Mail Order Madness by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

saw a small seat with a pull chain. “That’s our water closet.”  Next
     to it was a large claw foot bathtub with two knobs above it.   She assumed they were to adjust water.
    He led her to the next room and it was another smaller parlor.  “What’s this room
     for?”
    He shrugged.  “We use it more as a family gathering room.  The boys play here a lot,
     and Caroline used to do needlework in here.”  He ran his hand over the back of a blue
     sofa that had seen better days. 
    Susan liked this room better than the formal parlor at the front of the house.  The
     furniture was older and the rug on the floor was faded, but it felt a lot more homey
     than the formal parlor.  She could see herself sitting there with the twins playing
     at her feet.  “I really like this room.”
    He smiled.  “The boys love to play in here.”
    She could see a box of wooden blocks in a corner of the room pushed up against the
     wall.  There was also a bookcase along one wall with old worn books that had obviously
     been read and loved.  Susan loved to read when she had time, so she liked the idea
     of exploring them all. 
    He led her up the stairs and showed her the boys’ bedrooms.  The two older boys shared
     a room and the two younger boys shared a room as well.  The rooms were tidy, but not
     spotless, just like a boy’s room should be.  She ran her hand over the dresser in
     the twins’ room.  There were small beds that were low to the ground with quilts covering
     them.  “Do the boys like sharing rooms?”
    “It’s all they’ve ever known.  They don’t really need to share, because we have two
     spare bedrooms, but I think it’s good for them to learn to get along at a young age,
     and learn they can’t have everything they want when they want it.”
    She nodded in agreement.  He showed her the two spare bedrooms which were perfectly
     made up and ready for occupants.  He pointed to another room, and said “My room’s
     through there.”  She just nodded and headed for the stairs to go back down. 
    “Where do Sadie and Mrs. Hackenshleimer live?”   She asked over her shoulder as she descended the stairs.
    “There are two small rooms on the other side of the kitchen.  That’s their portion
     of the house.  There’s another small bathroom over there for their use, and the family
     uses the one on our side.”  He gestured toward the kitchen which she hadn’t seen yet.
    “May I see the kitchen?”
    “I don’t think you’ll spend much time in it, but sure.”  He led her through the dining
     room, and she saw the table had been cleared off and the dining room cleaned.  Walking
     through the door on the other side of the dining room, he showed her the kitchen.
    It was huge, and had a small table for four people as well as a modern cook stove
     with a coal bin beside it.  There was a sink with running water and cabinets lined
     the walls.  “This is a beautiful kitchen,” she told Sadie who was standing at the
     sink with her hands in dishwater.  “May I help you finish?”
    Sadie shook her head and shooed them toward the door.  “This is my job.  You go have
     fun with the family.”
    Susan sighed.  “I’m used to doing dishes for a large family.  I’m happy to help anytime.”   She didn’t want anyone to think she was afraid to get her hands dirty with household
     chores.
    “When I decide to go off and spend a week with my son’s family in a few months to
     help when his wife has a baby, you’re more than welcome to cook and clean to your
     heart’s desire.  For now, I’ll do the dishes.” 
    “I’ll take you up on that,” Susan said with a smile.
    She followed David out of the kitchen and back to the formal parlor where Mrs. Hackenshleimer
     was sitting with the boys.  The twins were sitting on the floor playing with small
     wooden trains while the older boys were sitting on the couch taking turns reading
     a book aloud to one another.
    Susan’s younger