Amelia Bedelia

The sun peeked through the curtains of a small, quaint house nestled at the edge of town. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the faint chatter of birds could be heard. In the cozy kitchen, Amelia Bedelia, with her apron tied neatly and a determined look on her face, was ready for her first day as a housekeeper for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers had left a long list of chores for Amelia. She looked at the list carefully, excited to get started. "I'll do my very best," she said with a smile to the empty room. "First, make the bed," the list read. Amelia headed upstairs to the bedroom. She stood there, thinking. "Make the bed? Well, it’s already made. I'll have to really make it, then!" And so, Amelia gathered up wood, nails, and tools and started constructing a brand-new bed frame right there! She hammered, sawed, and painted until a new bed stood proudly in the room. Next on the list was "dust the furniture." Amelia nodded. "Dust the furniture. All right!" She went to the pantry, found some dusting powder used for baking, and sprinkled it generously over all the furniture, leaving a light coating of flour everywhere. Then, the list said, "draw the curtains." Amelia scratched her head but then rushed to get her sketchpad and pencils. Sitting by the window, she carefully drew a picture of the curtains, smiling at her artistic talent. Amelia continued down the list: "change the towels" (she cut them up and sewed them into new shapes), "put the lights out" (she unscrewed all the lightbulbs and placed them outside in the backyard), and "trim the steaks" (she decorated each steak with tiny ribbons, making them look quite fancy). When Mr. and Mrs. Rogers returned home, they were utterly bewildered. "Amelia, what have you done?" Mrs. Rogers gasped. Amelia looked puzzled. "I followed your list, ma’am. I did exactly what you asked." Mr. Rogers scratched his head, but before he could say anything, Mrs. Rogers suddenly started laughing. She picked up the list again. "Well, Amelia, you've done everything in such a... unique way! But you’ve certainly made this house lively!" Amelia beamed. "Thank you, ma’am. I’m glad you like my work." Realizing how literal and earnest Amelia was, the Rogers decided they wouldn’t change her at all but would instead write clearer instructions next time. From that day on, Amelia Bedelia became an irreplaceable part of the Rogers household, known for her big heart, a bit of confusion, and, best of all, her sense of adventure. And so, Amelia Bedelia stayed on in the house at the edge of town, bringing joy, laughter, and a little bit of quirky magic wherever she went.