I stood there for a moment wondering if I would laugh or cry about what I had gotten myself into. When I opened the top drawer of the dresser, I jumped back. Even though they were harmless, two spiders harvesting ants and moths in their webs shocked me. I decided I would leave all my things in my bag. Gingerly, I peeled back the comforter and top sheet to see what might be living in the bed. There was nothing there now, but who knew what might be crawling in with me later?

Despite the clouds of dust I saw outside, I tried to open the window a little more, but it was quite stuck. Oh well, I thought, getting a comfortable sleep was not why I came here. I took out the clothes I thought I’d wear, now wondering if I would ever show my gala dress to my aunt. It would be a waste of time, I thought, and went down to take my bath. Hazel and my great-aunt were sitting in the living room. The instant Hazel saw me, she rose.

“Let’s see about the water,” she said, and led me to the bathroom.

I did remember the deep zinc slipper bathtub with the hand-painted marble on the exterior. My mother had given me a bath in it, and the image of it was stamped on a wall in my house of memories. Hazel ran some water and shook her head.

“Just as I feared,” she said. “Got to get George Thomas back to fiddle with the burner. I have two kettles cookin’.”

I felt a small panic. What if Garland came soon? He probably knew the train schedule between here and Alexandria and imagined I’d be here by now.

“I’ll start with a washcloth,” I said, and began to take off my clothes.

“That’s all we really do,” she said in a whisper, and left.

She returned a while later with the first kettle. I saw she was struggling to carry it, so I helped pour it in.

“A quick dip will be enough, Hazel. Don’t bother with the second kettle,” I said. She looked relieved.

“You leave your clothes, and I’ll get them washed later tonight,” she promised, and left me.

A quick dip it was, and then I dried and dressed myself. I fixed my hair, brushing it back and tying it. The mirror they had was faded in spots, but I saw enough of myself to be content. When I stepped into the living room, my great-aunt was so surprised to see me that Hazel had to reintroduce me.

“You look a lot like my sister,” she said.