Chapter Two: Errands
(As a note, some of the following characters are derived from some classic books, but please don't buy too much into it. I won't continue their influence very much at all, because I like to keep my stories fairly original. I'm just uncreative and creative at the same time--it's a snowday, I'm bored, it's allowed. Whatever, though. Thank you for reviews and reading!)
-Lella
"Cinderella, dear," Cinderella's mother started the next morning over a hearty breakfast of fried eggs, toast, and raspberry tea.
"Yes?" she erged her mother on.
"I have a list of things that I need to pick up. You know, little errands. And, I was wondering--"
"Mother, why not send Amelia?" she asked. I mean, we have a maid for a reason.
Her mother sat up in her chair and put her fork down in slight frustration. "Please, don't interupt me." She paused before continuing to show that her daughter had gotten out of line. "Amelia is currently busy cleaning the house for your graduation party later today."
Oh, kill me. I don't even want that party. I love presents, don't get me wrong, but I can't stand all of that attention and hugging from people I've barely even met.
Cinderella nibbled her toast that she had smothered in grape jelly before looking up at her mother. "What kind of errands are these?"
"Oh, simple ones," her mother laughed in such a fake voice, "We need a new table cloth, some fresh vegetables, and I need you drop off some knitting to Mrs. Dubose down the street. See, nothing too bad."
"Mother, you know how I can't stand that woman. Mrs. Dubose is always lecturing me, and she always finds something to nag me about. I'll do the rest, but, please don't make me even go near that woman's house!" she pleaded. Errands didn't bother her all that much, but it was that wicked lady down the street that made her face turn red in anger. She couldn't stand to even walk by that dark red-brick house in fear and anger that Mrs. Dubose would show herself.
"Cindy, I can't believe that you would say that about such an old and respectful lady! She is a family friend, and she has been nothing but kind to us."
"Maybe she's been kind to you, but certainly not I," Cinderella mumbled.
Her mother sighed and took a sip of her steaming raspberry tea. "Maybe sending you to her will teach you a lesson in manners. Already a day out of school and you're acting like this. I can't believe your grandfather wasted the money."
"Oh, I'll do it. I won't like it, but I'll deliver the knitting to her. If I don't come back, call the army to get me out of her lectures that she'll surely throw my way." Cinderella stood up out of her seat, picked up her dishes, then quickly walked out of the kitchen.
"You're excused!" her mother called to her.
Cinderella placed her dishes into the over-sized maid sink before heading up to her room to fix her hair.
You never know who you might meet. she thought as she brushed through her curly hair. She placed the hair into a loose bun on the nape of her neck, then tied an olive green ribbon around it to hide the many pins that she had used. She turned around from her dresser, grabbed her purse and shoes, and biskly walked down the stairs and out of the house with the knitting and the errand list in hand.
Let's see... Should I put Mrs. Dubose off until last, or should I just get it over with? she thought as she slowly walked down the street. It seemed to be too fine of a day to torture herself with Mrs. Dubose and the small errands. The sun was warming and shining, the painted daisies were blooming in full glory, and birds flew from tree to tree chirping away.
After much diliberating, Cinderella finally pushed herself up the sidewalk leading to Mrs. Dubose's house. Lord, spare me from her. She straightened her olive green skirts before lightly knocking on the front door. Holding her breath, she smiled as Mrs. Dubose's butler opened the door.
"And how may I be of service to you, miss?" he asked with little enthusiasm.
Cinderella exhaled and handed him the knitting. "It's for Mrs. Dubose... From Cinderella--"
"Who's at the door?" came a yell from inside of the house. The butler turned around to face Mrs. Dubose's usual frown.
"Miss Cinderella, ma'am," he replied, handing her the knitting.
"Cinderella?" she began, "That girl from down the street who used to pick my flowers from the front yard when she was little? I still haven't gotten that out of my system! Come here, Cinderella!"
There is no way on earth that I will come to you! she thought as she stood there staring up at Mrs. Dubose's angry face.
"I..." she stammered, "I must be leaving!" Cinderella lifted her skirt and ran down the sidewalk and past the the house in seconds.
"Wait! Come back!" Mrs. Dubose yelled angrily as Cinderella ran out of sight into the busy town square.
She kept running through the crowds of people in the town until she stopped at the large fountains right in the center of the market place. She nearly fell to the edge of the fountains while trying to slow down and sit so that she could catch her breath. Safe... For now, at least.
"Miss, be you alright?" a maid called as she passed by with a load of groceries.
Cinderella looked up with surprise and smiled half-heartedly, "I'm... I'm quite fine. I just had a start back there."
The maid took a few steps forward, "Just be sure that you don't fuss your dress 'n shoes. I'm sure they're nice ones, miss." With that, the maid walked away, and Cinderella tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale... I shouldn't have worn my corset so tight today. I'm about to die! She opened her eyes to see the clear blue sky and the clouds float by in slow waves and wisps. The day was growing warmer, and she knew that she would need to run the rest of the errands quickly in order to not have a heat stroke.
Cinderella slowly sat up and looked down at the list her mother had written. Eggs, tomatoes, two loaves of bread, black thread, yellow buttons, two bars of soap. Easy enough--I'll only have to travel to two shops. She stood up, brushed off her skirt, and walked briskly towards the general store on the opposite side of the square.
The general store smelled of powder and medicine, making Cinderella's stomach flop. I hate that. she thought as she found her way to the counter of the store. A large woman with greying hair and an expensive (yet tacky) navy dress greeted her with unfriendly eyes.
"What'll it be ya?" she asked in a near masculine voice.
Cinderella looked down at her shoes as she whispered, "Black thread, yellow buttons, and two bars of soap, ma'am." She looked up once the large lady had went into the back of the store to find the items. Much to her surprise was a young man in her place. He gave her a smile while moving aside for the lady to place the items on the counter.
"That'll be 36 shiny pennies from ye," she said, eyeing up the young man beside her. "Don't stare, it'll make a fool of ya." She turned back to Cinderella had took the pennies that were held out for her. "Thank ye. 'N don't mind me son here, he's just a weak one fer pretty missus." She threw a hard glance his way as Cinderella left the general store quietly and swift as anything.
When she got back into the fresh air and the sunlight, she giggled to herself at the entrance of the shop. Things like that seemed to be happening more and more lately. I'm still dreadfully average, though. There are many girls more beautiful than I, and many that aren't. I'm right in the middle, as always. She thought about romance all the way to the vegetable and fresh foods stand a block from the general store. Maybe romantics would make a dull life become exciting. I'd be like a princess.
Pressing on after she bought the food, she started walking out of the town square when something caught her eye. On the bulletin board where the city would place news, there was a sign.
Palace Now Hiring
Maids and Servants
for His Royal Highness
See Mrs. Ellie Robinson for Details.
"That's it!" she whispered excitedly to herself. "Brushing noses with royals could make any life seem like a fairy tale, rather than a tragic boredom." She ripped the sign off of the bulletin board, then nearly ran home to tell her grandfather her idea.
