Eleven year old Amy leaned over the green picket fence for a final glimpse of her mother and father driving away. Away to a place called Derby. "A wide space in the road," Dad said, "about twenty miles from Denver. One small store with a gas pump and maybe six small houses. Nothing fancy, but livable." Dad's job would be in that area for the next six months. Derby being just a wide space, lacked a school, so Amy's mother had enrolled her in a Denver school near Grandma's house, where Amy would live until school was out in June. Turning from the fence she looked at the two-story brick house. Never having seen two houses in one, Amy found it a fascinating arrangement. Grandma lived upstairs, had her own entrance with a large entry hall, and a heavy oak staircase leading up to the large two bedroom apartment. Off the kitchen a bright green indoor stair-well led to the back yard and alley. The downstairs apartment occupied by a young couple had it's own entry and back doors. Amy opened the front door into a large entry hall and swept through in an oh-so-elegant fashion. She stopped to look in the large mirror centered on a huge piece of furniture that had hooks for hats and coats. with an umbrella stand on one side. Taking off a large (pretend) hat she hung it carefully on one of the hooks. Finger by finger, as Grandma did, she removed her (pretend) gloves, and carefully placed them in her (pretend) purse. Amy smiled at herself in the mirror, patted her hair, fluttered her eyelashes and said, "I'm so sorry I cannot ask you to come up. It simply wouldn't be proper. Thank you for such a lovely carriage ride in the park." Swishing her elegant (pretend) skirt Amy started up the stairs. Her fingers traced the raised design on the wall-paper. So pretty, she thought. None of the houses we lived in had wall-paper. Reaching the top step she turned, lifted her chin and whispered, "Farewell Sir John, Farewell." Taking a big breath Amy opened the door and stepped inside. For the first time in three weeks Grandma had set the dining room table for two. Lunch, and life with Grandma, was about to begin.
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