Chapter 4 Dawn
Sarah awoke slowly, feeling drained of all energy as though she'd just run a race. "Toby!" She exclaimed and flew from her bed to his crib in her father and stepmother's room. She looked into the crib to find no sign of Toby. Her heart began to pound in her chest.
Hurrying downstairs, she stopped in her tracks once she noticed Toby in his highchair being fed breakfast. "Oh Toby! I love you SO much!" She bent and hugged him tightly before sitting down in the chair nearest him.
Her stepmother turned and gave Sarah a puzzled, but frustrated look. "Really Sarah, if you're trying to get out of being punished for your behavior last night, it's not going to work."
"But I-" Sarah began, eyes hurt and wide.
"No buts Young Lady. I've had enough of your attitude towards me and your father and our going out. I encourage you to go out with your friends, to go on dates and to do the things you should do at your age. I have, however absolutely had it with your treatment of me. I don't want to hear another word about how your beloved mother is so much better than I. I'm trying my hardest but you make it near impossible. My mother said you'd be trouble, but I told her all you needed was time. Well my dear it has been three years, and you've yet to mend your ways. I'm through. If you cannot start treating me better, you won't be welcome under my roof any longer."
Sarah's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she took this all in. "You had no right. We were happy here without you coming into our lives. You nit and pick about everything. Everything I do is wrong. You're never happy. I'm sick of _your_ attitude-"
"Sarah Williams!" Her father scolded as he entered the kitchen just in time to hear Sarah laying into her stepmother. "You apologize to your stepmother this instant, and then you're grounded to your room for the rest of this weekend!"
Sarah had the grace and humility enough to bow her head in shame. She hadn't meant to fly off the handle necessarily, but her stepmother _still_ wasn't grateful for everything Sarah had done for them. She was fed up. Parents should have to earn respect. We, as kids, shouldn't have to earn theirs.
Sarah grabbed Lancelot and hugged him to her as she collapsed upon her bed and shed every single one of her tears into the pillow beneath her head. It's so unfair! It's so unfair!!"
Thus began the routine of the next several weeks. Sarah and her stepmother would argue and it usually ended up with Sarah being grounded for a weekend. Slowly however, did Sarah start to earn her stepmother's respect and vice versa. Gradually, as more time passed they established a healthier pattern of talking amicably and respecting each other's space. Sarah laid down the law when it came to her room. Sure, she'd given Lancelot to Toby for his first birthday, but she'd discussed things with her father and stepmother and they'd agreed Sarah's room was to be off-limits. The deal was, her stepmother wouldn't touch Sarah's things and Sarah wouldn't through it in her face that she was the stepmother and not the mother. Sarah moved on in school, being happier at home had her doing better in school and spending less and less time daydreaming until she daydreamed only in spare moments before drifting to sleep at night. Sarah was growing up. By the time Sarah reached eighteen, graduation from high school was upon her and she'd yet to tell her friends or her parents-as she now referred to them, including her stepmother into their family circle-of her dreams to go to Julliard. Upon an anonymous request-most certainly from the drama teacher-a representative had been to the school a short time ago. Sarah had crossed her fingers and prayed they'd still been there the night Sarah had performed in her role as Duchess of York in the play Richard III. Sitting at lunch the day after the final performance, she was on cloud nine. Sitting at lunch with her friends, some co-actors in the play, nothing could've been better until her best friend, Diane came up all excited and aglow with "good news" The "good news" was that she'd just been accepted to Boston College where her boyfriend was attending. Sarah's face fell and she lost the giddy feeling she'd been feeling moments before. After that, she just couldn't wait until school was out for the day. Sarah walked home, the sky was as dark and gloomy as her mood. Fitting. She thought as she looked up with a frown. Her steps slow, she still made it home sooner than she'd have liked. She walked into the house and blinked because the house was in complete darkness and she swore she could've heard a pin drop in the next room, it was so quite. Abnormally quiet. Sarah walked through the hall and into the kitchen for a snack. She flipped on the light mid-stride when she was surprised by the sudden yell of "CONGRADULATIONS!" Jumping, Sarah looked around her in surprise. Her friends and her family were positioned behind the kitchen table smiling at her, and Sarah took in the cake in the center of the table. "What's going on?" Sarah asked, bewildered. She knew this couldn't be her graduation party that was still a month and a half away-she was keeping count. "Congratulations Sarah, you've made us very proud!" Her stepmother hugged her first, followed by her father. "What..? I thought my graduation party wasn't until June?" Toby came up to Sarah, carrying Lancelot by one foot, and threw his arms around her legs. "Sarah go lee yard!" Toby shouted, excited