Chapter One

Abigail Howers is six-years-old, and sits dressed in a black dress, on an antique chair, in the corner of the room. Her Grandpa, Robert Howers, picked it up at Walmart since she didn't own anything black. She is holding a rag doll, Bella, with a pink dress. The room is filled with people dressed all in black, Abigail's family members and friends of her parents. She can hear them all whispering about the car accident, how her Mommy, Beth, died, and how lucky it is that she is still with them. Her Grandpa kneels down next to Abigail, he is wearing a black suit, its a bit tight on him and its smells of moth balls.

"Hey kiddo, do you want a drink or anything?" Grandpa asks. His breath smells of pink mints that are hidden in his pocket.


"No Grandpa." She hides her face in her Bella.

Great Aunt Lilly is standing with Sue Blithe who is wearing a black dress with pink lace. Sue was Beth's best friend. Great Aunt Lilly is wearing a black veil on with a black dress that looks like the flower ones she normally wears.

"Where is Abigail going to live now?" Sue asks glancing in Abigail's direction.

"With Robert for now, they are trying to get a hold of her father, he is stationed in the Middle East somewhere."

Abigail's father is in the military and has been gone for about six months now. Abigail would get letters every month from her father, but she didn't get one yet this month. She thinks back the night before the accident her Mommy cried all night. A tear starts growing in her eye. Grandpa looks at Abigail and sees that she is listening to all the adult conversations and takes her hand.

"Come on kido, let me show you something." He takes Abigail through the crowd and up the two sets of winding stairs to the attic. He unlocks the attic door and a toy room full of antique toys is revealed. In the center is a grand doll house. It is a Victorian style house, complete with round towers on all four corners of the house. And as any little girl would love it was pink with green shutters and a green roof. Abigail smiles but quickly stops.

"It is okay to smile. These were Grandma's, Abigail. And now they are yours." He hands Abigail the key to the attic. "You go ahead and play up here. I'll go take care of all those people downstairs. Your Mommy always wanted to see you happy. She still would and so would your Daddy and I." He smiles at Abigail. She gives him a big hug.

"Thank you Grandpa." Abigail is in the room by herself she walks over to the doll house, looks into one of the windows. There is a big flash of bright white light.