and Ashley are going to be married!"

Scarlett felt no feeling stir inside her, none at all. She smiled at the boys.

"I'll keep it secret. That's a good one, just so you know. I'll be eating supper and dancing with the two of you tomorrow" and then she remembered Mammy's old lecture from the back of her mind "Oh! Would you like to stay for supper?"

Both the boys blushed and nodded. And the three of them entered the house happily. Most happy was Scarlett. Who wouldn't be happier?