Our Hope

6 - Skye

Skye strolled into her new house and shut her front door. She leaned back against it, considering her next step. She examined her dwelling and smelled the Coconut Beach candles she lit before she left. It wreaked of cigars and mold when they arrived. It worked nicely. This fragrance was strong and covered up the original odors.

This place was tiny compared to her father's house, but she believed it would be enough. She reviewed her first day. A few tears, but we made it through. She rubbed her cross pendant, again. She did not have much to do at all at school, so far. But she would definitely need to select better clothes for tomorrow.

She announced, "Call, Maria."

A light shined over her and Maria's hologram appeared after a few seconds.

Maria said, "Oh good. It's you. Show me your new place." She was next to a shower with water droplets on her mirror. She wore a fluffy white robe and combed through her hair.

Skye switched on her lights and said, "This place looks small from the outside, but once you get in, there's plenty of space."

She aimed the camera at the ceiling.

"This is the front entryway with a gaudy golden chandelier. I'll change that tomorrow. There are oak hardwood floors with a dark cherry stain." She panned the camera at the shiny finish.

"I really like the floors, and they are the same throughout the entire house. Over here is a faux dining room with a glass table, black chairs, and tall wax candles as the centerpiece. Which leads to the kitchen and wood table in the middle." Her table had a white tablecloth covering it and barstools that matched the color of the oak stain. There was also a new metallic silver refrigerator and new black appliances. The black marble countertop sparkled.

"That leads us to the back to the den."

There was a new black soft leather couch with a love seat, in the shape of an L, facing a white projection screen that took up the entire wall.

"New furniture already?" Maria asked. "I'm impressed."

"Yes. We copied what was in my dad's place in the city." She pointed to the back and then showed off her backyard. "It has real grass and trees, it's kind of hard to see because it's late." She held the camera in position for a few moments, for Maria.

She ambled back inside. "We will go back to the front and go upstairs." She paused in front of a closed door on the side and said, "Marcus is staying here now. Although, if I need extra space, there are rooms over the garage for the help."

She ran up the stairs, like she was at the gym. One of the few things she enjoyed doing there.

"Up here, we have two rooms. This one is for you." Her spare room had a white shag throw rug in the middle over the hardwood floor.

Skye said, giggling, "Your robe matches the rug. A king-sized bed with a pink bedspread and white pillow covers."

"I love the colors."

"I knew you would."

"Then we have my room. It's smaller and identical to my room at my dad's." A crimson door matched the inside walls and another king-size bed with a black bedspread and crimson pillow covers.

"I'm even more jealous, now."

"Well, it's quaint, but not bad for my first place," she grinned.

"Whatever, first place. Did you have to use your sad puppy dog eyes for this one?"

She said, "No, he just did it. I think it's because I'm going to school."

"What's the neighborhood like?"