A/N: Pardon me, I'm new at this. It's my thoughts on just how exactly the Marches lost their fortune and how their father was drafted. As such, the ages are completely made up. This is told in Meg's POV. Forgive me if I am not even close to following Meg's character. Disclaimer: I don't even partially own the rights to Little Women.
I remember those years when we were rich so clearly, although I suppose there are some details I don't remember too clearly. I was six, Jo was five, Beth three, and Amy was just two. I always tell her there isn't much she can gather from this point in our lives, and I suppose I am correct in that, as she once told me that her earliest recollection was at the age of three. It was the spring of that year, just before those attending my father's school summer holiday was about to begin.
Oh, how we used to flaunt our riches! Or at least I used to (much to my mother's worry.) I used to brag to any of friends I happened to meet and tell them "Oh, don't these frocks look simply divine?" or "How do these look ravishing on me?" I would do that to get a rise out of any of my acquaintances or friends who were poorer just to get a rise out of them or make them cross and jealous with. Girlish, I know, but that was how I acted. Wealth and extravagances have always been my pet wants.
Jo was too enveloped in her own boyish pastimes to take much notice in our wealth. She did however take part in certain festivities. But she of course was rather shy and didn't talk to anyone, except family members. Marmee threw wonderful parties. She invited many friends of the family, which is why I never will fully comprehend why Jo was so nervous and fidgety around those people. Hannah would cook the most appetizing foods! She would make warm, flaky biscuits, chicken, fresh blueberry and apple pies. It would take until the Lord's trumpet sounds just to describe all the other food she would make!
But one day everything changed, and the experience that came would affect all of us. I was busy brushing my dolls' hair (I had not yet given mine to Beth, of course.) while talking with Jo, who incidentally was doing the same:
"What do you plan to wear to Mrs. Covington's ball?" I asked, completely excited about a ball that was to occur that night.
"Not a thing. I say that because I am not attending any ball of any kind," Jo said with an important air.
"Oh, but Jo! Surely you must want to go and wear pretty clothes and be entertained by a person of Mrs. Covington's stature! I should love to!"
'Of course you would. But I have absolutely no interest in social gatherings and the like. Now, Meg do drop it. This is clearly a happening of your interest. If you must prattle on about it, go and speak to Marmee. I am sure she would listen," Jo said, and left.
I did just that. I went down to Marmee and spoke with her, wearing the dress I had picked out to await her approval:
"Marmee, doesn't this look ravishing?"
But I got no reply. I asked her again, and still I got no answer. Suddenly, I realized that Marmee had a worried expression on her face, and that she was, therefore, not being her usual cheerful self. And that worried me. So I asked that fateful question:
"Marmee, whatever is the matter?"
"Oh, nothing, dear…." She sighed. "But I suppose I'll tell you. But I promise you, you are not going to like it. So you must promise me you will be a self-controlled little woman."
A/N: I'm going to be stopping here. Don't worry, I will be writing more….. Please review my story. I think I did horribly but you're the real judges of my writing not me. Of course, it's fine if you haven't read the book, even though you are missing some character details. I hope you at least slightly enjoyed it.