Chapter Two: Ms. Mary
The tall woman entered the Granite Orphanage. Jennifer could tell a lot from people just by
looking at them. Ms. Mary looked like someone you didn't want to mess with. She almost had
that librarian look to her, glaring at you while telling you to keep your voice down. And then she
spoke.
"Well hello dear, which one of the girls might you be? Jennifer, I take it?" Jennifer looked up
into her grey eyes, piercing. "Yes, it is a shame about your father. Whatever did become of him?
Well, I guess that is in the past. I'm here to take you to Mr. Barrow's house, where you and your
friends, well, real sisters now, can live happily."
Jennifer continued to get the oddest feeling from Ms. Mary, but she set it aside. She was just a
kind older lady, probably a social worker of some kind. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind
her, Jennifer turned to see the other girls approaching. Nobody had packed much. Ms. Mary had
phoned earlier and word got to the girls through Ann that Mr. Barrows had everything set for
them. They were just to bring the basics, their toothbrushes, combs, a couple small personal items
and maybe an extra pair of whatever clothes they might need. Everything else needed would be
brought up once they had settled in.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Lotte almost clung to Ms. Mary. That was expected of her.
Always out to impress, hoping to get along with everyone.
"Oh, no, that's fine, Lotte, is it?" Lotte nodded eagerly. "Just bring everything you have out to
the car. It's a fairly long drive up there, and we also have to walk a bit to get to the mansion
itself. It's very difficult to drive up to Mr. Barrow's huge country mansion, so I'll need to park a
bit off. But it's good exercise, and let's you look at the wonderful forested landscape." Jennifer
could tell that Ms. Mary was patronizing them, but she wanted to make a good impression upon
her too, so she get quiet, and put on a bit of a smile.
Lotte picked her bag back up and ran out the door to Ms. Mary's waiting car. A typical brown
station wagon. Fake wood panelling, but effective, lots of room and cushy seating. As Jennifer
was watching Lotte put on her best show for Ms. Mary, Ann took the chance to sneak past her to
get to the car too. Her pleasure seemed more genuine. While Lotte was desperate to find a new
home, Ann just smiled away, knowing her day would come, and that she should enjoy it. Jennifer
realized one person wasn't exactly running towards the waiting vehicle.
"Laura, what's the matter? Is something wrong?" Jennifer asked the blond girl.
"No, not really," Laura said, brushing non-existant dirt off her fine blue dress, "I just get the
funniest feeling about Ms. Mary..."
"You too, huh? Yeah, I get something too, but we're probably just nervous. I'm sure it'll be
great for the both of us. What's the worst that could happen?" Jennifer picked up Laura's
travelling bag along with her own, and joined Ms. Mary and her friends, well, sisters now. Laura
waited for a bit, then said goodbye to the Granite Orphanage.
The tall woman entered the Granite Orphanage. Jennifer could tell a lot from people just by
looking at them. Ms. Mary looked like someone you didn't want to mess with. She almost had
that librarian look to her, glaring at you while telling you to keep your voice down. And then she
spoke.
"Well hello dear, which one of the girls might you be? Jennifer, I take it?" Jennifer looked up
into her grey eyes, piercing. "Yes, it is a shame about your father. Whatever did become of him?
Well, I guess that is in the past. I'm here to take you to Mr. Barrow's house, where you and your
friends, well, real sisters now, can live happily."
Jennifer continued to get the oddest feeling from Ms. Mary, but she set it aside. She was just a
kind older lady, probably a social worker of some kind. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind
her, Jennifer turned to see the other girls approaching. Nobody had packed much. Ms. Mary had
phoned earlier and word got to the girls through Ann that Mr. Barrows had everything set for
them. They were just to bring the basics, their toothbrushes, combs, a couple small personal items
and maybe an extra pair of whatever clothes they might need. Everything else needed would be
brought up once they had settled in.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Lotte almost clung to Ms. Mary. That was expected of her.
Always out to impress, hoping to get along with everyone.
"Oh, no, that's fine, Lotte, is it?" Lotte nodded eagerly. "Just bring everything you have out to
the car. It's a fairly long drive up there, and we also have to walk a bit to get to the mansion
itself. It's very difficult to drive up to Mr. Barrow's huge country mansion, so I'll need to park a
bit off. But it's good exercise, and let's you look at the wonderful forested landscape." Jennifer
could tell that Ms. Mary was patronizing them, but she wanted to make a good impression upon
her too, so she get quiet, and put on a bit of a smile.
Lotte picked her bag back up and ran out the door to Ms. Mary's waiting car. A typical brown
station wagon. Fake wood panelling, but effective, lots of room and cushy seating. As Jennifer
was watching Lotte put on her best show for Ms. Mary, Ann took the chance to sneak past her to
get to the car too. Her pleasure seemed more genuine. While Lotte was desperate to find a new
home, Ann just smiled away, knowing her day would come, and that she should enjoy it. Jennifer
realized one person wasn't exactly running towards the waiting vehicle.
"Laura, what's the matter? Is something wrong?" Jennifer asked the blond girl.
"No, not really," Laura said, brushing non-existant dirt off her fine blue dress, "I just get the
funniest feeling about Ms. Mary..."
"You too, huh? Yeah, I get something too, but we're probably just nervous. I'm sure it'll be
great for the both of us. What's the worst that could happen?" Jennifer picked up Laura's
travelling bag along with her own, and joined Ms. Mary and her friends, well, sisters now. Laura
waited for a bit, then said goodbye to the Granite Orphanage.