It was Saturday morning on the first day of spring break. It was the start of another period away from school, time when Sandy thought she could again laze in bed and listen to music.
No such luck that morning, though. There were chores. Unless Sandy would like to go without clean clothes, there was laundry to be done.
Actually, it should have been Juneida's turn to do the laundry. But that rich orphan had band practice in school (band practice during the spring break!) so Sandy had traded a few chores with her.
Sandy was not alone in doing the chores. She had someone to teach that day, someone to whom she would show how to perform the chores in the house. (Yes, yes, there certainly were some concern about Sandy wearing the instructor's cap. However, one should also consider who the would-be victim was.)
Sandy's apprentice was a recent addition to the Sunshine Girls Home, a little middle-schooler by the name of Edith Baxter. Or Ditz as the newcomer cheerfully informed was what her siblings had called her.
She was a bright little dark-skinned child with neck-length black hair. And she was Sandy's new roommate. There had been a reshuffle in the room arrangements with the new addition to the home. Celeste had moved into Juneida's tiny room, leaving Sandy and Ditz to share the larger corner room.
Sandy was sorry to see Celeste leave but Ditz looked like the fun type. Perhaps it would not be so bad after all.
"In my house, Mummy does all the washing," Ditz had mentioned as the girls were sorting the clothes to be washed.
"Momma Lois is busy with other things," Sandy explained, "so we help out with some of the work."
Holding up a garment in each hand, Ditz declared, "Washing looks like fun!"
Sandy could not see the logic in that statement.
When they were done sorting out the clothes, Sandy showed Ditz how to load the washing machine. She also showed how to load the detergent and how to work the settings.
"Now we wait," Sandy said.
"What do we do while waiting?" Ditz asked.
"I normally watch TV," Sandy replied.
Which led them to Saturday morning cartoons. The girls shared the sofa in the living room, eyes glued on the bright colors coming from the happy idiot box.
"We should relax while we can," Sandy advised sagely, "Later, we've to hang the clothes. Then we've the bathroom to clean. Then take in the clothes and fold them."
"Wow, sounds like you have a lot of fun here," Ditz commented.
Sandy failed to see the logic in that.
"So, uh, Ditz, why are you living here instead of with your family?" Sandy asked. She knew Ditz still had a mum - the mum had visited on the previous weekend.
"Oh, uh, my Daddy passed away and Mummy couldn't take care of everyone," Ditz said quietly, "The nice lady in the big office said she would find a nice home for me and, here I am."
"Your Mummy couldn't look after you?"
That was a strange idea for Sandy. Certainly if she had a Mummy, Sandy would want to live with her.
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