Amelia Bedelia
A warm humorous tale about Amelia Bedelia, a kind and literal-minded housemaid who takes everyday instructions exactly as spoken, producing silly but gentle misunderstandings that teach her employers and friends the importance of clear communication and patience.
Amelia Bedelia hummed a bouncy tune as she walked up the path to Mrs. Rogers sunny yellow house. Her bonnet bobbed when she smiled, and her pockets were full of helpful things — a handkerchief, a small paintbrush, and a bright ribbon. Mrs. Rogers opened the door and Whiskers the cat sat in the windowsill, swishing his tail.
Good morning, Amelia, said Mrs. Rogers. Whiskers gave a tiny meow. Amelia sang back, What should I do first? Mrs. Rogers told her to draw the curtains, set the table for lunch, and dust the furniture. Amelia wrote the list in her head and set off humming.
Amelia pulled the curtains wide so sunlight flooded the room. Then she sat at the window with her paintbrush and paints. I will draw the curtains, she whispered, and she painted a big smiling sun and a row of fluttering red flowers on the cloth. Whiskers left a tiny paw print beside a tulip.
When she finished, Amelia stepped back, clapped, and tied a ribbon to one corner. Next she carried the little blue teacup set from the cupboard to the table. The tiny teapot sat politely on a doily. Amelia placed three small cups and a toy cake in the center. Whiskers batted a cup and the cake wobbled.
Then Amelia found her feather duster. She waved it gently over the chairs and the old clock. I will dust the furniture so it feels nice, she hummed. To make the room sparkle she sprinkled a pinch of sparkly dust from a small jar labeled Sparkle. The sunlight made the room twinkle like a fairy tale.
Mrs. Rogers came in with her shopping bag and laughed softly. Oh, Amelia, she said, sitting down. You drew the curtains and you painted them You set the table with the toy tea set and you sprinkled sparkle on the furniture. Amelia blushed and asked, Did I do it wrong? Mrs. Rogers smiled kindly and said No you tried your very best I meant for you to pull the curtains closed to set the table with plates and forks and to dust with the duster only.
Amelia thought a moment and then grinned. Words are funny she said. Mrs. Rogers patted her hand and said, Let us make a picture list. They worked together, laughing as Whiskers batted at the ribbon and the painted flowers. By noon the real curtains were gently drawn the lunch plates were warm on the table and the furniture still shimmered a little from sparkles.
When the neighbors came for lunch they all laughed about the painted curtains and the tiny teapot. The house felt full of warmth kindness and sparkle just like Amelias kind literal heart.