That night, Erin slept like a rock.
­
But was woke up early to be,­

Greeted by her sister,­

Dear Keavy.

­
Keavy always awoke­

When the stars were still shining­

She liked to play for a while,­

Before the twins started whining.
­

Erin rarely rose early,­

But this morning had been set,­

To take a look with Keavy
­
At their Mother's old dress.­

Erin rose groggily,
­
And Keavy felt for her,
­
But the Smile on Erin's face,
­
Left nothing unsure.
­
Erin would rather face the day,­

Sick and without rest,­

Then see Keavy miss the ball,
­
Because she had no dress.­


Keavy carefully lit a candle,­

And helped Erin to her feet.­
They both got down on their knees,
And under the bed did peek.

­

With only a whispered word or two,­

They pulled out a cedar chest.­

They unlatched the locks and looked ins­ide,

And then they saw the dress.­


It had been sitting in that case,­

For almost a full decade.
­
And the last time it had adorned their ­mother,

Erin was shorter than a spade.­



The silky fabric was as blue as the sea.­

The trim as white as snow,
­
The designs and whorls gave a sense of ­ice.

Silver sparkles made it glow.­



Keavy let out a stuttered gasp.­

Erin shushed her sternly.
­
Then she whispered to remind Keavy-

­

Erin: "It is far too early."
­

She began to lift the dress up,­

And continued in whispered tones-

­

Erin: "I suspect we'll have to alter it ­a bit,

Depending on how you've grown."­



Keavy stripped off her sleeping clothes,­

And they worked to put it on,­

And soon any doubts about fitting,­

Were completely gone.­


Erin stared in amazement,­

At how her sister filled out-­

Every inch of the dress perfectly,­



Erin: "I suppose we'll forget that route­."



Keavy smiled and stared­

Into their dirty mirror,­

But quickly whirled around,­

When she heard quiet choking from her s­ister,

Erin was quietly vomiting up,­

Into a nearby pail,­

And Keavy's joy of wearing the dress,­

Quickly began to fail.­



Keavy: "Erin, you need to work inside to­day,

We have to ask to switch chores."­



Erin: "Valentina would never do that.­

She'd simply give me more."­



Erin slowly pulled herself up,­

And trudged off to start her day.­

Keavy felt very helpless and sad,­

But she didn't want to feel this way.­


She turned back to their mirror again


And imagined herself with a man,­

Dancing and twirling at the ball,­

He always holding her hand.­
And surprisingly did not think ill of it

Though she reaffirmed in her mind,­

Her place was here with her family,­

And even if one day his mind-­
Decided that he’d marry her,
­

She'd make sure her family would be-
Cared for with plenty of wonderful serv­ants,

And comfortable monetarily.

­

She took one last look at the dress,­

Before she put it away,­

She thought of how happy her father wou­ld be-

To see his girl dressed that way.