Pearls and Poinsettias

Chapter Two

The doctor somehow managed to arrive quickly and was shown into the guest where Penelope lay. Not knowing what to do or say, the four remaining sisters took up residence on the couches in Helen's parlor.

The sobs of Noelle had calmed into a light whimper, most likely because she had come to an acceptance of Penelope's fate. Danny had nabbed the cookie plate from the table, and now shoveled the gingerbread into her face. Eleanor just stared at the ground―a normal response for her. And Helen looked at each of her sisters quite forlornly. She was hoping that she could finally revive some of the Christmas spirit within the household, but to no one's surprise, her efforts were entirely in vain.

"S-so what do you think happened?" Danny began. She was always the only one brave enough to break the silence.

"I...don't know," Helen admitted. "I have always wondered about her theatrical habits..."

"Her theatrical habits?" Noelle repeated, tilting her head to one side.

"Well...yes," Helen said slowly. She bit her lip to keep from saying more.

"What do you mean 'her theatrical habits?'" Danny pressed.

"Well...I don't want to speak ill of...of..."

"Gosh, Helen! She isn't dead yet!" Danny exclaimed, perhaps a little too vehemently. A fresh river of tears flowed down Noelle's cheeks. Eleanor's clasped hands squeezed so tightly that it looked like her fingers would suffocate.

"I just mean that I don't want to speak ill of my sister," Helen defended. "Is that too wrong?"

Danny shook her head reluctantly, demolishing another cookie.

"But, if you are so curious, I just mean that I've wondered if she has a, well, party life."

Danny stopped mid-swallow. Noelle's eyes went wide.

"Oh, Helen, you don't think that she drinks or does narcotics," Noelle said.

"I don't know," Helen said. "That's why I didn't want to say anything. But it could explain why she fainted."

"I don't think she would do that." Everyone turned to Eleanor. She had a far away look in her eyes, further from Earth than a Christmas star.

"What makes you say that?" Helen asked. It wasn't often that she offered her opinion. Eleanor shrugged, and no more was said.

"What are we going to tell Mother and Father?" Noelle whimpered.

"Exactly what the doctor tells us," Helen said. "I'm sure she will be fine. She probably just fainted."

"Why would Penelope faint?" Danny said. "She performs in front of thousands of important people every year. She's not exactly a spineless sponge."

"Perhaps from a lack of sleep," Noelle offered.

"Yes," Helen said. "It's probably a lack of sleep. You know people in show business, always go, go, go."

"Maybe it was the poinsettias," Eleanor whispered. Noelle froze. Danny's eyes opened wider than the cookies she had been eating. Helen's head whipped around to see where Penelope had been sitting. Resting on the fireplace were an array of Poinsettias, right behind where the poor sister had been seated. Danny's brow crinkled.

"Why do you have poinsettias?" Danny asked. "Don't you know that Penelope is allergic to them?"

"I-I had them out for a ladies' luncheon, and they looked so lovely, so I decided to keep them up," Helen explained. "It's been so long that I forgot about Penelope's allergy."