way.”
“ I’ll carry her for you,” blurted Dawn.
Maria laughed, “That won’t be necessary, sunshine. Just pulling your tail. We can head out right after breakfast.”
Dawn beamed as she plowed through breakfast and helped put away the dishes. After what seemed like an eternity, they were back on the path to town. Heather once again all but orbited them, her energy knowing no bounds. Maria carefully carried Lily in a sling across her chest, pausing occasionally to tend to her charge. All the while, Dawn skipped and laughed. By the time they had reached town, Dawn was positively giddy with anticipation.
“ I need to make a quick trip to Market Street. Go ahead to the seamstress and I’ll meet you there shortly,” said Maria.
“ How does a white dress sound? It would make for sharp contrasts,” Dawn asked.
Maria thought a bit and nodded, “I think you would do well in white. Just make sure they know it’s for dancing and not just a day dress. They’ll make sure it has deeper pleats.”
Dawn nodded and gave Maria a quick hug as she quickly turned and headed off on her quest for a new dress, skipping all the way.
She quickly made it to the shop but just as she started to enter that girl came out. It was the fifteen-year-old who had been so snotty at the dance and later had broken her umbrella. The girl gave Dawn a quick look over and snorted, “Come for a nice dress and a makeover I take it. You’ll need more than that to put some color in your face. Don’t bother with Gavin; in the long run, he is all mine.”
Oh, that annoying girl! Dawn was torn between running and hiding and sending her claws against the girl’s face.
The shop door opened again and out stepped the Lady Mayor. She beamed as she walked and came up behind the evil, evil girl. “Kate, I see you are making new friends!” she said with sincerity.
“ Yes, Mother, we were just talking and comparing notes on boys,” Kate said evenly.
“ Oh, my little darling, growing up so fast,” the mayor said ruffling Kate’s hair. “Dawn, do give your father our best wishes. We are terribly grateful for all he is doing for us. How is little Lily doing?”
Dawn did her best to be formal and polite, “Thank you, ma’am. He will be glad to hear that. Lily is doing quite well. Her eyes opened a few weeks ago, brilliant blue. Maria has her here in town; they are down on Market Street.”
The Lady Mayor brightened at that, “Oh, here in town? Good! Come, Kate, let’s go see little Lily.”
Kate rolled her eyes and did her best, “Yes, Mother,” before the pair headed off toward the marketplace.
Dawn stood there dejected. Oh, she wished she had done something, but what? Suddenly Dawn’s fur stood on end as she felt a presence behind her. She fought to maintain control, but whatever was back there was creeping her out, so she bit her lip and slowly turned to face the newest menace.
It was Gwen, grinning as always. Dawn all but laughed. Gwen was so silly, but so honest and sincere. She was the most infectious bundle of joy around, short of little Heather. “Hello, Gwen. Glad to see you again.” Then she glared in the direction of the departing Kate, “‘If I’m so plain of face and Gavin prefers me, what does that say about you?’ That is what I should have said. But no, I didn’t say anything!” Dawn sighed, “What should I do, Gwen?”
Gwen beamed back at Dawn and took her hand and spun her back around facing the dress shop.
“ Good answer,” said Dawn, starting to smile. “Let’s go see what they can do for me.”
The pair entered the shop and an attendant soon came over to them, “Good morning, Dawn. Good morning, Gwen. What can we do for you two today?” Her voice was warm and sincere. Dawn needed that. Most people were nice, but it only takes a few to ruin a day.
Dawn bobbed and replied smiling, “Well, I’m here for a new dress. Something for the dance this weekend.”
“ Ah! That should be fun. Were you
“ I’ll carry her for you,” blurted Dawn.
Maria laughed, “That won’t be necessary, sunshine. Just pulling your tail. We can head out right after breakfast.”
Dawn beamed as she plowed through breakfast and helped put away the dishes. After what seemed like an eternity, they were back on the path to town. Heather once again all but orbited them, her energy knowing no bounds. Maria carefully carried Lily in a sling across her chest, pausing occasionally to tend to her charge. All the while, Dawn skipped and laughed. By the time they had reached town, Dawn was positively giddy with anticipation.
“ I need to make a quick trip to Market Street. Go ahead to the seamstress and I’ll meet you there shortly,” said Maria.
“ How does a white dress sound? It would make for sharp contrasts,” Dawn asked.
Maria thought a bit and nodded, “I think you would do well in white. Just make sure they know it’s for dancing and not just a day dress. They’ll make sure it has deeper pleats.”
Dawn nodded and gave Maria a quick hug as she quickly turned and headed off on her quest for a new dress, skipping all the way.
She quickly made it to the shop but just as she started to enter that girl came out. It was the fifteen-year-old who had been so snotty at the dance and later had broken her umbrella. The girl gave Dawn a quick look over and snorted, “Come for a nice dress and a makeover I take it. You’ll need more than that to put some color in your face. Don’t bother with Gavin; in the long run, he is all mine.”
Oh, that annoying girl! Dawn was torn between running and hiding and sending her claws against the girl’s face.
The shop door opened again and out stepped the Lady Mayor. She beamed as she walked and came up behind the evil, evil girl. “Kate, I see you are making new friends!” she said with sincerity.
“ Yes, Mother, we were just talking and comparing notes on boys,” Kate said evenly.
“ Oh, my little darling, growing up so fast,” the mayor said ruffling Kate’s hair. “Dawn, do give your father our best wishes. We are terribly grateful for all he is doing for us. How is little Lily doing?”
Dawn did her best to be formal and polite, “Thank you, ma’am. He will be glad to hear that. Lily is doing quite well. Her eyes opened a few weeks ago, brilliant blue. Maria has her here in town; they are down on Market Street.”
The Lady Mayor brightened at that, “Oh, here in town? Good! Come, Kate, let’s go see little Lily.”
Kate rolled her eyes and did her best, “Yes, Mother,” before the pair headed off toward the marketplace.
Dawn stood there dejected. Oh, she wished she had done something, but what? Suddenly Dawn’s fur stood on end as she felt a presence behind her. She fought to maintain control, but whatever was back there was creeping her out, so she bit her lip and slowly turned to face the newest menace.
It was Gwen, grinning as always. Dawn all but laughed. Gwen was so silly, but so honest and sincere. She was the most infectious bundle of joy around, short of little Heather. “Hello, Gwen. Glad to see you again.” Then she glared in the direction of the departing Kate, “‘If I’m so plain of face and Gavin prefers me, what does that say about you?’ That is what I should have said. But no, I didn’t say anything!” Dawn sighed, “What should I do, Gwen?”
Gwen beamed back at Dawn and took her hand and spun her back around facing the dress shop.
“ Good answer,” said Dawn, starting to smile. “Let’s go see what they can do for me.”
The pair entered the shop and an attendant soon came over to them, “Good morning, Dawn. Good morning, Gwen. What can we do for you two today?” Her voice was warm and sincere. Dawn needed that. Most people were nice, but it only takes a few to ruin a day.
Dawn bobbed and replied smiling, “Well, I’m here for a new dress. Something for the dance this weekend.”
“ Ah! That should be fun. Were you
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