Child of Dreams: I am going to add Agathe, but at the moment she will be only mentioned in passing. I don't know if I will add her in or not The next morning I woke up to hammering, angle-grinding, and a whole lot of other ungodly noises. I groaned when I saw the time.

It was five 'o clock.

Well I am awake now. I might as well get up.

I fumbled for my glasses as I tried to sit up. While throwing back the sheets, I shuddered as the uninvited cold air touched my feet. I stumbled out of bed and walked over to get my gown and slippers. I yawned as I staggered down the stairs. The sounds of the carpentry got louder and louder.

I have a feeling that this is one of the reasons that mom divorced him.

My mother's voice echoed inside of my head, And this is just the first day.

"Shut up." I sleepily mumbled.

I managed to get my footing and located where the head-splitting noise was coming from. I braced myself against the bitter air as I walked around the house to where I assumed the basement is.

Ahhh here it is. I thought as I found a tornado-type shelter, like the one from The Wizard of Oz. I bent down to pull open the cover to reveal what could only be described as a mess.

There were wooden chips scattered across the floor, not to mention the sawdust. There was an assortment of tools that was strewn all over the place.

None of that, though, came close to the massive, gigantic, machine that was before me.

"Oh, morning Belle!" Came the cheery voice from behind the machine. Papa popped his head around it and gave me a smile. He was wearing the weirdest set of goggles that I have seen. His smile left his face when he saw the tired state I was in.

"Oh my! My apologies! I forgot that you don't wake up at this hour! It is from living alone for so long, you see."

I waved my hand nonchalantly. "No no, it is fine. It is not something that I would usually wake up to, that is all." I then changed the topic, "Well now I am awake, would you at least do me the honour of explaining what this is?"

His faced perked up. He removed his goggles, leaving a visible "dust tan".

"Weeeeellll," he began, "I am making, nay, inventing a contraption that will change lives. It hasn't got a name yet, but it will revolutionise the way we log! I am going to present it at a fair in a few weeks!"

I had never before and since seen such excitement stored in one man.

"May I help in any way?" What the Hell, why not, "It is too early to explore, and well I am awake now."

"Absolutely! There is not much you could do here, but could you start by cleaning the chicken coop, and feeding the chickens. I know it isn't glamorous, but someone has to do it."

I nodded, "Sure."

"Thanks." And with that he rolled under the machine, humming happily to himself.

I went out to the shed, and found the bucket of chicken feed amongst the gardening utensils.

I suppose there is nothing else to do now but to sweep.

XXX

My holiday trailed on nicely for the rest of the two weeks. It was pretty uneventful. Every morning I repeated the same chores: get up, clean the house, and go to town for supplies for Papa. When all that was done I had free time to do whatever I pleased.

And I always found myself in the comforting confines of the local library.

It was a relatively small place, well compared to what I am used to. There was barely anyone there except for Mrs Potts, the sweet, old, lady with her son Chip.

She was so excited when I came in the first day. I really believe that she thought I was a ghost.

We got chatting and I discovered that she was originally from England, but she had to flee from there because of her alcoholic abusive husband. She came here with her ten year old son (defiantly a laatlammetije that one) and managed to set up a nice life here. She found herself a new husband, Jean, the local potter. Poor guy, he was a bit of a forgetful man. She was happy that she found another person to recommend English books to.

Christmas was very peaceful. It was weird without Ma. It was my first without her after all.

I gave Papa a small memento from SA. It was a packet of biltong.

"I haven't had this in thirteen years!" He exclaimed as he took a bite out of the meat, "Ohhh this takes me back!"

Papa gave me a small hand carved knife. He told me that I might need it, especially if I am to go to town alone with Gaston and his cronies hanging around.

Talking about the Arsehole-brigade, I rarely interacted with them. I mean I saw Gaston boasting about his pectorals now and again, with LeFou drooling over him like an excited puppy. I think our friend liked Gaston more that would be socially accepted in a testosterone-filled village like that. It was sad sight to uphold.

Although there was this one time I had to swap unpleasantries with him:

XXX

It was towards the end of the festive season and I was walking back to the library to return a book when BAM! He materialised out of nowhere!

And he was carrying his prized hunting rifle across his shoulders.

Ag nee man! I groaned. All the other times that he did manage to catch me he would offer a 'Christmas hunting trip'. I obviously refused every time, making some lame excuse or other. By this time he was determinate to get me to go on one tiny date with him. I saw what Papa said about him looking at girls as if they are prizes to be won.

"Hello Belle," he gave me a sickening smile. He straightened his back, making him look like he was the hot shit.

"Morning Gaston," I sighed. I was so close to the safe house.

"What do you have there?" He nodded at my book that clutched protectively across my chest. He reached across and tore it away from my grip. He flicked the pages casually, nearly tearing one of them. I winced.

"How can you read this? It has no pictures!"

"Some people use their imagination." I snatched my book back. "Now if you just excuse me…" I push past him, only to be blocked by LeFou.

"Belle the town is starting to talk. You are spending too much time in your books and with the old man. Neither is doing your reputation any good." He tutted, "But… you can redeem it by accepting my invitation to the village dance, and maybe after a cup of coffee back at my home… in my bedroom."

Bile rose in my throat. "Sorry, I am a tea person. And there is no ways in Hell I am going to the dance with you, china." I leaned into his face threateningly, "You and I both know that you don't give a damn about my reputation. It is all about getting what you can't get."

"Ahh, a bit strong is our Belle," LeFou laughed. He whispered into my ear, "Sweet, naïve Belle, you still don't understand. I always get what I want." He backed away to let me pass.

I never felt so vulnerable at that moment.

I wish I had that knife, was all I could think as I hurriedly passed by their hungry stares and stupid smirks to the safety of the library.

Laatlammentjie- literal translation is 'late lamb'. It refers to a child who is born late in the parents life, usually much younger to its other siblings.

Biltong- it is dry salted meat. Think of it as beef jerky but it is made of game meat (and it tastes better)

"Ag, nee man"- "Oh no man" (nee is pronounced 'knee-ah')

China- it refers to a friend but in this case it is meant in a sarcastic way, like you would say 'mate' when you are aggravated by someone.

So another chapter done!!! I will start adding the other characters in the upcoming chapters.