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GRANNY'S DOLL HOUSE

Granny was getting old; that much was clear. Lately she had been cranky (more so than usual), and had begun accusing the rest of us of stealing her belongings. Naturally this did not sit well with my brothers and I, and it prompted several embarrassing lectures on honesty, respect and the eighth commandment. Red-faced and squirmy, we snuck suspicious glances at each other and wished someone would 'fess up.

Now, Randy had a mean streak to him, but not so mean as I could see him depriving Granny of her long-held possessions even for a trick. Jessie was just pure angel, and there was no way, no how I could conceive of him lifting a penny gum ball let alone Granny's jewelry. I do confess, sometimes it made me want to pinch him. Now I don't need to tell you that I, Sally Mae, would never stoop to such a level. Besides, who wanted to hear Granny's crotchets from morning to evening? I was wishing mighty hard that I could catch that thief if only for some peace of mind.

Well. The scene of the crime was in Granny's upstairs bedroom. Her room was cram-full of fascinating articles: a twisty, twiney birdcage made of bamboo, a black lacquer chest painted with beautiful little ladies with parasols and peacocks (Granny said came from far-away Japan) and best of all, a perfectly-perfect, size-large doll house! Now, I can be a bit of a tomboy but this here doll house knocked all that clear out of me every time Granny let me look at it. It had real carpeting, doors and windows with real glass and even wall-paper. There were stairways and truly real-looking furniture in every room. There was even a big old steamer trunk in the bedroom upstairs.

There was a doll in the doll house, but Granny never, ever let me touch her. She had real hair and glass eyes that opened and shut and the most beautiful silk and lace clothes in a real closet. Now I'll tell you a secret about Granny. She kept her best jewelry in this doll house, hidden under little sofas, stairways and in the wooden cupboards of the kitchen. Everybody knew this, but we just pretended that we never saw them; and this was what made me suspicious of Randy and Jessie (I already told you it wasn't me as was stealing the jewels).

Anyhow, I decided to keep a watch on the boys: I lay in wait in the broom closet in the hallway where I couldn't miss them if one of them decided to sneak up the stairs to Granny's room. I waited for two whole days and not once did those rascals come anywheres near. Well I'll be darned

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