Revenge of Cornelius Read Online Free Page B

colonial-style
edifice with tall, white columns in front, clean, beautiful windows
and decorative window frames. Mira was convinced that the Ferguson
house was now as charmingly captivating as it probably was when
Cornelius and his wife, Marlena, lived there over a century
before.
    "This house is so pretty, Mom," Rosie
commented.
    "It sure is, honey."
    It took a few minutes for them to get
to the front porch that was neatly covered with large, white and
beige interlocking marble tiles. Mira felt fairly strange standing
in front of the darkly-stained double doors that weren't there at
her last visit.
    "Aren't you going to knock?" Rosie
looked up at her mother who was still holding her hand, but staring
quietly ahead.
    "Ah…yes. I'll ring the door-bell."
Mira reached over and pressed the small button next to the
door.
    They soon heard the pitter-patter of
feet.
    "I'll get it!" a little voice
cried.
    "Oh, no you won't!" A man's voice
quickly followed.
    The door flashed open and standing on
the opposite side was a medium-framed colored man with very low
hair and a neatly-trimmed moustache. His face was smooth and clear,
and he looked 'rich' — in Mira's estimation. Behind him was a
slender lady, a few inches taller than he was, who had a narrow,
sunken face and shoulder-length, black hair. Standing next to the
man was a young boy, probably around five years old, clutching a
brown teddy bear. He was wearing a white onesie that had seen some
spills a few inches under the boy's chin.
    "May I help you?" the man asked Mira
quite nobly after making brief eye-contact with Rosie.
    "Hi, my name is Mira Cullen and this
is my daughter, Rosie." She paused for a moment, which was met with
utter silence. "Um, I live…I used to live just down the street
there. My parents are actually still there—the Cullens…"
    Silence again and a penetrating stare
emerged from the gentleman.
    "I heard that someone had moved here
and we just decided to come and introduce ourselves, and welcome
you to the neighborhood."
    "Well, isn't that something," the man
glanced back at the woman with a wide smile. "This nice, young lady
and her daughter came to welcome us to the neighborhood. Isn't that
something?"
    At the moment, the woman's face was
void of expression.
    "Where did you say you live, young
lady?" he asked Mira, a smile still splattering his
face.
    Unsure of what to make of his glee,
Mira responded: "I didn't say, but I live in California. I grew up
in this neighborhood."
    "Oh, I see," the man replied. "Well,
my hat's off to you and your little daughter because you two are
the first to even bother coming this way in the six months we've
been here. Would you like to come in for a minute?" He gestured
with his hand.
    Mira looked at Rosie, then back at
him. "Sure, why not?" she replied.
    "Mira…you said is your
name?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Mira, this is my wife, Andrea and our
son, Alex. My name is Theo and our last name is Benjamin. Kindly
have a seat."
    "Nice to meet you all," Mira
said.
    She and Rosie were led over to the
large living room that she remembered from before. The interior of
the house was even more grandeur and exquisite than the exterior.
Emerald-green marble tiles stretched magnanimously across the vast
floor and tall angelic figurines graced two corners of the living
room, each near a window. A rectangular, glass table, sitting
elegantly on a large-sized, oriental area-rug graced the center of
the room and darkly-stained wood that framed the couch and sofas
were intricately designed and fit for royalty.
    Rosie sat quietly next to her mother
as they both felt rather out of place. The Benjamins all sat on the
long, white couch on the opposite side of the table.
    "May I offer you something to drink?"
Andrea Benjamin asked them in a very soft voice.
    "I'm fine; thank you," Mira replied.
She looked at Rosie. "Sweetheart, would you like
something?"
    "Yes, Ma'am." She swung her tiny feet
slightly as the little boy gazed at her from his