although he wasn't at all certain why there was a party for Sarah's going out into the yard. He never got a party thrown when he was going out into the yard. Maybe I should discuss this with mommy. Toby decided. Sarah hugged Toby back in shock and then was embraced by her father again, who squeeze tightly. "Julliard? Am I dreaming?" Sarah said as she could barely get her arms to move to hug her father back. Her father beamed down at her. "Yes, Sarah, you've made it into Julliard! Why didn't you tell us sooner you wanted to attend there?" Sarah couldn't even begin to tell her father, she was still speechless. "No matter. All that matters now is that you're going and I have faith in you that you'll succeed in whatever you plan to do!" Her father hugged her once more before making way for her friends who crowded in quickly around her. For Sarah, the next few months passed by in a blur, as well as did summer as she prepared to be off for Julliard in the fall. Out of the blue there was a phone call one afternoon from her mother. "I hear congratulations is in order, sweetie. I can't believe you made it into Julliard! Well, honey, what I mean is I knew you had my talent in your blood, but I didn't dream you'd ever stick with it. I figured you'd grow out of this stage. Anyway, sweetie. I don't have much time, my plane leave in about 3 hours and Nicky Darling here, is getting anxious to be on our way. I'm filming in Europe for fourteen months! So, anyway, sweetie, how would you like to sublet my apartment?! It's big and roomy, there's the bow window with the seat out in front. It makes for a cozy little corner as I do remember how you loved to daydream. Then there's the bath tub with the jets just like at a spa.oh I know you'll just love it! It's quiet and roomy and no one will disturb you as you rehearse for your auditions, cuz I know you'll want to start pursuing those as soon as possible. Anyway, gotta run sweetie. I think you'll be happy there. Yes? You'll go. Okay, great! I'll leave the key for you under the rock. Sorry I can't see you in person and get you ready for your first day at Julliard, but show biz is show biz sweetie. Kisses! Bye!" Sarah hung up with her mother and shook her head. Oh how she hoped she wouldn't be this.flaky when she became famous and hit it big. Sarah froze. Since when had she considered her mother flaky? She frowned deep in thought. Must've been when it went on months and months before she'd get back in touch with me.. Sarah admitted. Then she shrugged. She'd done okay with her father and stepmother and Toby. She hadn't really missed her mom much when it came right down to it. But she knew she couldn't give up the chance to stay in the apartment for as long as she could. Hurrying downstairs she went to spend the day with Toby. She'd miss him when she was away at school, but hopefully she could convince her parents to let him visit.
Sarah walked only the sidewalk briskly as she headed for her audition. She didn't know why Nicole down in the mail room where they both worked thought she ought to do this, but Sarah found herself doing it anyway. There she was a freshman at Julliard and she let herself be persuaded by Nicole to go and audition for a theatre group. Honestly, what have I got to loose? Sarah thought, as she let herself smile and felt a spring in her step and she continued on to the building just down the street. Just her luck, she got to read for the part of Duchess of York in Richard the Third. Smiling broadly, Sarah went back over her opening line without even opening the play book. I know can do this! I just know it! After auditioning, Sarah was half relieved and half disappointed when she found out that there would be no call back that if your name wasn't on the list by the end of today, that was it. As Sarah walked outside she had the feeling of eyes upon her. Turning around she caught sight of a woman glaring daggers at her back. The woman straightened abruptly when she noticed Sarah watching her, and spinning on her heel, fled back into the shadows of the building. "That was weird." Nicole came up, surprising Sarah. "I swear that woman had a look that could freeze a man in his place, let alone you or me. What do you suppose her problem is?" Sarah hooked her arm through Nicole's and started down the street for the apartment they now shared together. "I have no idea, but I'm not going to worry about. Today was a great day, even if I don't get the part." Nicole eyed Sarah skeptically. "Okay, okay, if I tell myself that enough times, I'll start to believe it. I think. I hope." Sarah trailed off and then laughed. "Ah, well. At least it's over with. I'm still all nerves when it comes to being up on stage. I never really feel calm up there until it's the middle of the play and I'm so focused on my lines I can't even think about the audience." Nicole laughed. "I wish I could tell you I know what you mean, but as you know, we 'little people' just don't." Sarah laughed and protested with a: "hey!" Then she pushed Nicole playfully, then ran up the front steps to the apartment building. "Come on, it's getting cold. I want a long hot bath and a huge cup of hot chocolate." Nicole immediately bounded up the front stairs and started racing down the hallway. "Race you for that tub first!" She yelled as she zoomed by Sarah and headed up the stairs to their floor. "Not if I have anything to say about it!" Sarah challenged back as she quickly gave pursuit.
