Chapter 2
"Hello Little Bo Peep." Mary's grandmother said with a smile. "My how you've grown!" She hadn't changed; her hair was still thick and snowy white and the blue eyes that Mary had inherited from her still sparkled merrily.
"What're you doing here?" Mary's eyes darted around her house furtively. "Does Father know you've come?" She remained standing in the living room doorway awaiting Granny's answer.
"He wasn't here when I arrived child. I came as a surprise to see my dear Suzanne and my lovely little Bo peep." Granny's kindly wrinkled face twisted into a frown when Mary didn't smile. "I'm only staying for a day or two, I'm traveling to the city and I've been stopping at friend's houses along the way. Now I can add family to the list of people I've stayed with." She said with a note of impatience and confusion at Mary's reaction.
"Father will be angry, he grew very angry when he heard you insult him last year. He told mother not to allow you in the house if you came again." Mary explained in a low voice.
"But that's absurd! All I said to him was that he shouldn't drink so much. It was merely advice." She scowled. "Did he ever cut back?"
Mary's eyes filled with tears and, not trusting her voice, she just shook her head minutely.
"Well, my Suzie won't kick me out, I'm her mother." She said firmly.
"I'm not sure she'll be home tonight though." Mary whispered. "She's been working night's lately at the inn."
"Nights? What could she possibly do at night? And at the inn? What happened to Jed's job?" She fired one question after the other with an angry note to her voice.
"Father doesn't watch the sheep anymore, I do now." Mary admitted, knowing that this would probably anger her grandmother further.
She gaped at her pretty little granddaughter. "Watch the sheep? You do this all alone?" She awaited Mary's nod before continuing. "Why that's way to much work for you! You're much to young to shepherd the sheep." She scowled. "I'm going to give my son-in-law a piece of my mind! No a huge chunk of it! He's off getting drunk, right? He forces a mere child to do all the work! No wonder this little family is becoming so poor!"
Mary waited until Granny was done. "Mother cleans at the inn and she only comes home for a couple hours a day before leaving again. Sometimes she even sleeps at the inn."
"Dear Lord!" Granny picked up her suitcase. "Let's go upstairs so I can put my things away." She marched upstairs, lugging her big suitcase.
Mary stood, frozen in shock and wondering what she was going to tell her father.
"Do you know what we're going to do when I'm finished putting this stuff away?" Granny's voice floated down the stairs from the guest room.
Mary shook her head, forgetting that Granny couldn't see her.
"We're going to go straight to the in and tell your mother she's coming home tonight! Then we're going to go by the tavern and tell your drunken worthless father to come home too. We're going to fix a big supper and we're gonna talk about these problems. I'm going to tell Jed to do something 'bout those sheep, either sell 'em or watch them himself!" There was the sound of drawers slamming and some loud footsteps before granny appeared again, ready to go.
They walked down the dusty path with cold wind blowing in their faces as they moved. Only the wealthy had horses for travel and only the very wealthy had carriages.
After ten minutes they reached the inn, it was the first business you encountered when you followed the path. It attracted more weary travelers because it was the first thing they saw.
Granny marched straight into the inn with poor Mary in tow. "I need to speak to my daughter!" She barked to the man sitting at the front desk in the lobby.
"Who're you? May I ask?" The man said uncertainly. His pale eyes were narrowed with disgust.
"No you may not ask who I am! Get Suzanne out here immediately!"
"Suzanne? Ah yes. She's cleaning one of the vacated rooms."
"Where?!" granny demanded.
The man stepped out from behind the desk. "I can see you're determined ma'am I'm going to go get her now." He hurried away, off to one of the rooms.
Several of the other guests in the lobby were shooting surprised looks at Granny, most old people weren't so demanding.
"You okay Mary?"
Mary nodded. "I'm fine." She muttered.
This answer satisfied granny and she cast her attention back in the direction the man had gone in.
