The rising sun filtered through white curtains as Elegancia awoke before it was actually the day. Something was wrong-- very, very wrong. Her room, which was supposed to be covered with chocolate brown wallpaper, was only a faded-yellow plaster. The silk sheets and velvet comforter she usually slept with were now generic cotton. She no longer had a lovely, antique armoire, only a clunky brown dresser topped with Wal-Mart brand perfumes and generic cosmetics. Elegancia rubbed her eyes, and looked at her electronic alarm clock-- 6:12am.

Except, Elegancia never purchased an electronic alarm clock. Her father hired a house-keeper who specifically woke her up at 6:30am every morning, except Sunday, which was her day of rejuvenation. Foochie, her beloved Dachshund, no longer wore a cerluean blue ascot-- he didn't even have a collar!! She was used to him snuggling up to her legs while she slept, but he was asleep on the floor. Elegancia scoffed and then ran her hairs through her hair, starting from hairline to the back of her scalp.

Something was wrong. Elegancia washed her hair with an Italian shampoo that came in tiny vials, which cost her upwards of 160$ depending on the supply. Her hair felt like it had been washed with Suave, or maybe Garnier Fructisse. She never used those brands, only the poor did.

"This is NOT funny," Elegancia called out, reaching over to her (plain, and rather ordinary-- two words she disliked) night-stand to turn her (also plain and ordinary) lamp on, "whoever did this will be in serious trouble!!"

Father walked through the door and asked, "sugarplum? Did you have a nightmare?"

No, no, he was not supposed to be home-- Father was supposed to be abroad, making a vast fortune. But he was home for some reason. "Oh, Father, no, just... Don't things seem a bit... Different?" She was glad he was home, to be sure, but what had he done?

"Different? Oh, you mean that fancy new dresser I just bought you! Yes ma'am, you're a high-roller now, huh!" Elegancia looked at her father quizically, then at the dresser, then back at her father. "Oh, ahaha, yes, quite so, Father..." She had to choke tears back on account of the huge lie she had spat out. "Now, sugarplum, it's almost time for you to wake up-- you need to get ready for school. I washed your uniform last night, it's on the table, next to your breakfast. Anyways, I have to get going-- my first day as a manager at Wal-Mart is today! Now I can get you more of that fancy perfume you like so much!" He shut the door, walked down the hall and out the door. Elegancia heard a stuttering engine start up and putt off.

Why had he washed the uniform? Elegancia hesitantly put her dainty foot on the shag carpet beneath her bed, and trudged towards the door. Foochie followed her, wagging his tail excitedly, wide-eyed and collar-less. "What are you so excited for, Foochie?" She opened the door slowly, afraid that some tacky Wal-Mart furniture would be waiting for her outside the door. There was. She covered her eyes and power-walked down the hall, ending up in a kitchen that had un-washed dishes in the sink.

But that wasn't even the most disgusting thing she saw in the room.

There was a Meadowview uniform on the table!! With wrinkles!!!! Next to it sat a raisin granola bar. A granola bar?

Elegancia threw her staring out the window, counted to three, and looked back. The horrid sight was still there. Foochie, all the while, was eating dry dog food-- not his usual white rice and diced white chicken breast. There was no way in the world she would wear that uniform.

Elegancia dashed back to her room, past the ugly furniture, past all the plaster, and jumped into her cotton bed, face down. Suddenly, she was gasping for air and surrounded by her chocolate brown walls and silky sheets once more. Foochie was snuggled up on her thigh, and her armoire was in the corner.

Sweaty palms pulled the velvet covers off her delicate body, and she jumped out of bed. Elegancia opened her door and called her Father's name out-- no response. It was lovely.

She trudged back to bed, made herself comfortable, and soothed herself to sleep with thoughts of wealth and luxury.