It picks up soon, I promise Again, thanks for your support to everyone who reads!
My parents' bodies remained next door in the morgue, there was little respect for the dead in Pendle and there would be no point in paying for a coffin and burying them. The business of the funeral over we walked together back to my Aunt Agnes' cottage; she offered me some words of comfort but neither of us spoke much. She probably thought I was in shock- I couldn't help it, but as hard as I tried I just couldnt bring myself to care about the death of my parents. In fact I felt almost liberated, relieved- now they could neber hurt or oppress me again. It looked like my life was finally starting to get better.
When we returned to my Aunt Agne's cottage, however, there was a note pinned to her front door. It was from a woman called Sarah whom my aunt Agnes was evidently friendly with. When Agnes read the note her whole face paled and I felt an unease in my stomach from the way she looked at me when she'd finished reading. I just knew it'd be bad news... It was far worse than I'd expected.
"Your aunt Lizzie's sent word" she told me, trying to keep her voice steady. My heart skipped a beat and my blood turned chilly. "She says she wants me to deliver you to her cottage before nightfall today. She says you'll live with her now."
As the shock slowly wore off I stared at my aunt Agnes in astonishment. My aunt Lizzie, my mam's sister, had never really spoken to my mam much, just visited sometime. As far as I could remember my aunt Lizzie had never so much as asked after my health.
"But aunt Lizzie can't mean it, she doesn't even like me!" I protested. "She'd as soon as take my bones rather than look after me! Can't I stay with you, aunt?" I asked pleadingly, making my eyes go all wide and earnest. I'd be her little girl and let her plait my hair- I'd even hold her hand if it stopped her from sending me to Lizzie!
My aunt Agnes looked at me for a moment and I saw her weaken and then become resolute. She straightened up to her full height, making herself a couple of inches taller than me. She screw the note up in her fist.
"You go in, Alice. I'm going to see Sarah and send word to Lizzie that I won't do it, you' ll live here with me from now on."
I beamed up at my favourite aunt and went in to start getting our supper ready. About halfway through however I realised how stupid I'd been. Lizzie always got her own way and there was no way my aunt Agnes was strong enough to stand against her.