The man appeared with a very flustered Suzanne behind him. Her dress was rumpled and wasn't buttoned correctly. Her blond hair was tangled and she looked guilty.
"Hello Suzie." Granny was disapprovingly.
"Hello Ma." Suzanne whispered.
"Did you clean the room well?" Granny hissed.
The man looked at both faces then quickly made himself scarce.
Mary was confused, why did her grandmother sound so angry about a clean room?
"Why are you here?" Suzanne asked; her eyes cast down.
"I was traveling to the city but now I see where I'm really needed." She reached out with her soft wrinkled hand and encircled Suzanne's slender wrist and then she took Mary's hand. "We're all going home."
~*~
Jed put up a fight about leaving the tavern but when Granny grabbed his ear and dragged him from his seat he finally complied.
They came back to the little house and each took a seat at the beaten, creaky kitchen table.
"So no'wa whart's this all 'bout?" Jed slurred drunkenly.
"It's about this family!" Granny snapped. "I expected to come here and visit for a while and see my girls and instead I find you drunk, Suzanne 'cleaning' at an inn, and poor little Mary out of school watching the herd of sheep all alone! I won't stand for it, ya hear? I'm staying for a month and if I'm satisfied with you all then I'll leave but if I'm not-" She smirked, "I'll stay for another month."
Jed climbed to his feet unsteadily. "No y'er not stay' in wit us! We gots enough of a problem wit little Mary eating everything!"
"You sit your drunken ass back in that chair Jediah!" Granny roared, her blue eyes flashing with anger. "Tomorrow Mary's going to school and you're going to watch the sheep! And you Suzanne! You're going to work at the inn from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon and then you're going to come home and tend to the housework!"
"But Ma-" Suzanne began weakly but a sharp rap at the door interrupted her.
"Get the door Mary." Granny said, never taking her eyes off the sorry looking adults.
Mary herself was all to happy to oblige, she hopped out of her chair and ran to the door. "Yes?" She said politely to the official looking man standing there.
"This is an invitation to the prince Parses ball." He handed her the same invitation that Lillian had gotten. "Every maiden above thirteen is to attend. Good day ma'am." He tipped his hat to her then marched away.
"Thank you!" Mary called after him then shut the door. She walked slowly back into the kitchen and took her seat.
"Who was it?" Granny asked.
"It was a messenger from the king. He gave me an invitation for Prince Parses ball."
"Good!" Granny exclaimed. "He's choosing a bride then eh? You're one of the prettiest girls in these parts, perhaps you'll catch his eye." She thought for a moment. "I'll buy you a new dress, that one looks far to old, why, is that the same dress you wore last year?"
Jed jumped up again, this time he was steadier. "What you mean? Mary ain't gonna go to some fancy ball! Them royals are the problem with our kingdom! They're cause' in the poverty!"
"Jed-" Suzanne started, trying to calm him down.
Jed lurched at her and slapped her across the face. "Get out' er my face, you disgust me!"
"Jediah you're an idiot! Go sleep off you're drunkenness and we'll talk in the morning, you'll either watch the sheep or leave this poor family!"
The anger faded from his face as his mind registered what Granny had said about him leaving. "Okay then, I'm a mite tired anyhow." He stumbled away, up the stairs and to his room.
I'm ashamed of you Suzanne! You let that man treat you like that? I'm horrified! And you think I don't know what you do at that inn! Cleaning my foot, how much do those men pay you? Huh?" She said in a furious voice. "Mary is nearly sixteen and she's going to go to that ball so she can catch herself a husband."
"Yes ma." Suzanne whispered in defeat. "I'm going to go get some potatoes from the cellar for dinner."
"Now that's how a family is taken care of." Granny said proudly to Mary.
~*~+~*~
"Honestly that woman is mad." Parses hissed to his brother Eric. "She's forcing me to have this foolish party in the hopes that I'll fall in love with some meek little rich girl whose kind and beautiful. Mother disgusts me."
