Chapter Two: Adversity
An irritated beeping noise interrupted my slumber the next morning. Instinctively, I reached out toward the source of the irritating beeping and slapped my hand down. Rubbing my eyes, my memory was hazy from last night's episode. Eventually I peeked at the clock only to find that it was 6:55. It was as if a jolt went through my body. I overslept!
After a screaming into my pillow, I blindly threw on the first clothing I could find, took a mint, then scrambled downstairs. As I expected, Fred was waiting in the kitchen with an impatient look on his face. I was about to babble my apologies, yet Fred stopped me before I could speak and dragged me toward his car. I knew I was in for a lecture, which was rather odd because I rarely become such an irresponsible person.
All throughout the car ride to Newport, I spilled apologies over my absent-mindedness and tried to find excuses.
I buried my head in my hands.
"I'm so sorry! I almost never sleep in! I don't know what's gotten into to me!" I babbled.
Fred, already tired of my repetitiveness, just muttered, "Alright just don't do it again."
The car already approached the familiar iron gates as I quickly thanked Fred and climbed out. I didn't have time to look back as I sprinted into the woods; I was already five minutes late!
As instructed I entered the servant's quarters to find Sir Jonathan awaiting my arrival at the doorstep.
"I'm… sorry… I'm… late!" I heaved.
The thirty or forty girls were already waiting inside, eager to begin work. Some tossed their hair in disgust and others glanced away seeming to take the embarrassment for me. Color rose from my face and I smoothed the creases from my much iron-needed blouse. The butler said nothing and maintained a straight face. Nervously I joined the other intimidating girls as all pairs of eyes were on me. I tried to sink back in the corner.
Sir Jonathan excused his throat.
"Well then, now that we have everyone," he began as he emphasizes the word everyone, "I will give you instructions on your stations now. Before you begin, you must wash up and change into your uniform…"
After another long lecture, we were led into a room full of black and white uniforms. We were greeted by a petite woman in her mid-20s that seemed to be wearing the same uniform we were to wear. I sighed wearily. I seriously did not want to wear a frilly knee length black and white French-maid looking dress. I glanced at the women who later I've learned that she goes by the name Lydia. The French-maid look really suited a cute woman like her.
Reluctantly, I grabbed my own garments and headed into one of the many decorated rooms to change. As I glanced in the full lengthed mirror, I gapped. Even though I was working as a maid, I felt like even the maid's outfit was fancier than any outfit I owned!
My white stocking-covered knees awkwardly bent inward. My black knee-length dress matched my dark Mary Janes. I placed a white apron over my dress and neatly tied the huge bow in the back. I grimaced as I fixed the black and white doily headdress on my chestnut hair and the final white lace around my equally white neck. Perplexed, I did a quick spin. Okay, so I admit, I did look cute.
Cute for a Japanese girl.
But how could anyone work in this type of garment? I mean, there was no reason to include a headdress and frill to the set. In the distance, I heard a clock chime 8 o'clock which warned that I was to be in the first floor corridor. I gathered my mop and broom and hastily made my way through the house. Four girls glanced up as I arrived. My heart sank as I recalled their beautiful faces. They were those "Faraday fan girls" from yesterday. All girls seemed to have a unique quality to them. Even with the same matching uniforms, they simply outshone my own look.
One girl gave a dazzling smirk as if she was just gossiping about me. It was the same girl that asked about Master Faraday's room.
"Ah, it's you," she said in her silky tone.
"The late one," said the dark haired girl to her left. The other girls cast a wickedly beautiful smirk, which made me feel inferior. Not that I wasn't inferior already…
"Now now Miranda, be nice," said silky-tone girl. Immediately, the smiles vanished. Apparently she was the leader of the group.
I decided to ignore them and began picking up my broom. However, the leader side-stepped me.
"Hey, you've made quite the news this morning. I'm Jennifer." She held out a healthy pink nail-polished hand. I weakly took it.
"Alice," I muttered.
"Come now don't be shy," said the dark-haired Miranda with a tinge of sarcasm.
"Miranda lay off!" ordered Jennifer.
Again, the beauty submerged.
Jennifer flipped her golden curls and turned back to me.
"Please don't mind Miranda. She can be a bit…. Well in any case, this is Chelsea and Lindsey."
She motioned two
similar brunettes behind her and both cast a simple smile at me.
Jennifer pursed her lips as she carefully studied me. I couldn't do
anything but stare back.
"So," she began after a long time,
"you've decided to work here?"
I nodded slowly. Where was she getting at?
"I see," Jennifer said, frowning in disapproval, "If you ask me, you should've given up a long time ago."
She saw my appalled face.
"No offense, "she went on leaning closer to me, "but just between you and me. You've already screwed it up. One mistake and you're gone. At least that's what I've been told. I'm surprised you're still here."
Both brunettes whispered something to each other and giggled. I suppressed the lump in my throat. A burning sensation filled my eyes.
Miranda's beautiful face seemed to have replaced with evil the instant I met with her heavily mascara eyes.
"Even if you had been on time, you wouldn't last a day today. Why? Well look around you. Everything in this place is majestic and beautiful. Now even the staff has got to look presentable with a mansion like this."
Chelsea stepped in and wrenched my broom away.
"In other words, "Chelsea interrupted, "you're too plain."
Lindsey joined in, "And an eyesore to the Faraday household."
Miranda, Chelsea, and Lindsey tried to suppress a laugh.
