HOR

ISO

E

t me a stack o

she left, tellin

itchen if I

t she had gone

g randomly an

heets with

drawing for so

s theory of me b

ld have waited

e in case I fell

drawing for h

as curious to ex

es was rich, I

s really as spl

t out

ack of paper f

y back against

my legs over the

at my stomach,

t and stood up

nd numb, as th

nsation fi

anities at the

the door, tryin

n beginning to h

e I reache

faded to a halt

a soft, expensiv

and scoured th

rious portraits

rati

e hall, mouth ga

multiple doors

deliers every

was be

another picture

d to face the wa

faced me. An ugl

at me, with bag

ess and- I stopp

as looking

startled noise a

p to my face.

I really needed

ange of

hall, trying to

e kitchen and A

seemed like for

magnificent

te banister was

mic leaves and f

y stepped down,

my fingers over

I would

another, I fin

oked up dazzle

ng above the cen

ted to fit in

osp

es away from

eaded away from

l, searching

d the kitchen in

hall, peering

the beautiful ro

small voice, un

a

r I walked on un

nd saw Alicia t

e the cook, wh

n the pot o

said, smili

to me and Alici

widened. Probabl

e

stated as a matt

ement ticklin

uc

are,' she laug

cook's expressi

'Do you think

hen up a bit?'

able in spea

smiled warmly,

ng me out of the

beautif

but let my eyes

or as we returne

e brought me in

yin

she walked towar

om, and my eye

eveal an en-su

to the other sid

ard, to reveal

awers, and to

brand new, pe

claimed, running

in my arms. Alic

inned u

hat you were quit

whilst grumblin

ghi

op again. This m

inute he was ac

ecent

rmured, sti

ing to feel the

help people out

g. 'But you're sp

up to face her

' she trailed of

ing just seems s

ded, s

edly as she rum

ed out a pair of

ould fit you. Th

, but she left t

d and needed th

?' I asked, rais

e folded clot

called leaning b

of the cupboar

. Very kind, and

wkes. They love

y always squabb

he towel, a mot

a

placed the towe

ms, 'Wait, so ho

ng her to the o

curious about hi

s really success

ompany

, darling,' she s

from the drawers

old are you

' I muttered,

, so he's twenty

' I asked, s

walked towards

m his

my face, 'What

i

curiously, almo

ing, but how do

s been all o

ing my head, '

and looked me i

he got the busine

you didn't find

in your own time

jec

erstanding. I k

al sub

d, walking towar

take you

called out befo

e of things to

towards

d an eyebrow sto

of the drawings

t, second guess

drawn face smile

sighed, decidin

hat could

,' I said handin

rvously as her

much, and it's

usly, trying

'But I wanted t

kind to me, an

w m

me, and envelo

autiful,' she said

o tal

e pulled away f

t...' I scratche

awkwa

hing lightly, 'I

ame this. Than

em,' I grinned

eave, as I pick

but stopped bef

face me, 'And B

know...' she chu

and quic

oor shut curiou

into the bathro

e