Home of the Brave

A slight breeze moved the French lace curtains as Karenleaned against the verandah doorframe. She watched the menstruggle with the awkward and heavy feather mattress she hadre-upholstered. The ornate bed was large and high off thecarpeted floor. She had fallen in love with it the moment sheand Bonnie had seen it at the estate sale.The antique maple bed and steps matched her furnishingsin the room to perfection. This room for some particularreason was the only one in her home furnished with antiques, right down to her eagle photographs in ornately carvedframes. Normally, Karen was comfortable with anything andeverything modern. It wasn't until the past year that she'dstarted replacing her bedroom furniture with antiques.After the men left, she spent the afternoon organizing andmoving the rest of her bedroom. Nodding her head in agree-mentwith herself, she looked about the room with a criticaleye. It was almost as if the bed was the last piece of the puzzle.Its headboard was strategically placed against the wall withthe two windows from floor to ceiling on each side. The bedfaced the verandah, the armoire to the right of the bed, thebureau and matching vanity to its left. Karen smiled. Theroom looked comfortable and inviting.