Cindy
Cindy was a happy baby girl. Cindy’s mother said it was one push, and she was out. The Doctor was amazed but relieved. Cindy’s mother was 42 years old at the time of Cindy’s birth. Cindy was her surprise package.
The Muldoons lived in an affluent side of Texas. The money to pay for their mansion came from Cindy’s dad and his father Frank’s investments in oil and gas. Cindy would lack for nothing. At least Cindy would lack for nothing except love.
So, Suzy Muldoon hired a nanny for Cindy so she would be free to socialize with her husband. Cindy grew to love Nanny Harper more than her mother. Cindy would never tell anyone this except her best friend, Jean. Cindy loved school, and she was a straight-A student.
Cindy asks her mother if she could have Jean come to their house to play. Cindy’s mother said I do not want that shabby-looking little girl in my clean house. That was the end of Cindy asking her mother about her friends.
You would think Cindy would be lonely, but Harpy, who Cindy called Nanny Harper, would play games and have fun tea parties with Cindy. Still, a schoolmate would have been lovely. Cindy wanted to show someone her dolls. Cindy’s mother and dad had bought her four new dolls. Suzy Muldoon put them on a shelf Cindy could not reach. The Raggedy Anne doll Suzy let her keep down. Cindy would look at her dolls sitting there, catching dust. They were probably as lonely as Cindy was. Cindy would never know.
Harpy got Cindy up earlier than usual today to take her downstairs to say goodbye to Cindy’s parents. The Muldoons were leaving on a trip to a place called San Francisco today. The Muldoons would be gone for two weeks.
Cindy brushed her teeth and went to her chair, where Harpy was waiting with a brush and ribbons for her long blond hair. No one could braid hair like Harpy. Today, Cindy asked the nanny to put the striped red ribbons in her hair.
After Cindy got dressed, she raced downstairs to say goodbye to her parents. Cindy’s dad picked her up and twirled her around and around. A series of quick giggles escaped from her. Cindy’s mother kissed her cheek and looked her over. Suzy’s parting words for her child were to go back upstairs and tell Harpy to put a different dress on you. Your clothing is all wrinkled. Change right this minute.
Cindy would not change her dress, and her mother would never find out. How could she? With those parting words, the Muldoons left for the trip.
Harpy hurried Cindy to get her breakfast eaten before the Muldoon’s Chauffer returned to take her to school. Cindy hated the stares she used to get when the car pulled up to the school to let her out. No one even cared anymore, and Cindy was glad.
Harpy hugged her and reminded Cindy that she loved her. She told Cindy I will miss you today, remember that and be good at school. Then as her habit, Harpy grabbed her up and hugged her tight. Cindy wished Harpy were her mother for real. Cindy yelled I Love my Harpy as she ran down to wait for the chauffeur to pull up and open the door for her.
As Harpy sat listening to Cindy’s sing-song of love for her minor ward, Jane harper sat down in the rocking chair in Cindy’s room, a mile-wide smile resting on her face. Jane harper had never married and had never given birth to a child. Cindy was as much as her child. Jane loved Cindy Muldoon as much as she had given birth to her. Downstairs Suzy Muldoon might be her mother, but it was in name only. Jane had overheard a conversation Suzy had with her friend Mable Sneed. Suzy said, thank God I can afford a nanny to deal with my little mistake. Nanny Harper decided she had two reasons not to quit that day,
They were Sweet Cindy Muldoon and her job. Jane would greet Cindy at the door today with cookies, milk, and a smile. Cindy was excited because it was Harpy taking her to the sports competition tomorrow. Jane Harper held her tongue back for two reasons on that day.
Harpy would make a picnic lunch for them to stop by the park on the way home. Cindy was happy today.