005-Who Are You

Who Are You

A little while later, Aunt Martha returned from shopping . ” That’s strange, ” she said, noticing the dirty rug. ” Children? Are you home?” she called out. ” In here! ” came a voice from the kitchen. With a shopping bag in one arm and Lamb in the other, Aunt Martha walked toward the voice.

Bobby was eating his second peanut butter sandwich when Aunt Martha entered the kitchen. ” Oh, my! ” she gasped, dropping the bag and almost dropping Lamb too. ” Who are you?” she shouted at Bobby. Bobby looked up from his sandwich. ” It’s me, Aunt Martha, ” he said. But of course Aunt Martha did not recognize the boy sitting in her kitchen.

Aunt Martha hurried to put Lamb down, and Cy walked in, fresh from his shower. ” Hey, I’ll have a sandwich now, ” he said to his brother. ” What? Another one?” Aunt Martha exclaimed. Alarmed, she grabbed a broom. ” Aunt Martha, ” Cy tried to explain.

” I’m not your aunt! ” she shouted. ” And how do you know my name?” She waved the broom in their faces. Upstairs, Panther was staring at the beautiful girl in the mirror. ” Panther, should I wear my pink blouse or my blue one?” Jane called from the next room. ” I don’t know. Pick your favorite, ” Panther replied carelessly.

Panther had grown up believing that she wasn’t pretty. ” I would be so much happier if I was beautiful, ” she had always thought . She turned her face to the side, still examining her reflection . “ Now I am beautiful, ” she said, as if to convince herself. But who was the “ self” looking back at her?