On a cold January day, the doorbell rang.
When nobody answered it, Jess called out, "Hey guys, can you help me open the door?"
Within a few minutes, the girls had pulled the box into the entryway.
"Here's the knife, Addy can you do the honors?" Jess asked.
Addy sliced the tape, and they opened the box.
Adria and Heather pulled open the flaps and yanked out the packing.
"Look, it's an American Girl box!" Adria gasped.
The girls pulled it up and stood it up. "Who could it be?" Heather asked. "Well, let's find it out." Adria laid down the box and they pulled the lid off.
Heather sucked her breath in. "Esta?"
"Oh, am I at my next host's house already?"
"Oh, I know who it is!" Jess exclaimed. "It's Traveling Catherine!" Catherine hugged Jess. "And am I glad to be out of that box!" Catherine exclaimed.
"Oh. You aren't Esta." Heather said softly.
"Esta?" Catherine asked her. "Oh...just a girl I used to know. You look like her. Except you don't have the star mark." "The what?" Catherine asked. "Oh, nothing." Heather shook her head.
Catherine watched Heather for a moment, and then turned to greet the rest of her welcoming committee.
"I'm so glad you're here!" Addy said, hugging Catherine.
"I'm sure I'm going to have a ton of fun here." Catherine said. "Can you guys help me unpack?"
Heather took an armload of bedding out of Catherine's box, and Addy grabbed some of Catherine's souviners from her other hosts.
"See ya later, Mom! I miss you, but I'm going to have a lot of fun here, I'm sure!"
Bonus picture...Catherine and her welcome committee. =)
On January 26th, it was time for Catherine to go home.
The girls made her a Farewell banner.
"These are your final gifts, Catherine." Heather said, holding out a pretty pink gift back. "Thank you!" Catherine said.
"Ooh, what a pretty pony-tail holder!"
"I love the curly ribbon.
Catherine's second gift.
"Smashed pennies! How cool!"
"They are from our local library." Felicity said.
"Thank you all so much." Catherine said, smiling at her host family.
"You're welcome, Catherine!" Everyone replied.
Catherine went around, hugging everyone tightly.
Finally, she came to Heather. "I'll miss you, Cath." Heather said, wrapping her arms around Catherine. "I'll miss you, too, Heath." Catherine replied, a grin on her face.
Heather pulled back and looked deep into Catherine's eyes. Catherine felt compelled to step back...it was that same strong stare that she had seen before.
Heather finally broke the gaze, and then turned, took down the Farewell banner and wrapped it up. "Here, you can have this."
"Thank you very much." Catherine tucked it into her goody bag.
Heather and Josefina had been chosen to help Catherine get into her box.
"Here's your coat." Josefina said.
"Thanks." Catherine slipped it on, and then gave Josefina another tight hug.
When she turned to look at Heather, her mouth dropped open.
Helena stood in Heather's place. "Safe journeys, dear one. And may the Star be with you." Helena smiled softly.
Catherine blinked...
...and when she looked back...
"Are you ready to get into your box?" Heather asked her.
"Uhh...yeah." Catherine shook her head. She was seeing things again.
Heather helped Catherine into her box.
Josefina tucked the blanket around the already sleeping Catherine.
The girls put the lid on tightly.
"Safe travels, dear Catherine."
The End.
