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Chapter 2 (Rewritten)

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Elsie – Aged 13

She woke up to her sister calling her for breakfast as normal, she sighed heavily same old routine, she wished she could sleep in but that was for the rich her mam said, people who had no work to do. She dragged herself out of bed and somehow in her half asleep state got dressed and washed and actually made it to the kitchen. Her sister, Caroline, sat at the table with her mam, Anne, both talking about all the work that needed doing today. She groaned no school today she only went 3 days a week to learn some English and a bit of maths her mother was expected to teach her anything else she needed, and her mother didn't think she needed to know that much.

She was needed on the farm same as ever, her father needed her and her sister, every day the same routine of milking, collecting the eggs, gardening, sowing, cooking, cleaning being a women in the farming world wasn't easy.

She lived on a farm in rural Scotland it was tough but her mam and dad always made sure there was food on the table and heat in the house, she knew what hard work was and knew she would probably have the same life as her mother. It didn't fulfil her like it did her sister get a husband, marry and have a family; she wanted just that little bit more from life. Though she would never admit it aloud as she knew her parents would more than likely take offence.

She had read about working girls in the cities such as housekeepers and secretaries where you could work and be respected for being an individual, she wanted to do it but it wasn't an option farm girls just didn't do that, even she knew that at 13. Even though every day while she worked she imagined she was someone important with job where people looked up to her.

She began working like normal dreaming again of what it must be like to be a fancy lady with lots of clothes and jewels, just like any girl who wasn't rich would imagine, trying to cope with the jobs in hand. She knew that if she worked especially hard this week her pa might let her go to the village dance with Caroline who was old enough to chaperone but she wouldn't need it, who would look at her twice?

Boring looking with normal born hair that was never neat and boring features no male would want to court her ever not like they did Caroline, every boy in the village wanted her hand in marriage. Caroline was pretty though light green eyes and golden hair that sat perfectly no matter how much work she did.

She was pulled from her train of thought by a deep pulsing in her stomach she suddenly felt ill but it passed like a wave but it kept coming back. She tried to ignore it but by tea she was sick as anything, her sister noticed instantly and pulled her upstairs before mam could see her, much to Elsie's confusion.

Caroline pushed her into the bathroom and asked through the door if she was bleeding, she didn't understand but when she checked her drawers they were covered. She started panicking you only bled if you were hurt didn't you? Caroline explained calmly about 'a course' and it just meant her body was ready for children, that shocked Elsie "CHILDREN Caroline in thirteen" her sister just laughed "It don't mean you have to have them immediately after you fool". She was soon sorted out after getting Caroline to stop laughing at her outburst, she asked why she didn't let mam know and Caroline replied it wasn't a polite society topic.

After her near death experience well that was how she saw it, her pa finally agreed for them to go to the dance she got out her Sunday best dress and put it on feeling like a grown woman, and pinning her hair up fancily, feeling slightly put out when Caroline stood there perfect as ever.

It was good really, she didn't expect it to be, she danced until 9, being twirled around by an array of boys, some couldn't believe it was her. A certain lad who danced with her stuck in her mind, a farmer called Joe Burns, he was 15 and quite the gentleman, he asked about her and seemed to be interested. She knew it was fake though nothing more than basic respect and a chance that she may marry him. However she left feeling elated someone had noticed her, Caroline had twenty boys noticing her. Of course she would have to tell pa about Joe apparently parents were meant to sort out relationships, she didn't see why how did her parents know if she liked someone?

Caroline whispered to her that night how to court correctly it was all about letters and being proper, such as not being alone with the boy in question. Not just rushing in head first, "that's how loose women are made" Carline said, and she must be right because she was her sister and she wouldn't lie. She knew what was expected of a women , and she knew how to behave but it was harder than she imagined.