"She almost made me do it too except I fell in love." He sighed happily. "Ariel is everything a guy could hope for."
Parses rolled his eyes. "To bad a mermaid didn't rescue me from drowning."
"Yeah I know." Eric missed his sarcasm.
They were lounging in the royal lounging room with a bowl of fruit in front of them.
"I don't want some pathetic meek little thing, I want someone who actually has intelligence and wit. Can you believe that stupid little wench mother arranged for me to meet the other day? She didn't even hint, she told me how our marriage would be." Parses said in disgust.
Eric frowned in thought, he remembered the lovely yet stupid girl from yesterday.
Parses put a simpering smile on and batted his eyelashes. "Oh Parses! We're going to be sooo happy together! Since you're the youngest you won't be king so that leaves us free to have seven children, all girls! We'll live in a big house overlooking the ocean and you'll work as a banker because that's what my father does!"
"She wasn't that bad was she?" Eric asked suspiciously. "Every girl mother's introduced you to, you turn them down. I think you're turning them all down just to spite mother."
Parses sulked. "No, that's not true."
"Ok then." Eric muttered; he glanced at his brother searchingly. "A word of advice little brother? If you meet a girl that you truly like at the ball, don't turn them down out of stubbornness."
~*~
Lillian sat at the dinner table picking at her food and occasionally shooting glares at her mother, who was sitting across from her.
"Don't you dare look at me with such contempt again Lillian Ann Hood. I told you that we couldn't afford a new dress, especially a red silk one with velvet trim. I also told you that we couldn't afford to rent a carriage either. You also have no right to ask your grandmother for her pearls, you're not old enough."
Lillian put down her fork and scowled at her mother. "I want to go to that ball in style, I must go! Don't you understand how important it will be?"
Now Martha's interest was piqued. "What ever do you mean darling?" She asked curiously. "You can go, but you'll have to wear your light blue dress with the lace collar and you'll wear your beaded necklace with it. I'm not going to stop you from going." She assured her daughter to appease her.
"No! If I wear that then I'll look like a country girl!"
"You ARE a country girl though."
"If I wear that then he won't pick me, he'll pick the girl with red hair and the green silk dress!" Lillian said desperately.
"Lily dear, are you ill? You're speaking nonsense. How would you know something like that? You act as if you've been to this ball before." Martha was looking at her daughter with worry now.
"You won't believe me." Lillian said in a low voice.
"Try me." Her mother insisted.
"When I was nine, remember when grandmamma fell ill? You sent me to her house with a basket of food for her. I wore my red cape and hood. As I was walking a big wolf followed me."
"Yes, I remember all that." Martha said impatiently. "It nearly gave me a heart attack to see some woodcutter carrying you to the house. You were unconscious for two days."
"Yes, well anyhow, the wolf swallowed Grandmamma and I. The woodcutter killed the wolf and cut open his stomach. Grandmamma was fine but I had passed out, and as I slept, I dreamed." Lillian explained slowly.
"Go on."
"I dreamed that I was older, and I had lost my baby fat. I was wearing a beautiful red dress with a pearl necklace. Mary was beside me and she wore a pretty dress too but not as expensive. We both drew the attention of many suitors but the red caught Prince Parses eye and he asked me to dance. We danced all night and he asked for my hand in marriage." She paused, thinking hard. "The prince and the ballroom faded and a woman in a white dress told me to follow the dream and all would be well. She said: 'Don't stray from the dream and your wishes shall be fulfilled.'"
"How interesting.." Martha whispered, she stared hard at her daughter. "Is that the truth?"
Lillian was highly affronted. "Of course!" She snapped. "I would not lie about this."
"Mary was with you though?" Her eyebrows rose.
Lillian nodded.
"Ha! It cannot be the future then because Mary said herself she will not be allowed to attend!" Martha said triumphantly.
At that very moment there was three raps on the door. It continued, now a pounding.
