Light as a Feather

Chapter Thirteen

     Annabelle's mom informed her that there was to be a conference for the gifts in the family the weekend after school had started. "And I get to go?" she asked her mother.

     "Well, you have the feather, which means you hold most of the power. So, what do you think?"

     "I think yes?" Annabelle said.

     "Good job." Her mother smiled and got ready making desserts for the meeting that would take place the next day.

     The morning that the conference was supposed to take place, Annabelle woke up and faced the impossible task of figuring out what to wear. Yes, it was a meeting, but it was only with her family, and she didn't have anything too professional-looking anyway. What were you supposed to wear to a meeting when you were only sixteen and were supposed to be the half-host? Annabelle didn't know.

     Instead of trying to pick an outfit, Annabelle trudged down the stairs where her mother and father were both drinking a cup of coffee at the table. Her father was scrolling through something, probably a news story, on his phone. Her mother was staring at something outside.

     "Mom?" Annabelle said.

     "Hello," her mom said, seeming to snap out of her trance. "Do you want something to eat?"

     "No, but... what time is the meeting?" Annabelle said, in between a yawn.

     "At ten. People will be coming soon." Annabelle looked around. Again, it looked as if a world-renown maid had come and cleaned the house; it was perfectly clean. By that time, Annabelle had grown used to seeing small fairies everywhere, and she knew why the house was clean. The cleaning fairies always came at night, and used their magic to help them. One morning, she had woken up very early and gone downstairs to get a drink of water because her mouth was so dry. She had walked downstairs quietly so she wouldn't wake up her parents, to see a few small fairies cleaning. They were glowing, a white light surrounding all of them. The girls wore blue dresses and the boys had on jeans and a blue shirt, which were all very tiny. They seemed to work together very well. Annabelle had forgotten the water, and had sat on the top stair watching them as if she had discovered the tooth fairy.

     Her mother got up from the table and said, "What are you going to wear?"

     "I don't really know," Annabelle admitted. "Can't I just go in sweats?"

     Her mother raised her eyebrows. "You know the answer to that question."

     Annabelle sighed. "Well, what do you suggest?"

     "Your wardrobe isn't exactly the most... professional... maybe I have something in my closet that will fit you. Come upstairs with me."

     Annabelle followed her mother up the stairs and to her bedroom. Her mom opened the door and Annabelle walked inside, trailing behind her. The master suite was huge and light blue. There was a gigantic king-sized bed in the middle of the room and a flat screen TV on the opposite wall. The carpeting was as soft as a blanket that had just come out of the dryer, and there were beautiful blue curtains on the windows. Her mom headed straight for the closet, which was near the bathroom.

     The closet seemed to be as big as the bathroom. It was a walk-in closet, and as Annabelle sat there gaping, her mother seemed to be perfectly at home.

     Her mom pulled out a boring and horrible pantsuit that no fun human being would wear. "Hmm?" she asked.

     "Uh, no."