“I suppose I would have done the same thing,” she said. “I think you should finish the cloth so we can try out your new soap powder. I wouldn’t want to keep all the neighbors waiting.” Belle hugged her mother. “Thank you, Mama. I promise, I will do extra chores to pay for the soap.” Her mother laughed. “I would settle for you doing your regular chores on time!” Belle worked hard on finishing her beautiful cloth, checking to make sure every flower was exactly right when seen from what she thought was an appropriate distance. She would stand across the room and pretend she was sitting in the front pew of the church. Then she would peer at her cloth as though seeing it for the first time. It looked perfect. She smiled to herself. In fact, it looked even more perfect the farther away you were! Satisfied, Belle decided her first embroidery project was done and just in time. Tomorrow, at mass, the winner would be announced. “Look, Mama, it’s done! What do you think?” Belle said as she held the cloth up for her mother’s inspection.
