Bella's Arc

Chapter 11 of 13

Marella set Bella down by the wooden clock and walked away, still frowning. Bella did not move. She watched the small arched door at the base of the clock. She watched, and she waited. Above her, the round face ticked. The brass keyhole gleamed. She gathered her legs under her and jumped, paw over paw, up the carved panels to the very top. From up high, she saw everything. The carpet stretched pale below. The baseboard gap sat dark and empty. Then the little door creaked open. The bolder boy stepped out first, dark hair sticking up, chest puffed like he had won. He looked left. He looked right. He did not look up. Bella jumped. She fell like a small brown arrow and her teeth caught his shirt clean. He went limp in surprise, arms dangling, mouth a soft round O of shock. For once, he had not known. For once, she had been faster than his clever little mind. She trotted, head high, into the bedroom where Marella sat on the cream bedding. Bella hopped onto her lap and dropped the dangling boy gently between her hands. Marella looked down. Her warm brown eyes went wide, then wider. She did not pick Bella up. She did not call her silly. She just stared, very slowly, at the tiny breathing boy on her knee.