"Let me in! It's Mary!" An excited voice squealed.
Lillian ran to the door and pulled the bolt away.
Mary grinned. "Granny has come! She put my father in his place and said I was to go to the ball!" she suddenly noticed the food on the table and Martha's shocked expression. "Oh dear, I apologize. I did not mean to interrupt your meal." She said meekly.
"No child, it's not that." Martha turned her attention to Lillian. "We'll find your dress and you may go tomorrow to ask mother for her pearls. The ball isn't for another week so there's still time." She said, her eyes still wide with surprise.
"I told you mother." Lillian said proudly.
"What happened?" Mary asked in confusion, looking back and forth at each face.
*~*
"To grandmother's house we go! Over the river and through the woods!" Lillian sang with Mary as they walked to her grandmother's.
School had just let out and they were still carrying their slates.
"To Grandmother's house we-"
"Shhh!" Lillian hissed suddenly, she tilted her head, listening for voices. "Come on, I hear people over there."
They walked together toward the little stream that many people liked to picnic on.
"It's a bit cold for picnics though." Lillian said with a sly grin.
Three people were standing right beside the stream arguing. One was George Porgy; another was George's fiancée, Sara Muffet, the last was Jeremy, one of the shoe kids.
Lillian snatched Mary's hand and they his together behind a particularly large tree and listened.
"I can't believe you're leaving me for this buffoon!" George gestured at Jeremy.
"You're the buffoon George! All you do is cook, a baker's son!" She scoffed. "I know you like food better than me. You don't even pay attention to what I say! Jeremy listens and appreciates me! I would've stayed with you George but yesterday I saw you looking at that stupid Madera! Don't even try to deny it!"
"I love her." Jeremy hissed.
"You're just a pretty boy, that's all!" George tried to insult him. "You're poorer than me too. I know your old mother that lives in a shoe! She abused you all when you were little and she was like a door knob with the men in town, everybody gets a turn!" He snorted at the angry red color of Jeremy's face. "The stork was at your house 24/7 delivering babies."
Jeremy shook off Sara's restraining hand and punched George in the face. "We're going to elope and never come back to this miserable town. Bye." He snatched Sara's hand and they walked away, in the opposite direction of Lillian and Mary's tree.
George stumbled then recovered. "Well fine! Go off with your pauper then! I'm not going to take you back!"
They didn't even turn around, disappearing into the woods.
Lillian smirked and stepped out from behind the trees. Mary followed her reluctantly.
"Georgie Porgy, pudding and pies, kisses the girls and makes them cry." Lillian snickered. "And when the boys come out to play, Gorgie Porgy runs away!"
George glared at her. "You eavesdropped. A wench you are." He looked behind her and saw Mary. "Aw, you brought a pretty little friend."
"Leave her alone!" Lillian snapped. "I've been meaning to ask you something. Are you going to go to the Prince's ball?"
George frowned in confusion. "Yes." He said slowly. "Why?"
"You're parents are wealthy enough to hire a carriage."
".Yes." He said even more slowly.
"Mary and I are to ride with you then." Lillian said as if it were settled.
"What?! No! You're not riding with me! I detest you."
"You're forgetting something George."
"What?"
"Mary and I saw your little break up with Muffet. It was really cute, but what are you going to tell everyone? Sara broke away from you for a pauper? Jeremy Shoe? The whore's son?" She giggled. "I would adore seeing the town's face."
"You hush your mouth!" George cried out.
Mary shook Lillian's shoulder gently. "Let's go."
"No." Lillian shook her off. "This is important." She shifted her gaze to George. "You heard what he said, they're not coming back, and so no one would ever find out. Unless-" She smiled, "I were to tell some people.."
"Fine. You can come. Be at my house by seven."
"No George, why would you make ladies walk to your house? You can pick us up at seven fifteen." Lillian grabbed Mary's hand and propelled her away before George could reply.
