Twittishness is contagious.

Friday evening 20 March 2009

It was colder today but I had a little fire and was sitting in here typing in my cover-up shirt. The cover-up shirt is something Mother (our stepmother) had, when she used to be our teeanged nanny, just an old cast-off men's dress shirt that you can wear over a swimsuit. Being too big, it comes down low enough that it's almost like a robe. Mine is pale blue with a button-down collar and long sleeves. It is NOT an old one of Daddy's but something I got in a charity clothing centre. I am still wearing panties (because of...) but with the cover-up shirt on I am comfortable.

Out in the side gallery I heard a curious exchange. It might have sounded like someone stepped on the cat...but we have no cat. In the first second there was a high-pitched chirp. Then there was a loud excited squeal, breaking into inane laughter, and then footfalls of bare feet and a door closed. Half laughing myself I got up to see what had happened.

Little Lisa, still naked from her own bath an hour ago, hovered in the doorway to her own room at the left end. 'She didn't see me! I wasn't looking! I wasn't!'

Across from mine the bathroom door emitted the steam of a warm shower just ended. Jessy's door was closed at the other end. There was silly giggling going on in there. Of course Josie is still staying with us, till tomorrow. I rapped gently on the door. 'Are you guys okay?'

'Eeek!' I heard.

Then Jessy called calmly. 'It's okay.'

The door was not fully closed and I pushed it open gently. Jessy's fireplace cracked softly. Jessy lay across her bed like she often does, calmly reading in a magazine by the one lamp on in the room. Behind her on the other side sat Josie, her hair in one towel, just closing, or reclosing, the other towel round her chest. By now a presence behind me told me Lisa had returned. 'Sorry,' I said. 'It sounded like a catfight was starting out here.'

'Oh, no,' Josie said, and then she smiled at me. 'It was just....'

'I think they surprised each other,' Jessy said, and then looked up, seeing Lisa cowering shyly beside my leg. 'I think that one is supposed to be in bed.'

I nodded, putting my hand on her head. 'Yes, well... sorry for that, Josie. She's quite good at wandering round where she shouldn't be... but, no harm done then.'

'It's all right,' Josie said, smiling demurely from under the big towel round her hair. 'I don't... mind.'

As I looked down Lisa was smiling over at her, feeling much better from that remark. She wants so much to be accepted... even if she seems a little in the way at times. I always say, if you have to have a little sister, let her not be a total nuisance! And Lisa really never is.

'Let's get you to bed,' I said, wrapping the shirt round myself and leading her off up the gallery. I pulled Jessy's door closed to preserve her room's warmth. 'Get yourself in there, and I will call Mother for you.'

She nodded, impetuously wrapping her arms round my legs and leaning her head upon my hip as a kind of hug. This is her way of saying 'Thank you, and I love you.'

Mother came up and tucked her in and then knocked quietly on my door. When I called she came in and said, in her tender nighttime voice, 'I'm sorry, Janine. She wants you to go in and say good-night too.'

I nodded, sitting back from the computer. 'All right.'

'Are those other two birds settled in for the night?'

I shrugged. 'Who knows? I'm sure they're fine.'

Mother leaned on the doorway to my dressing area and folded her arms across her tummy. 'You are all good girls,' she said. 'I thank God you all get on so well.'

I smiled. 'But of course.'

Then she stood up straight to go. 'Good night, sweetheart. I love you.'

'I love you, Mother.'

And I had to go in to Lisa's room to kiss her good-night then.

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