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Sarah glowed as she clutched the small, but lovely bouquet in her hands as she took her curtain calls with the rest of the cast. She'd made it. Oh, it wasn't the biggest part in the biggest play, and it certainly wasn't Hollywood, but she'd made it just the same. And she was happy. As happy that is, as she could be until the nightmares started.
( Author's Note: I know this may be a little short, but I'm allowing for a dramatic pause. Gotta build it up, you know? *giggles, then sobers* Please don't hate me..*laugh* anyway! I hope you're still enjoying this. I swear, no sooner do I entitle each chapter do the characters come to life and take it over. I start to go one way with the story and the next thing I know, the story is headed in a new, but lovely direction. I love it! I love it! I love it! *grins happily* I thought I'd be suffering from writer's block especially after I said I'd update by the end of this week and I'm just flabbergasted and dumbfounded and happy that it's worked out better than I'd ever imagine. I just love it when one's writer's block goes away. The stories just burst from within like a dam being broken from an explosive force. Anyways! Like always ANY and ALL reviews are appreciated, looked forward to, motivating and esteem boosting. Thanks all!! Xi P.S. I guess I should add that, the disclaimer at the beginning of the story still stands. All the original characters-you know who they are-are property of the gang who created this lovely world in the first place, I've only created half a dozen characters so far, and I definitely claim them, as little time spent in the story as they may spend. )
Sarah awoke slowly, feeling drained of all energy as though she'd just run a race. "Toby!" She exclaimed and flew from her bed to his crib in her father and stepmother's room. She looked into the crib to find no sign of Toby. Her heart began to pound in her chest.
Hurrying downstairs, she stopped in her tracks once she noticed Toby in his highchair being fed breakfast. "Oh Toby! I love you SO much!" She bent and hugged him tightly before sitting down in the chair nearest him.
Her stepmother turned and gave Sarah a puzzled, but frustrated look. "Really Sarah, if you're trying to get out of being punished for your behavior last night, it's not going to work."
"But I-" Sarah began, eyes hurt and wide.
"No buts Young Lady. I've had enough of your attitude towards me and your father and our going out. I encourage you to go out with your friends, to go on dates and to do the things you should do at your age. I have, however absolutely had it with your treatment of me. I don't want to hear another word about how your beloved mother is so much better than I. I'm trying my hardest but you make it near impossible. My mother said you'd be trouble, but I told her all you needed was time. Well my dear it has been three years, and you've yet to mend your ways. I'm through. If you cannot start treating me better, you won't be welcome under my roof any longer."
Sarah's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she took this all in. "You had no right. We were happy here without you coming into our lives. You nit and pick about everything. Everything I do is wrong. You're never happy. I'm sick of _your_ attitude-"
"Sarah Williams!" Her father scolded as he entered the kitchen just in time to hear Sarah laying into her stepmother. "You apologize to your stepmother this instant, and then you're grounded to your room for the rest of this weekend!"
Sarah had the grace and humility enough to bow her head in shame. She hadn't meant to fly off the handle necessarily, but her stepmother _still_ wasn't grateful for everything Sarah had done for them. She was fed up. Parents should have to earn respect. We, as kids, shouldn't have to earn theirs.
Sarah grabbed Lancelot and hugged him to her as she collapsed upon her bed and shed every single one of her tears into the pillow beneath her head. It's so unfair! It's so unfair!!"