"Hello Little Bo Peep." Mary's grandmother said with a smile. "My how you've grown!" She hadn't changed; her hair was still thick and snowy white and the blue eyes that Mary had inherited from her still sparkled merrily.
"What're you doing here?" Mary's eyes darted around her house furtively. "Does Father know you've come?" She remained standing in the living room doorway awaiting Granny's answer.
"He wasn't here when I arrived child. I came as a surprise to see my dear Suzanne and my lovely little Bo peep." Granny's kindly wrinkled face twisted into a frown when Mary didn't smile. "I'm only staying for a day or two, I'm traveling to the city and I've been stopping at friend's houses along the way. Now I can add family to the list of people I've stayed with." She said with a note of impatience and confusion at Mary's reaction.
"Father will be angry, he grew very angry when he heard you insult him last year. He told mother not to allow you in the house if you came again." Mary explained in a low voice.
"But that's absurd! All I said to him was that he shouldn't drink so much. It was merely advice." She scowled. "Did he ever cut back?"
Mary's eyes filled with tears and, not trusting her voice, she just shook her head minutely.
"Well, my Suzie won't kick me out, I'm her mother." She said firmly.
"I'm not sure she'll be home tonight though." Mary whispered. "She's been working night's lately at the inn."
"Nights? What could she possibly do at night? And at the inn? What happened to Jed's job?" She fired one question after the other with an angry note to her voice.
"Father doesn't watch the sheep anymore, I do now." Mary admitted, knowing that this would probably anger her grandmother further.
She gaped at her pretty little granddaughter. "Watch the sheep? You do this all alone?" She awaited Mary's nod before continuing. "Why that's way to much work for you! You're much to young to shepherd the sheep." She scowled. "I'm going to give my son-in-law a piece of my mind! No a huge chunk of it! He's off getting drunk, right? He forces a mere child to do all the work! No wonder this little family is becoming so poor!"
Mary waited until Granny was done. "Mother cleans at the inn and she only comes home for a couple hours a day before leaving again. Sometimes she even sleeps at the inn."
"Dear Lord!" Granny picked up her suitcase. "Let's go upstairs so I can put my things away." She marched upstairs, lugging her big suitcase.
Mary stood, frozen in shock and wondering what she was going to tell her father.
"Do you know what we're going to do when I'm finished putting this stuff away?" Granny's voice floated down the stairs from the guest room.
Mary shook her head, forgetting that Granny couldn't see her.
"We're going to go straight to the in and tell your mother she's coming home tonight! Then we're going to go by the tavern and tell your drunken worthless father to come home too. We're going to fix a big supper and we're gonna talk about these problems. I'm going to tell Jed to do something 'bout those sheep, either sell 'em or watch them himself!" There was the sound of drawers slamming and some loud footsteps before granny appeared again, ready to go.
They walked down the dusty path with cold wind blowing in their faces as they moved. Only the wealthy had horses for travel and only the very wealthy had carriages.
After ten minutes they reached the inn, it was the first business you encountered when you followed the path. It attracted more weary travelers because it was the first thing they saw.
Granny marched straight into the inn with poor Mary in tow. "I need to speak to my daughter!" She barked to the man sitting at the front desk in the lobby.
"Who're you? May I ask?" The man said uncertainly. His pale eyes were narrowed with disgust.
"No you may not ask who I am! Get Suzanne out here immediately!"
"Suzanne? Ah yes. She's cleaning one of the vacated rooms."
"Where?!" granny demanded.
The man stepped out from behind the desk. "I can see you're determined ma'am I'm going to go get her now." He hurried away, off to one of the rooms.
Several of the other guests in the lobby were shooting surprised looks at Granny, most old people weren't so demanding.
"You okay Mary?"
Mary nodded. "I'm fine." She muttered.
This answer satisfied granny and she cast her attention back in the direction the man had gone in.
