Sitting at the dining table, Sienna tore the crust off of her sandwich and dipped it into the steaming soup. She smiled as she stuffed the soggy bread in her mouth. "Mmm. This is so good." Mrs Graham watched on in bemusement, "It's just canned soup Dear. Nothing special."

"It's still really good." broth dripped from her chin as she grinned at Mrs Graham, who just shook her head and handed her a serviette.

"You're a good girl Sienna." She looked down at her plate and her smile faded. "I don't think I would have done it at your age... Then again, at your age I was to frightened to go into the basement."

"You've lived here a long time, haven't you?" A soft smile touched the old ladies lips as memories shone in her eyes. "My whole life. My parents and grandparents. even my husband. My mother was sickly you see, so he moved in here when we married. He was such a good man." She looked at the little girl again, as though coming back to the present. "You would have liked him." Her smile grew, "And he would have loved you."

"You didn't have any kids?"

While Mrs Graham's smile remained, her eyes grew sad. "I did. I had two children. A little girl, and a little boy. Sadly I never got to see them grow..." Seeing the sadness this caused her friend, Sienna felt bad. "I'm sure you woulda been a great mum"

"Thank you Dear. Anyway," she seemed to rally herself, straightening her back and dropping her attention back to her meal, visibly hardening herself against the painful memories, "How much do we have left to go?"

Sienna dropped kept her eyes on her own food, as though trying to keep from further intruding on Mrs Graham's private pain. "Not much. I think there's only a couple of boxes left to move, then you can start sorting through them."

Mrs Graham nodded, finally looking up again. Sienna was relieved to see the sadness had faded. "Just be careful Love, and don't try to move the rubbish. I'll get the boys to take it out when they come." Sienna nodded, secretly relieved that she wouldn't have to lift the heavy, grimy bags. "If you want I can stack the last boxes by myself? I don't mind and it shouldn't take long."

"Oh no Sweetheart! I couldn't ask you to do that. It's too much for one person. Besides, I'm not comfortable leaving you down there by yourself."

"Because of the monster?"

"Monster!?!" Mrs Graham was startled by Sienna's frank question, but soon saw the teasing smile that Sienna was trying to conceal. "Oh you." She gave Sienna a gentle shove as Sienna started laughing at her reaction. "You laugh now but yes, when I was young I was certain there was a monster down there waiting to get me. I grew out of that of course, silly fantasy that it was, but... I don't know. I've never been comfortable down there."

Sienna's face became serious again as she stated simply, "Maybe it will be different once we've tidied it. Maybe it won't be so bad without all those boxes and stuff."

Mrs Graham looked at the girl who looked at her steadily. Almost... hopeful? "Well I suppose it might?" The girls eyes widened slightly, her lower lip jutting out in an imploring pout. "Okay, you win. If you want to do it, I'll leave you to it."

Sienna giggled, "That rhymed."

Their attention was focused on their food again as they finished eating in a companionable silence. Mrs Graham found herself watching the girl from time to time. She was happy to see this brighter, self assured version of the little girl she doted on, but still it was strange. The changes in personality did not seem to be superficial. Sienna was bright, bubbly, brave... a complete antithesis of the child she had looked after only a week ago. She kept telling herself that everything was okay. Why question it when Sienna was obviously so much happier.

Still...

"Mrs Graham?" Her attention snapped back to the girl who now stood beside her, "Are you finished? I'll wash the dishes and you can take a nap while I finish the boxes."

"That's alright Dear. I can-"

"NO!" Mrs Graham jumped at Sienna's sudden outburst, "sorry. I mean, you don't need to do that. I really want to. Besides, you made lunch."

Looking at her, Mrs Graham could see that Sienna was not feigning the desire. She actually WANTED to do the chore. "Well, I guess. If you really want..."

Sienna bobbed her head enthusiastically, "Oh yes. I want to help!"

"Well alright then." She stood and bent to take her plate.

Sienna snatched it up first. She paused and blushed as Mrs Graham stood frozen in surprise. "I-" She snapped her mouth shut, clearly unable to think of an excuse for her sudden erratic behaviour. "Sorry."

Patting Sienna on the shoulder distractedly, Mrs Graham started for the stairs, "I think a nap is a good idea. I'm going to get a blanket, then I'll have a little lie down on the couch so I can hear if you need me."

"Oh you don't need to do that!" Mrs Graham turned at Sienna's hurried words. "Um- you should sleep in your own bed. I mean, of course you can sleep on the couch, if you want to, it's your couch and all. I just think that your bed would be a lot more comfortable is all."

After assisting with Sunday school for almost 40 years Mrs Graham knew when a child was lying to her. She could easily tell that this was a half truth at best. While she knew that Sienna had a good heart, she did not want the young girl to do anything that could hurt herself.

"Never-the-less I think I'll nap in the lounge."

Sienna looked down and frowned, unhappy that whatever she had planned had obviously been thwarted. The pout cleared quickly though and Sienna's smile was back in place as she replied. "Okay. I'll try to be quiet then so I don't wake you."

The two of them stood watching each other then, assessing exactly what the other was trying to say... and what they were trying not to say.

Finally Mrs Graham said, "okay, I'll be right back." She started back up the stairs, turning once she had reached the turn half way up. She looked down at Sienna who still stood watching her. A small puzzled frown creased between the old ladies brows before she turned back and continued ascending the stairs.

Sienna waited until Mrs Graham was out of view before springing into action. She had the plates washed and stacked in 1 minute flat. The table was wiped and cleared so fast that water droplets flew from the wet rag she wielded. It was all done so quickly that Mrs Graham hadn't even made it back down the stairs by the time she'd finished. Sienna's hand snaked out and snatched up something from the draining board, tucking it into the back of her jeans before Mrs Graham came fully into view. She wiped her hands on the hem of the dusty oversized shirt she was still wearing, surreptitiously adjusting it to conceal what she'd just pilfered.

Mrs Graham watched as Sienna wiped her hands again, this time on her jeans, trying to get the grime off her palms. She looked up and grinned, holding her hands up and wiggling her fingers as she showed off the caked on dust that marked the lines of her palms. She cocked her head slightly and one side of her mouth liifted into a bemused half smile. "Oh well. They're just gonna get dirty again in a minute." She shrugged and smiled.

A small amused snort accompanied the adoring smile Mrs Graham bestowed upon Sienna. "Just- try to be careful, alright?"

"Of course!" Sienna practically bounced, eager to keep moving. "I'll try to keep it down," She called as her friend walked into the lounge room, a half folded patchwork quilt slung over her shoulder.

"Just be careful. And call out if you need me."

Sienna's smile slid off of her face as she approached the door. Cold fear rushed over her as it swung open, but Sienna barely noticed it through the heat of her anger. Grim determination sat upon her face like a mask as she shifted the hidden item behind her back, positioning it so she could reach it with ease.

Then, footsteps sure and steady, Sienna started down the stairs.

"I warned you I'd be back."