Alicia And The Letter

Becoming a playmate

      How did Alicia get here? She was sitting in the dining room, between two of the triplets, wearing an elaborate black dress, with the layers on the bottom half pinned back to show them off, as they faded from black to white.
      "Sorry the dress is so gloomy and boring; Mary picked it out." Molly sneered.
      "Molly! Don't be such a jerk. How do you know Alicia is gonna like your pick tomorrow, huh?" Mara scolded.
      "Because my style is fun, and I know how to mix things up. I won't pick the same color over and over."
      "No, you won't. Instead, you'll pick some crazy dress she won't be able to sit down in."
      "Well, at least I'm not boring and pick dresses that were popular a million years ago."
      "At least she'll be able to see without a bunch of ruffles in the way with my style!" They were both agitated now, and getting louder with each word. They kept their argument going until Alicia couldn't handle them anymore.
      "HEY!" Alicia closed her eyes, trying to calm down. "Shouldn't there be food on the table? And where are your parents?"
      "Mommy isn't here, and daddy is probably in his study. " Molly uttered as she looked off in a distance, unable to keep eye contact. "But once dinner is done, he'll be out here."
      There was a long uncomfortable silence. Alicia didn't know what it was, but she definitely felt she said something wrong. It seemed Mara couldn't stand the silence.
      "...Dinner is taking too long, and I want Dad to meet my new friend!" She jumped up. As she ran out the door she bumped into a tall figure, hovering over her. "Dad! You won't believe what happened today! I made a new friend. Can I keep her? Please. Please!"
      As Alicia looked the father up and down, she couldn't help but notice how tired he was. He was a tall man, even with his shoulders hunched over slightly. Though his clothes were were different reds and deep blues, they were faded, and seemed more gloomy than Mary's.
      "Mara, why do you insist on bringing strangers into our home?" He sighed, then tried to keep posture as he walked over to Alicia. "I'm sorry; I know my girls can be a handful. I'm Mr. Steige.
      "Sorry about my appearance. I've been... Overworking as of late. What's your name miss?"
      Alicia was surprised to find a more gay tone in his voice when he spoke. "My name's Alicia. Nice to meet you Mr Steige."
As they sat down, it was a surprisingly loud and eventful dinner; The girls were competing to see who had a better story to tell, and the father seemed a child at heart, threatening more than once to start a food fight. All Alicia could was sit back and watch, while she tried to control her laughter. They seemed the perfect little family, with the perfect and not-so-little house.
      Alicia's only wishes were that she not get lost in the small castle, and that Charles would find her soon. In this world, Alicia felt he was her family, and felt much guilt about leaving him behind.
      As day closed and night took over, Alicia grew more and more tired. She soon asked to be excused, and the children's response where to do the same so they could lead Alicia to her room. Of Course, they had decided Alicia needed to be in he same hall as them, and she ended up getting a room across the hall from Mary's and Mara's, and ended up being next to Molly's. They gave her a silk night gown to sleep in, and insisted she was to play hide and seek with them the next morning.
      As she lay there half asleep, it was only then Alicia remembered she was suppose to travel to Calleash. A sudden flash of worry came over her as she thought about how she was to get home, how she was to get to Calleash, and how Charles thought he would find her. She slowly drifted to sleep, now with a seed of fear planted in her.