The man appeared with a very flustered Suzanne behind him. Her dress was rumpled and wasn't buttoned correctly. Her blond hair was tangled and she looked guilty.
"Hello Suzie." Granny was disapprovingly.
"Hello Ma." Suzanne whispered.
"Did you clean the room well?" Granny hissed.
The man looked at both faces then quickly made himself scarce.
Mary was confused, why did her grandmother sound so angry about a clean room?
"Why are you here?" Suzanne asked; her eyes cast down.
"I was traveling to the city but now I see where I'm really needed." She reached out with her soft wrinkled hand and encircled Suzanne's slender wrist and then she took Mary's hand. "We're all going home."
~*~
Jed put up a fight about leaving the tavern but when Granny grabbed his ear and dragged him from his seat he finally complied.
They came back to the little house and each took a seat at the beaten, creaky kitchen table.
"So no'wa whart's this all 'bout?" Jed slurred drunkenly.
"It's about this family!" Granny snapped. "I expected to come here and visit for a while and see my girls and instead I find you drunk, Suzanne 'cleaning' at an inn, and poor little Mary out of school watching the herd of sheep all alone! I won't stand for it, ya hear? I'm staying for a month and if I'm satisfied with you all then I'll leave but if I'm not-" She smirked, "I'll stay for another month."
Jed climbed to his feet unsteadily. "No y'er not stay' in wit us! We gots enough of a problem wit little Mary eating everything!"
"You sit your drunken ass back in that chair Jediah!" Granny roared, her blue eyes flashing with anger. "Tomorrow Mary's going to school and you're going to watch the sheep! And you Suzanne! You're going to work at the inn from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon and then you're going to come home and tend to the housework!"
"But Ma-" Suzanne began weakly but a sharp rap at the door interrupted her.
"Get the door Mary." Granny said, never taking her eyes off the sorry looking adults.
Mary herself was all to happy to oblige, she hopped out of her chair and ran to the door. "Yes?" She said politely to the official looking man standing there.
"This is an invitation to the prince Parses ball." He handed her the same invitation that Lillian had gotten. "Every maiden above thirteen is to attend. Good day ma'am." He tipped his hat to her then marched away.
"Thank you!" Mary called after him then shut the door. She walked slowly back into the kitchen and took her seat.
"Who was it?" Granny asked.
"It was a messenger from the king. He gave me an invitation for Prince Parses ball."
"Good!" Granny exclaimed. "He's choosing a bride then eh? You're one of the prettiest girls in these parts, perhaps you'll catch his eye." She thought for a moment. "I'll buy you a new dress, that one looks far to old, why, is that the same dress you wore last year?"
Jed jumped up again, this time he was steadier. "What you mean? Mary ain't gonna go to some fancy ball! Them royals are the problem with our kingdom! They're cause' in the poverty!"
"Jed-" Suzanne started, trying to calm him down.
Jed lurched at her and slapped her across the face. "Get out' er my face, you disgust me!"
"Jediah you're an idiot! Go sleep off you're drunkenness and we'll talk in the morning, you'll either watch the sheep or leave this poor family!"
The anger faded from his face as his mind registered what Granny had said about him leaving. "Okay then, I'm a mite tired anyhow." He stumbled away, up the stairs and to his room.
I'm ashamed of you Suzanne! You let that man treat you like that? I'm horrified! And you think I don't know what you do at that inn! Cleaning my foot, how much do those men pay you? Huh?" She said in a furious voice. "Mary is nearly sixteen and she's going to go to that ball so she can catch herself a husband."
"Yes ma." Suzanne whispered in defeat. "I'm going to go get some potatoes from the cellar for dinner."
"Now that's how a family is taken care of." Granny said proudly to Mary.
~*~+~*~
"Honestly that woman is mad." Parses hissed to his brother Eric. "She's forcing me to have this foolish party in the hopes that I'll fall in love with some meek little rich girl whose kind and beautiful. Mother disgusts me."