Thus began the routine of the next several weeks. Sarah and her stepmother would argue and it usually ended up with Sarah being grounded for a weekend. Slowly however, did Sarah start to earn her stepmother's respect and vice versa. Gradually, as more time passed they established a healthier pattern of talking amicably and respecting each other's space. Sarah laid down the law when it came to her room. Sure, she'd given Lancelot to Toby for his first birthday, but she'd discussed things with her father and stepmother and they'd agreed Sarah's room was to be off-limits. The deal was, her stepmother wouldn't touch Sarah's things and Sarah wouldn't through it in her face that she was the stepmother and not the mother. Sarah moved on in school, being happier at home had her doing better in school and spending less and less time daydreaming until she daydreamed only in spare moments before drifting to sleep at night. Sarah was growing up. By the time Sarah reached eighteen, graduation from high school was upon her and she'd yet to tell her friends or her parents-as she now referred to them, including her stepmother into their family circle-of her dreams to go to Julliard. Upon an anonymous request-most certainly from the drama teacher-a representative had been to the school a short time ago. Sarah had crossed her fingers and prayed they'd still been there the night Sarah had performed in her role as Duchess of York in the play Richard III. Sitting at lunch the day after the final performance, she was on cloud nine. Sitting at lunch with her friends, some co-actors in the play, nothing could've been better until her best friend, Diane came up all excited and aglow with "good news" The "good news" was that she'd just been accepted to Boston College where her boyfriend was attending. Sarah's face fell and she lost the giddy feeling she'd been feeling moments before. After that, she just couldn't wait until school was out for the day. Sarah walked home, the sky was as dark and gloomy as her mood. Fitting. She thought as she looked up with a frown. Her steps slow, she still made it home sooner than she'd have liked. She walked into the house and blinked because the house was in complete darkness and she swore she could've heard a pin drop in the next room, it was so quite. Abnormally quiet. Sarah walked through the hall and into the kitchen for a snack. She flipped on the light mid-stride when she was surprised by the sudden yell of "CONGRADULATIONS!" Jumping, Sarah looked around her in surprise. Her friends and her family were positioned behind the kitchen table smiling at her, and Sarah took in the cake in the center of the table. "What's going on?" Sarah asked, bewildered. She knew this couldn't be her graduation party that was still a month and a half away-she was keeping count. "Congratulations Sarah, you've made us very proud!" Her stepmother hugged her first, followed by her father. "What..? I thought my graduation party wasn't until June?" Toby came up to Sarah, carrying Lancelot by one foot, and threw his arms around her legs. "Sarah go lee yard!" Toby shouted, excited although he wasn't at all certain why there was a party for Sarah's going out into the yard. He never got a party thrown when he was going out into the yard. Maybe I should discuss this with mommy. Toby decided. Sarah hugged Toby back in shock and then was embraced by her father again, who squeeze tightly. "Julliard? Am I dreaming?" Sarah said as she could barely get her arms to move to hug her father back. Her father beamed down at her. "Yes, Sarah, you've made it into Julliard! Why didn't you tell us sooner you wanted to attend there?" Sarah couldn't even begin to tell her father, she was still speechless. "No matter. All that matters now is that you're going and I have faith in you that you'll succeed in whatever you plan to do!" Her father hugged her once more before making way for her friends who crowded in quickly around her. For Sarah, the next few months passed by in a blur, as well as did summer as she prepared to be off for Julliard in the fall. Out of the blue there was a phone call one afternoon from her mother. "I hear congratulations is in order, sweetie. I can't believe you made it into Julliard! Well, honey, what I mean is I knew you had my talent in your blood, but I didn't dream you'd ever stick with it. I figured you'd grow out of this stage. Anyway, sweetie. I don't have much time, my plane leave in about 3 hours and Nicky Darling here, is getting anxious to be on our way. I'm filming in Europe for fourteen months! So, anyway, sweetie, how would you like to sublet my apartment?! It's big and roomy, there's the bow window with the seat out in front. It makes for a cozy little corner as I do remember how you loved to daydream. Then there's the bath tub with the jets just like at a spa.oh I know you'll just love it! It's quiet and roomy and no one will disturb you as you rehearse for your auditions, cuz I know you'll want to start pursuing those as soon as possible. Anyway, gotta run sweetie. I think you'll be happy there. Yes? You'll go. Okay, great! I'll leave the key for you under the rock. Sorry I can't see you in person and get you ready for your first day at Julliard, but show biz is show biz sweetie. Kisses! Bye!" Sarah hung up with her mother and shook her head. Oh how she hoped she wouldn't be this.flaky when she became famous and hit it big. Sarah froze. Since when had she considered her mother flaky? She frowned deep in thought. Must've been when it went on months and months before she'd get back in touch with me.. Sarah admitted. Then she shrugged. She'd done okay with her father and stepmother and Toby. She hadn't really missed her mom much when it came right down to it. But she knew she couldn't give up the chance to stay in the apartment for as long as she could. Hurrying downstairs she went to spend the day with Toby. She'd miss him when she was away at school, but hopefully she could convince her parents to let him visit.
