A Cedar-Chest Eating Area By Any Other Name...

This is the most comforting room in my house. In the dining room there are lots of things, like a coat rack, a mirror, and a table, of course. On one wall there's shelves all the way to the ceiling, and there are pictures, books, wine glasses, Liam's elephant collection, and many other things. Behind the table there's a buffet where Mom hides the Christmas presents, important papers, and dishes for special occasions. When I do my homework here I feel happy because I can smell the pretty flowers that Mom got for her birthday, and I can hear NPR in the kitchen. (My Dad works for NPR.) The room is so colorful. The walls are the color of a Halloween pumpkin, and when the sun shines through the stained glass the room lights up like a rainbow, and the wood floor gets so warm and cozy. The table cloth came from India with Mom when she brought Liam home, so it's special. The best thing of all is that when I'm done with my homework I can have a piece of Mom's birthday cake, and I don't even have to get up!
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Maisie's handiwork--tonight's homework. I have to keep reminding myself that kids don't really need a lot to build a rich catalog of childhood memories and treasures. I look around and see no space, and try not to run comparisons with the neighbors and their mansions. She looks around and sees home. That's nice, isn't it?