Heidi sat on Marilyn's bed. With one leg under her upright body on the bed, and the other dangling on the side, she held the pillow closer to her body. She wore a blue long robe which covered every part of her body. Her long blonde hair had been tied up in a ponytail with a blue ribbon. She had green prominent eyes which turned into a different shade of green when the ray of light hit them. Marilyn was seated on the foot of the bed. She was wearing a white shirt and blue black pyjamas.
Marilyn's hair was tied up in a bum and covered in a headgear. She took off her flip flops and sat beside Heidi on the other side of the bed. Heidi raised her leg and laid down on the bed.
"So, what will you wear for the parade tomorrow?" Heidi asked Marilyn.
"I don't really know. I could not afford to buy a new dress for the parade and I did not make one for myself this year. So I guess I won't be attending the parade this year," Marilyn answered sadly.
Heidi jumped up in horror. "What! You can't say you won't be attending the parade. I know you love the parade. You know what? We will be going shopping tomorrow."
"Shopping? And who will be paying for it?" Marilyn asked.
"Do you really have to ask? I work, okay. And also, my father gave me one of his credit cards. So, I have enough money to spend for the week," Heidi winked at her.
"Okay. So, what are we going to wear, then?" Marilyn asked again, with a smile on her face.
"You will see. Good night, Mary," Heidi said and turned to her side and threw the blanket around her.
Marilyn just smiled and shook her head. Heidi was going to really surprise her and she knew it.
The next day, the girls helped Jocelyn prepare breakfast. Heidi wanted to go to her parents house to get some things before they go shopping. After they were done with the porridge and bread, they sat by the small table, which they used as a dining table and started eating their food. The food was just simple for a girl like Heidi, but she loved it. She may be the daughter of one of the richest men of the town, yet, she loved living her life as simply as she could. Her father loved to spoil her and give her his credit cards, but Heidi hardly used the money. She only used it when she really needed it.
They quickly finished their breakfast and washed the bowls and spoons. Heidi and Marilyn said goodbye to Jocelyn and left for Heidi's house.
"You girls should not keep long, okay. The parade is tonight and i don't think you would want to be late now," Jocelyn said.
"We will be back before you know it, Mrs Jocelyn. Good bye," Heidi said.
"Good bye, mom," Marilyn said and hugged her mother. Then, left the house with Heidi.
Both girls walked about three blocks from Marilyn's house before they got to Heidi's house. Heidi's house was magnificent. Her father had built this mansion in the town some few years back so that he would get a place to stay once he came visiting with his family. And today, he was hosting a few of his friends in the mansion. Heidi did not want to be home while her father's friends were around. Whenever they came around, her father never noticed her and that bothered her a lot, especially since she is a daddy's girl and adores her father to bits. She did not want to compete for her own father's attention, that is why when they came back to St Marys, she decided to use the opportunity to spend some time with her best friend.
The mansion was surrounded by a huge wall with a big iron gate at the front. When they got there, Heidi pressed on the door bell on the wall at one side of the gate. They heard footsteps approaching the gates, then the gates flared open. A masculime man stood in front of them. He wore sunglasses and had some sort of ear piece in his ear.
"Who are you girls, and what do you want here?" the man said, without smiling for a second. He looked very robotic and kind of scary. But Heidi was not fazed by it.
"This is my house. So, I should be asking who you are instead," Heidi said dryly.
The man just stared at the young women like they had not said anything. He remained by the gate and blocked the youngest women from entering. Then they heard a voice from inside.
"Hey, Scar. Who is by the gate?" the voice asked.
"Two young women. One claims this is her house," the man replied while looking back into the house.
"Okay you can come in, I will take care of this," the voice said and the man went back into the house.
Then a familiar face appeared at the gate. It was Alex, the Butler of the house. Heidi immediately smiled as soon as she saw him.
"Uncle Ally," she screamed and hugged the man.
"Heidi? I did not know you came here with your parents. Where were you?" Alex asked with a surprise look on his face.
"I decided to spend the week with my friend, Marilyn. I believe you remember her, right?"
"Of course. How can I forget the girl who could make you so happy till days end? Come in. You girls should not be standing out here in the sun."
The two went in, as they followed Alex into the house. Heidi quickly caught up with Alex.
"Who is that man who came to open the gate earlier? I have never seen him before and he was really rude," Heidi asked.
"That's Scar. Sorry if he was rude. He is one of the security personnel of Anthony Willis, your father's best friend," Alex replied.
"Tony is here? Ugh, can this day ever get worse?" Heidi complained.
Alex suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned towards Heidi.
"What do you have against the man? You have never liked him. Is there something you are not telling me?" Alex is the Butler but also happens to be very good friends with Heidi.
"How did you know I don't like him? I never told you that," Heidi quickly said.
"You and I live together in the city. The fact that I do not stay in the big house with you does not mean I do not see how you look at the man whenever he comes to the house. You always look like you want to hit him in the face whenever he comes by the house," Alex replied.
"It's not my fault. It's just that there is something about him that I do not like. I just can't place what it is," Heidi said.
"Then why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt, then? Come on, let's go in," Alex said and continued walking towards the house with Heidi beside him.
Marilyn just kept quiet and followed them inside.