Sarah walked only the sidewalk briskly as she headed for her audition. She didn't know why Nicole down in the mail room where they both worked thought she ought to do this, but Sarah found herself doing it anyway. There she was a freshman at Julliard and she let herself be persuaded by Nicole to go and audition for a theatre group. Honestly, what have I got to loose? Sarah thought, as she let herself smile and felt a spring in her step and she continued on to the building just down the street. Just her luck, she got to read for the part of Duchess of York in Richard the Third. Smiling broadly, Sarah went back over her opening line without even opening the play book. I know can do this! I just know it! After auditioning, Sarah was half relieved and half disappointed when she found out that there would be no call back that if your name wasn't on the list by the end of today, that was it. As Sarah walked outside she had the feeling of eyes upon her. Turning around she caught sight of a woman glaring daggers at her back. The woman straightened abruptly when she noticed Sarah watching her, and spinning on her heel, fled back into the shadows of the building. "That was weird." Nicole came up, surprising Sarah. "I swear that woman had a look that could freeze a man in his place, let alone you or me. What do you suppose her problem is?" Sarah hooked her arm through Nicole's and started down the street for the apartment they now shared together. "I have no idea, but I'm not going to worry about. Today was a great day, even if I don't get the part." Nicole eyed Sarah skeptically. "Okay, okay, if I tell myself that enough times, I'll start to believe it. I think. I hope." Sarah trailed off and then laughed. "Ah, well. At least it's over with. I'm still all nerves when it comes to being up on stage. I never really feel calm up there until it's the middle of the play and I'm so focused on my lines I can't even think about the audience." Nicole laughed. "I wish I could tell you I know what you mean, but as you know, we 'little people' just don't." Sarah laughed and protested with a: "hey!" Then she pushed Nicole playfully, then ran up the front steps to the apartment building. "Come on, it's getting cold. I want a long hot bath and a huge cup of hot chocolate." Nicole immediately bounded up the front stairs and started racing down the hallway. "Race you for that tub first!" She yelled as she zoomed by Sarah and headed up the stairs to their floor. "Not if I have anything to say about it!" Sarah challenged back as she quickly gave pursuit.
****************************
Sarah glowed as she clutched the small, but lovely bouquet in her hands as she took her curtain calls with the rest of the cast. She'd made it. Oh, it wasn't the biggest part in the biggest play, and it certainly wasn't Hollywood, but she'd made it just the same. And she was happy. As happy that is, as she could be until the nightmares started.
( Author's Note: I know this may be a little short, but I'm allowing for a dramatic pause. Gotta build it up, you know? *giggles, then sobers* Please don't hate me..*laugh* anyway! I hope you're still enjoying this. I swear, no sooner do I entitle each chapter do the characters come to life and take it over. I start to go one way with the story and the next thing I know, the story is headed in a new, but lovely direction. I love it! I love it! I love it! *grins happily* I thought I'd be suffering from writer's block especially after I said I'd update by the end of this week and I'm just flabbergasted and dumbfounded and happy that it's worked out better than I'd ever imagine. I just love it when one's writer's block goes away. The stories just burst from within like a dam being broken from an explosive force. Anyways! Like always ANY and ALL reviews are appreciated, looked forward to, motivating and esteem boosting. Thanks all!! Xi P.S. I guess I should add that, the disclaimer at the beginning of the story still stands. All the original characters-you know who they are-are property of the gang who created this lovely world in the first place, I've only created half a dozen characters so far, and I definitely claim them, as little time spent in the story as they may spend. )