"She almost made me do it too except I fell in love." He sighed happily. "Ariel is everything a guy could hope for."
Parses rolled his eyes. "To bad a mermaid didn't rescue me from drowning."
"Yeah I know." Eric missed his sarcasm.
They were lounging in the royal lounging room with a bowl of fruit in front of them.
"I don't want some pathetic meek little thing, I want someone who actually has intelligence and wit. Can you believe that stupid little wench mother arranged for me to meet the other day? She didn't even hint, she told me how our marriage would be." Parses said in disgust.
Eric frowned in thought, he remembered the lovely yet stupid girl from yesterday.
Parses put a simpering smile on and batted his eyelashes. "Oh Parses! We're going to be sooo happy together! Since you're the youngest you won't be king so that leaves us free to have seven children, all girls! We'll live in a big house overlooking the ocean and you'll work as a banker because that's what my father does!"
"She wasn't that bad was she?" Eric asked suspiciously. "Every girl mother's introduced you to, you turn them down. I think you're turning them all down just to spite mother."
Parses sulked. "No, that's not true."
"Ok then." Eric muttered; he glanced at his brother searchingly. "A word of advice little brother? If you meet a girl that you truly like at the ball, don't turn them down out of stubbornness."
~*~
Lillian sat at the dinner table picking at her food and occasionally shooting glares at her mother, who was sitting across from her.
"Don't you dare look at me with such contempt again Lillian Ann Hood. I told you that we couldn't afford a new dress, especially a red silk one with velvet trim. I also told you that we couldn't afford to rent a carriage either. You also have no right to ask your grandmother for her pearls, you're not old enough."
Lillian put down her fork and scowled at her mother. "I want to go to that ball in style, I must go! Don't you understand how important it will be?"
Now Martha's interest was piqued. "What ever do you mean darling?" She asked curiously. "You can go, but you'll have to wear your light blue dress with the lace collar and you'll wear your beaded necklace with it. I'm not going to stop you from going." She assured her daughter to appease her.
"No! If I wear that then I'll look like a country girl!"
"You ARE a country girl though."
"If I wear that then he won't pick me, he'll pick the girl with red hair and the green silk dress!" Lillian said desperately.
"Lily dear, are you ill? You're speaking nonsense. How would you know something like that? You act as if you've been to this ball before." Martha was looking at her daughter with worry now.
"You won't believe me." Lillian said in a low voice.
"Try me." Her mother insisted.
"When I was nine, remember when grandmamma fell ill? You sent me to her house with a basket of food for her. I wore my red cape and hood. As I was walking a big wolf followed me."
"Yes, I remember all that." Martha said impatiently. "It nearly gave me a heart attack to see some woodcutter carrying you to the house. You were unconscious for two days."
"Yes, well anyhow, the wolf swallowed Grandmamma and I. The woodcutter killed the wolf and cut open his stomach. Grandmamma was fine but I had passed out, and as I slept, I dreamed." Lillian explained slowly.
"Go on."
"I dreamed that I was older, and I had lost my baby fat. I was wearing a beautiful red dress with a pearl necklace. Mary was beside me and she wore a pretty dress too but not as expensive. We both drew the attention of many suitors but the red caught Prince Parses eye and he asked me to dance. We danced all night and he asked for my hand in marriage." She paused, thinking hard. "The prince and the ballroom faded and a woman in a white dress told me to follow the dream and all would be well. She said: 'Don't stray from the dream and your wishes shall be fulfilled.'"
"How interesting.." Martha whispered, she stared hard at her daughter. "Is that the truth?"
Lillian was highly affronted. "Of course!" She snapped. "I would not lie about this."
"Mary was with you though?" Her eyebrows rose.
Lillian nodded.
"Ha! It cannot be the future then because Mary said herself she will not be allowed to attend!" Martha said triumphantly.
At that very moment there was three raps on the door. It continued, now a pounding.
