Janine, the young maid, drew back the curtains and a bright, lively, morning sun sprang into the spacious, well-furnished bedroom. A fresh, new light reached into every corner and crept under the bed upon which Jeanne lay sleeping. It teased her eyelids until she opened them. Satisfied that Jeanne was awake Janine, quietly, left the room.

Jeanne lay there staring at the small chandelier that hung from the ceiling. The dreams of the night were still vivid in her memory. She had slept well in the huge bed and wished to continue. She looked around the room. It had been hers from the day she was born. She had never slept in her parents' room. A nurse had shared her room in the beginning and called Jeanne's mother during the night whenever she was needed. The nurse had moved out when Jeanne was one year old and since then she had had the room to herself.

There was a thick pile carpet on the floor which was renewed once a year. Jeanne's mother had always chosen the colour but this year, for the first time. Jeanne would be allowed to choose. She had already decided on a light green carpet and imagined how happy she would be when it was laid. It would coincide with her fifth birthday so she still had a few weeks to wait.

The walls would be re-papered at the same time and so, for a few days, Jeanne would have to sleep in one of the guest rooms. The wall-paper would be replaced, as always, with the same off-white, embossed paper that decorated every room in the house. It was also changed once a year.

Jeanne got out of bed, put on her slippers, and walked to the window. She looked out over the great expanse of parkland that surrounded the house. Mature oak trees stood haphazardly around and, in the distance, two willows waited by the pond. The gardeners were already tending the lawns and hedges. Two dogs chased each other and took turns to be the pursuer.

Jeanne walked to her dressing room and looked at the long line of dresses that hung inside. More than twenty pairs of shoes were on a rack. There were shelves of sweaters and skirts, drawers of socks and many coats. She didn't know what to wear. Her mother did not like her to wear the same clothes two days in a row and so Jeanne had to find something that she hadn't worn for a while. It was not easy. She finally decided on a light blue dress and dark blue shoes. She went to her bathroom, washed her hands and face, brushed her hair and put on the clothes. Then she went downstairs. The warm morning light followed her.

I am Jeanne.