Page 13 - 1958

ESSAY - GRADES 12 &13 - FIRST
MARIE CRITI'ENDEN
Grimly, she returned to the window, resuming her flop. They didn't need to try.tempting her with soft rugs, and rag dolls. She woul~n't stay, she wouldn't
former position with a determined beds, amd perfurae, and kitten
•••••••
THE STEP-SISTER
She walked slowly across the strange new room, glancing curiously at the
freshly painted wall and.ruffled gingham curtains which bordered a wide, double window. The window opened outward, lett ing the soothing breeze carry the fragrance from acres of orange trees into her sunny prison. Sitting on the linoleum flooring, she found that the windowsill was just the right height to lean her chin and elbows on as she gazed out over the sea of blossoms. "Welcome home," they had said when she arrived at the station. Home? Never! She kne1N what they were like. Hadn't Mom warned her, before that lady came for her, that raddy and his new wife were cruel and only wanted to hurt Mummie's little girl? She knev~. Hadn't she read how wicked step- mothers are and how they always hated little girls? Of course no one would bother her much, with that baby in the house. Probably no.one would even care if she jumped
from this window, right now.
Below, in the house, the sounds of someone working disturbed her reverie. She stood, leaving the vJindow open, and examined the room full y. · She found the bed was soft,
when she sat on it, with a ruffled covering of the same material as the curtains. Reclining on the pillows was a ragdoll whose shiny yellow braids were e. por.~ect imitation of her own. She bounced lightly on the bed, laughing mirthlessly when the doll fell over in an awkward heap.
Suddenly she stopped, listened tensely for several seconds, then relaxed once more with a grateful sigh when no reprimand was heard from below.
She stepped onto the bedside rug, being careful not to SQuash the kittens in the design. On the low dressing table, a pink comb and brush set was flanked by a
polished redwood jewellry case and a t iny bottle of perfume. Real perfume, she
found upon investigation, and dabbed a little behind each ear. She replaced the bottle J;lUrriedly, not sure if she had done right or wrong.
Dimly, from a nearby room came the muted wail of
perhaps? She rose slowly; then gaining speed as compassion grew in her, she flewto
the door and down the hall. The sound was clear now, at the end of the passageway.
~t seemed to come from a room opposite the stairway. The door \~as partially open, so she peered in slowly, whisperil1g, "Here kitty, kitty, kitty," in a coaling voice. ~ecause the noise had stoppe.d now, she went f arther i nto t he room to search for the source. A crib, against one ~ll, was swaying slightly because of a bundle of fury tangled in the blankets which filled the' s~att8d bed. She ran to the crib, Quickly picked up the bundle, and sitting on the floor, began to untangle the prisoner. A chubby pi nk arm, t wo flailing' l egs and a diapered bottom came i nto view , followed
py a red tear-streaked face. She sat staring at the baby who suddenly erupted into resounding screams of fury and fear. Gingerly, she lifted the child, placed him against her shoulder, and soothingly patted his t iny back. Why, he was so small! How could
he hurt anyone, he VIaS so helpless, and warm, and..cuddley• .He stopped cryirg abruptly to stare intently into her wondering eyes. With a gleeful laugh he slapped his chubby ~ands softl y agai nst her upturned face . A deep feeling of happiness \~elled up inside
her, making eyes water, though her mouth smiled.
A noise at the door made her start . There was'· that woman. Fear gri ppod the
little girl's heart as visions of st;rappings and tortures flickered through her mind. The woman walked slowl y over to the two children and knelt on tho f loor besi de them.
1 "Jimmy", she said seriously, "this is your sister, Carolyn. You two are going to have a lot of fun. Carolyn is going to stay with us for a vihile. Aren't you, Carolyn?"
She blinked solemnly up at the smiling woman. The baby laughed again, and cuddled his warm little body closer to tho girl. Sho smiled.
"You bet I am,iI shG said. "A long while."
some small being. A kitten