Jennifer signaled the girls that they were finished then glanced back at me with her long eyelashes. Although she was the prettiest girl I've ever seen, I knew I could never befriend her. My eyes already began to sting and I willed myself not to cry. Seeing me turn crimson and struggling to maintain my composure, a satisfied Jennifer stabbed her last words, "Alice, now be a good girl and give it up."
At that moment, Sir Jonathan approached us ready to give instructions to the new housekeepers. At once all four girls straightened their backs and held a graceful yet headlong position. I struggled to imitate them.
Once more I was given instructions on how to clean, dust, and polish the hallways and rooms, but I was only half listening. Those girls' words pierced through my heart like an unshadowed truth. For they were completely right and I had no clue why they would still keep me now.
After hours of repetitive cleaning and dusting, my body did not ache. Since I do all of the household chores at my own house, it was surprisingly no different than cleaning the mansion. But all throughout my chores, the conversation with Jennifer and the others still haunted me. The clock chimed 12 noon which signaled an hour lunch break from my shift. I watched in the corner of my eye as Jennifer and her posse animatedly chatted and turned the corner out of sight. I slowly slid down with my back facing the wall. I was alone.
I decided that I needed to escape from the house after a few minutes. Without the maids running around, the halls looked empty. Everyone was down in the kitchen for their lunch break. Yet I was not hungry so instead I walked blindly down the halls in search for an exit to this enormous palace.
Luckily I ended up finding the doors to a terrace which leads to a lush garden. A large marble fountain with a graceful angel stood before me. The fountain was surrounded with a large basin of water which held lily pads. Instantly I felt calm with the fountain's water dancing and the sweet smell of roses. I knelt next to the water and just stared. I did not know if what Jennifer had told me was true. But if it was, why hadn't they kicked me out yet? Why do I still continue to work?
I closed my eyes and started to sing. I did not care at that moment whether I looked stupid kneeling next to a fountain in a French-maid outfit. I did not care that I was singing with no audience but myself. But I knew that singing always lifted my spirits.
Some say love it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you it's only seed.
I breathed a sigh. It was only the first verse of the whole song, but it already brought a smile to my face.
All of a sudden, my ears tensed as I heard a door quietly creak. Alarmed, I wrenched my head toward the mansion. For a split second I saw a shadow leave the second story balcony window, and then nothing more. I started to feel nervous butterflies in my stomach. If it were one of the staff that saw me, they would tell for sure! I brushed off my skirt, tugged at my apron, then rushed back inside toward the direction of the kitchen.
It will be all over if I was caught.
I was winded as I approached the double wooden doors to the kitchen. I bent down and gasped for breath. Believe me, it was tough running in a maid dress. I straightened out my position and slowly crept in, hoping that I could slip by without anyone noticing. Thankfully no one stole a glance at me.
After I've received my lunch, a beautifully laid salad and a slice of bread was all I had appetite for, I quietly sat down at the lonely wooden table in the corner. Nervously, I ate my food praying that no one has told Sir Jonathan that I was at the gardens. Nearby I could see Jennifer and her group sitting together, animatedly chatting amongst themselves. I couldn't help but overhear as Jennifer shushed the group.
"Have you read the Newport Daily News lately?" Jennifer said low enough for her group and me to hear.
One brunette nodded.
"Yes, another burglary! What tragic news. He stole so many possessions!" Lindsey said with a deep concerned face.
All three girls shushed her down for speaking too loudly.
Jennifer quickly cast her eyes both ways, flipped her hair, and leaned in toward her group.
"It was my neighbors he stole at. He was right next door to me… the Newport thief," Jennifer murmured.
I shivered at the thought of a burglar being close to my house. Yet, who would want to steal something in my tiny house? We had no valuables whatsoever.
"Did you see him?" Chelsea replied anxiously.
Jennifer slowly nodded; her big beautiful eyes twinkled as she gave a dazzling smile.
The brunettes clasped their hands and giggled while Miranda perked her head up, now seemingly interested in the conversation.
"What did he look like?" said Miranda, cautious not to sound too interested. She tucked her hair behind her ears which gave a cool, stylish look to her.
"Well," Jennifer began, giving an over exaggerated sigh as if to swoon, "I couldn't see much since it was dark. Anyway I was on the terrace that night. I just took a bath and was just getting a bit of fresh air, when I heard something rustle in the trees. It was him, the famous phantom thief!"
"He was at your house?" Chelsea exclaimed shockingly followed by a shush from Miranda.
"Yes. Even though he had on a mask, I could tell he was gorgeously handsome. Pretty tall too. And oh how his cape fluttered in the wind…"
Miranda willed her to go on.
"Anyway," she continued, snapping back to reality, "he turned to look at me!"
"He saw you!?" all three girls exclaimed.
Jennifer nodded then gave a slight blush.
"But he didn't do me any harm. We just starred at each other. It was like… like from a romance movie!" At that, Jennifer really did look like she was going to swoon, yet she continued.
"After some time, he put a finger to his lips as if to tell me it was our secret, and then vanished. I couldn't do anything after that. My heart kept beating so fast. He was so mysterious and handsome. Isn't it romantic? A beautiful maiden who fell in love with the town's thief!"
"It's love! Love!" squealed Lindsey, clasping Jennifer's hand. Soon her and her posse started giggling with glee. At that moment I couldn't help realize Miranda sitting off to the side, starring back at the rest of the group. It made me curious. Was she jealous? Or….
Soon the clock struck one, which signaled everyone to finish their lunch and head off to their jobs. I sighed. Only four more hours to go before I could return to the safety of my own home.
