Gigi Dreams

Back in the large but cozy third floor of her home, Gigi was sitting by the fireplace with Lenny who had come over to the orphanage as soon as he’d been told what had happened to Gigi.

“I hate them,” he said to her, “I would give them each a nice black eye if I weren’t such a wimp.”

Gigi pressed a tissue to her bloody nose that a two-year-old named Zillie had given her as a present and sighed, then reached down to pet the Irish setter named Liz who was lying at her feet.

“I think Edmund likes you,” pretty 14-year-old black-haired Menni said as she came to sit with them briefly.

“You’re kidding me, right? You don’t try to beat up someone who you’re sweet on!”

“Well,” Menedani replied smoothly, “Boys do have the strangest way of expressing things, Gigi,” then stood up and walked away to feed Mandy, their peacock.

“She doesn’t mean you, Lenny,” Gigi said, seeing the offended expression appear on his face.

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“Oh sweetie! Are you feeling any better? Those boys! I ought to tell each of their parents what they’ve done to a dainty young woman like you!” It was Mom, who had just rushed into the room with a box of Extra-Extra-Ultra-soft tissues from the Marvelous Market. The fire seemed to immediately brighten when her elegant slim face with bright green eyes and pink cheeks appeared from behind the precisely carved door made from one of the oak’s branches that fell during a storm. Mom and Pop believed in using everything that they have access to for something that is useful, like a door.

“Oh, hi Mom,” Gigi said, happy to have her company along with Lenny’s. “I’m doing good. But Lenny just discovered a bruise on my knee.”

“Yeah, it’s a pretty decent sized one, too,” Lenny said, “Why are they so nasty? The boys, I mean. I’m not like that, along with all the other boys in Cecklehandbe Town and all around! I just don’t understand it.”

“That makes two of us,” Gigi sighed.

“Well, on the bright side, you found that beeeeauuutiful ring!” Mom put the tissue box down on the polished Mahogany table next to the big cozy chair that Lenny and Gigi were sharing.

“True, but still, I could’ve done without the beating.”

Mom bent over to examine the ring that was sitting on Gigi’s finger, sighed, smiled, and hugged both Lenny and her.

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Menni came back with Zinnie hanging off her leg and Mandy The White Peacock perched on her arm.

“GIGI!” Zinnie screeched, then let go of Menni’s leg to give Gigi the biggest two-year-old bear hug that exists. “Did you like my pwesent, Gigi? Gigi better now? No more blood, Gigi?”

“Yes sweetie, I love your little present! I’m better now, no more blood. You’re so adorable!” Gigi swept Zinnie up in her arms and combed her fingers through her curly brown hair.

“Time for dinner!” Pop’s voice said loud and clear through the speaker in the wall. “We’re having dinner on the seventh floor for the next month or two because our usual dining space is under construction! Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands!”

“Yess!” Menni, Gigi, Lenny, and Zinnie said in unison.

(Lenny usually stayed for dinner: his parents worked all the way until 10:00 pm and it was only 6:30 in the evening.)

All the children loved going to the top floor for dinner because all the walls were windows; you could see the whole town, island, and the beautiful ocean all around it. The sun set at around 7:00, and you could imagine how breath taking that scene would be. The younger children always went there to be read stories by Mom after dinner while the older ones and Mr.LucridMclacral did the dishes and other things.