An Orphans Wish is Answered

"Thank you Mam!" Kari made a quick and dutiful curtsy then attacked the food on the table with relish. She filled her plate to heaping with the potatoes and carrots and some kind of legume she had never seen before and then the peas and a few cookies and and the ham she had smelled before with some round, strange yellow thing with a large hole in the middle and little brown studs that tasted very strong and spicy and... she stopped trying to figure them out and just filled her plate and stuffed her mouth as fast as she could. There was a big pitcher of chocolate milk set in a bowl of ice to keep it cold and she poured a tall glass of it and gulped it. She hadn't tasted chocolate milk in two years! It was like nectar from the Gods to her and she closed her eyes to savor the taste longer. Kari was a true sight now, sticky hair, crunchy dress and a huge brown milk mustache with crumbs all down her front.
 
Eveline smiles and watches Kari eat and finish.

"Are you done, Princess Kari?" She curtsies and takes her hand.

"Let us get you in the bath, m'lady, so we may enjoy the night out on the town."
 
Kari followed her new mom, holding her hand tightly so that she didn't trip as she craned her neck left and right, up and down trying to take everything in all at once. When they came to her room she stopped in her tracks and looked like she was about to faint. The canopy bed with light as a breeze drapes and plump pillows, two big ones and many throw ones too! Big windows to let the light stream through, a vanity table and a large dresser and a desk for studying at and carpet throw rugs! It was more than she could have dreamed for since it was more than she had ever had, ever! Two large shelving units for books and a toy chest, yes it was more that she could even dream of! She looked at Eveline and ran to her and hugged her, tears ran down the girl's cheeks as she choked out a squeaky thank you.
 
Eveline smiles and watches the girl inspect the room. When hugged, she knelt down and wiped her tears.

"No thank yous. Just enjoy the room and all your new life has too offer." She kisses her forehead and ruffles her hair.

"Now, how about you take that bath and get ready for that movie and dinner we had planned?"
 
Kari nods an enthusiastic yes and heads for what must be a bathroom door, never having one in a room just for her before, she was a bit hesitant.
Once inside she spent a lot of her time oohing and awing at the fixtures, curtains and other accoutrements while her new mother filled the huge tub with water.
There were many bottles lined around the bath with fancy stoppers and flowery labels and upon further inspection they had wonderful smells too. With the sent of lilacs, roses, peonies and even rare spices that made her sneeze. She finally settled on the roses one and sprinkled it in the tub, which soon filled with bubbles and the whole room smelled like a garden!
With help from Eveline, Kari peeled out of her stiff dress and undid the tie in her hair and then slipped into the tub of toasty warm water. With a heartfelt deep sigh she closed her eyes and sank into the depths of the enormous tub, relishing in the luxury she had never experienced before.
 
Eveline smiles before running out of the room in a rush. Not too long after, she rushes back in with her hair done up in tie dye hair ribbons, an 80's styled top, and mismatched leggings. Kimu presses play on a stereo and begins lip syncing "Love Shack" into hairbrush as she makes an entrance to dance.
 
'What on earth?' Thought Kari as she resurfaced to the droning sound of loud music thumping through the tub wall. She peeked out of the mountain of bubbles at her new mom, worried that she might have lost her mind or something. A smile crept across her face at how silly Eveline looked singing to a hairbrush while dancing to the tune. An embarrassed giggle took her over as she scrubbed her skin with a luffa she had found sitting in a dish meant to hold it.
As the years of filth dissolved into a muddy mess in the tub the true color of her blond hair started to shine through, as well as the many old and new bruises that covered her body. Oblivious to the past hurts she kept watching the 'show' and scrubbing and giggling.
 
Eveline continued to dance and sing to a number of songs and on the last, she scoops up a handful of bubbles and huffs and puffs then blows them up into the air so their float down through the air over her like a big finale.

"And now, m'lady, we must make haste and discover the world outside the orphanage!" She gets a soft, pink towel decorated with crowns and heels too hand to Kari.
 
Kari takes the fluffiest towel she had ever ever seen and draped it around her shoulders. It was amazing the stuff this lady had! She stepped out of the tub that was now draining and looked back at the muddy mess circling the drain and winced. It would take a lot of scrubbing later to clean that mess up. Sighing over the thought of having to do the work she turned back to see what Eveline was planning next. She didn't really want to get back into the crunchy dress again but...
 
Eveline smiles and jumps around a bit.

"Alright. Now for the exciting bit. Getting made up to hit the town." She winks and picks up Kari, throwing her over her shoulder to skip into her room.

"Now! I don't know if you are a girly type or if you like jeans and a T-Shirt but..." As Kari is set down gently on the bed, Eveline opens up Kari's closet and drawers.

"You got the pick of the litter, kid." She smiles and kisses her forehead before showcasing what she had.
 
Kari turned around to face the closet after Eveline put her down and dropped her fluffy towel in shock and awe at all the cloths in it. She just stood there with her chin on the floor for several minutes then looked over to her new mom as if to say, 'Are you sure?' Then blinked a few times and stepped up to the dresses and reverently touched them on hems and sleeves. Pink, blue, green and yellow and more! Flowered and striped and poke-a-dotted. Ruffles and lace, puffy sleeves and no sleeves. A whole row devoted to jeans, slacks and skirts! Blouses looking fit for a princess! She turned on her heal and faced Eveline.

"It's too much! They're all so wonderful! How will I ever choose?"

Kari turned back to the closet and pulled out a drawer and found undergarments that, amazingly, were just her size. It was a dream, it just had to be! She picked a pink pare of undies and quickly put them on then went back to the dresses and pulled a pink one with tiny blue flowers on it off its hanger and held it next to her. Once again it was just her size.
In another drawer she found slips of different types and picked what she thought was the appropriate one for the dress she had chosen, then looked in another drawer and found socks and leggings and hose. Kari pulled out a pare of blue anklet socks that had lace on them that matched the blue in the flowers on the dress. Then she picked up a pare of pink patent leather shoes. The little girl turned again to face her mom with a huge smile on her face with her choices in hand.