"Let me in! It's Mary!" An excited voice squealed.
Lillian ran to the door and pulled the bolt away.
Mary grinned. "Granny has come! She put my father in his place and said I was to go to the ball!" she suddenly noticed the food on the table and Martha's shocked expression. "Oh dear, I apologize. I did not mean to interrupt your meal." She said meekly.
"No child, it's not that." Martha turned her attention to Lillian. "We'll find your dress and you may go tomorrow to ask mother for her pearls. The ball isn't for another week so there's still time." She said, her eyes still wide with surprise.
"I told you mother." Lillian said proudly.
"What happened?" Mary asked in confusion, looking back and forth at each face.
*~*
"To grandmother's house we go! Over the river and through the woods!" Lillian sang with Mary as they walked to her grandmother's.
School had just let out and they were still carrying their slates.
"To Grandmother's house we-"
"Shhh!" Lillian hissed suddenly, she tilted her head, listening for voices. "Come on, I hear people over there."
They walked together toward the little stream that many people liked to picnic on.
"It's a bit cold for picnics though." Lillian said with a sly grin.
Three people were standing right beside the stream arguing. One was George Porgy; another was George's fiancée, Sara Muffet, the last was Jeremy, one of the shoe kids.
Lillian snatched Mary's hand and they his together behind a particularly large tree and listened.
"I can't believe you're leaving me for this buffoon!" George gestured at Jeremy.
"You're the buffoon George! All you do is cook, a baker's son!" She scoffed. "I know you like food better than me. You don't even pay attention to what I say! Jeremy listens and appreciates me! I would've stayed with you George but yesterday I saw you looking at that stupid Madera! Don't even try to deny it!"
"I love her." Jeremy hissed.
"You're just a pretty boy, that's all!" George tried to insult him. "You're poorer than me too. I know your old mother that lives in a shoe! She abused you all when you were little and she was like a door knob with the men in town, everybody gets a turn!" He snorted at the angry red color of Jeremy's face. "The stork was at your house 24/7 delivering babies."
Jeremy shook off Sara's restraining hand and punched George in the face. "We're going to elope and never come back to this miserable town. Bye." He snatched Sara's hand and they walked away, in the opposite direction of Lillian and Mary's tree.
George stumbled then recovered. "Well fine! Go off with your pauper then! I'm not going to take you back!"
They didn't even turn around, disappearing into the woods.
Lillian smirked and stepped out from behind the trees. Mary followed her reluctantly.
"Georgie Porgy, pudding and pies, kisses the girls and makes them cry." Lillian snickered. "And when the boys come out to play, Gorgie Porgy runs away!"
George glared at her. "You eavesdropped. A wench you are." He looked behind her and saw Mary. "Aw, you brought a pretty little friend."
"Leave her alone!" Lillian snapped. "I've been meaning to ask you something. Are you going to go to the Prince's ball?"
George frowned in confusion. "Yes." He said slowly. "Why?"
"You're parents are wealthy enough to hire a carriage."
".Yes." He said even more slowly.
"Mary and I are to ride with you then." Lillian said as if it were settled.
"What?! No! You're not riding with me! I detest you."
"You're forgetting something George."
"What?"
"Mary and I saw your little break up with Muffet. It was really cute, but what are you going to tell everyone? Sara broke away from you for a pauper? Jeremy Shoe? The whore's son?" She giggled. "I would adore seeing the town's face."
"You hush your mouth!" George cried out.
Mary shook Lillian's shoulder gently. "Let's go."
"No." Lillian shook her off. "This is important." She shifted her gaze to George. "You heard what he said, they're not coming back, and so no one would ever find out. Unless-" She smiled, "I were to tell some people.."
"Fine. You can come. Be at my house by seven."
"No George, why would you make ladies walk to your house? You can pick us up at seven fifteen." Lillian grabbed Mary's hand and propelled her away before George could reply.