11. Of Mice and Maids
The next morning the men had a huge load of work to do, and they made it very clear that they didn't want me around.
Usually I would find this insulting and find some way of getting them back, but I let it go. This was a good opportunity for me to visit Madeline anyway.
I slipped out of the house and headed to town. I entered a dress shop and asked the person at the desk where her street was.
I didn't know where it was so finally the man wrote out directions step by step how to get there. I'm sure if I came dressed like my normal street rat self, he wouldn't have even let me into his store.
When I reached Madeline's house, I was awed at how big and grand it looked. There must have been at least seven bedrooms in that thing. When I met Madeline I never would have suspected she was THAT rich.
I timidly walked up to the door and wrung the bell. A maid opened the door and peeked out.
"May I help you ma'am?"
"Does Madeline Straus live here?" I asked.
"She does ma'am."
"Good, please tell her that Loraine Farthing is here."
The maid looked slightly ticked about being bossed by me, and if I were in her position I would too. I was led into the entrance way to wait. A few moments later, Madeline came sweeping down a giant staircase.
"Loraine, darling! I'm so glad you came!"
Madeline startled me by throwing her arms around me; I was still getting used to the whole hugging thing.
"Anna, take Mrs. Farthings coat and gloves."
I handed the maid my things and Madeline and I headed upstairs to talk in her room. I always thought that rich people talked in a parlor but I guess I was wrong, or Madeline was just different.
"So Loraine, how are you and your husband enjoying Washington?"
"Its nice. We haven't seen much yet. We've spent most of our time getting a house so far."
"I'd like to see your house. May I see it some time?" Madeline asked.
"Yes Maddy, you can see it some time." I replied, feeling shaken by her openness.
"Maddy? Oh how wonderful! I've never been called anything but Madeline!"
"You don't mind me calling you that do you?" I asked. Back when I was young, Anders and I played with a girl called Maddy Garrison. I called Madeline accidentally, and I was worried that she would be insulted.
"I love that. You may call me it whenever you wish. But what should I call you?"
I thought over this for a moment. Should I tell her to remain calling me Loraine? I didn't want to make up any new names.
"Well my husband sometimes calls me Loki."
"Loki? What an interesting name. May I call you Loki as well?"
"Of course, I would have it no other way."
The remainder of my visit was the same way, all chitty chatty and rich girl blabber, but strangely I was entertained by it.
I managed not to give Madeline my address because I knew if I did she would just show up out of the blue, Jim would hate that. So I left giving her the promise to inviter her over soon.
I told her I had to check with Jim first because he does a lot of his business at home and I wouldn't want to distract him. Quite honestly, the only thing that would ever distract Jim would be a couple of dollars and a lady with a fine figure.
When I got home, it was almost dinnertime. The men were in a little office room working things out. I made sandwiches and carried them upstairs.
I didn't bother too knock, but walked right in. The men looked startled, but when they saw it was me they calmed down.
"What do you want?" asked Jim.
"I cames up cause I'm almost certain ya fellers ain't had a thing ta eat since I left dis morning." I replied, squeezing Jim on the nose.
Both men were silent as if confused. Jim leaned closer to Drake.
"Did we eat anything?"
Drake gave Jim a puzzled look. Neither of them could remember eating anything.
"Alright, don't over woik yoah brain. Heah's dinnah."
I set the plate of sandwiches on the table and walked out of the room. They were too busy for me right now.
Around 10 O'clock that night, Jim and Drake immerged from the room. I was in my bed 'trying' to read one of the books that was on the shelf, but as I said long before, I am not the strongest reader.
I heard my door open, and in the corner of my eye I saw Jim walk in.
He knelt down beside my bed and touched my leg.
"That better be a rat," I said quickly.
Jim let out a sigh and lay his head on my lap.
"Hello my munchkin."
"Get lost."
"Ooooo some one is grumpy," cooed Jim.
"No, I just don't like you in my bedroom."
Jim grinned and climbed up on my bed. "Jiiiiiim," I called, giving him a warning glance.
Jim continued to move towards me so I reached to my right and grabbed hold of my pitcher of water. Jim saw my movement and quickly leapt off the bed and raced out of my room.
I sighed and set down my book; Jim worried me. I wasn't sure if he was joking, or he would actually try something on me.
I liked to guess he was joking. After all, he had so many girls with money to flirt with, I simply wasn't worth it.
"Can I invite Madeline over for the afternoon?" I asked the next morning.
"No." Jim replied, sipping his coffee.
"How about tomorrow then?"
"No."
"The day after?"
"No."
"Jim!"
"What?"
I jumped up from my seat and kicked Jim, before storming out of the room. I turned around at the last minute to see Drake looking amused, and Jim completely clueless.
Next time I saw Drake, I pulled him aside out of Jim's hearing, and asked him if I could have Madeline over. I think it humored him that I did this, so he agreed.
I found myself scurrying down the cold streets to Madeline's house. I had gotten permission to have her over, but Drake wasn't about to deliver any invitations for me.
"Loki!" Madeline came soaring down her stairs once again to great me. " What brings you here on such a cold day?"
" I cam to ask you over to my place tomorrow afternoon."
"I'd love to come, but why didn't you send one of your servants over with the message?"
I began to feel embarrassed out how poor we were compared to Madeline, but then I realized I was better off then I had ever been in my entire life. This made me really angry.
How dare Madeline make me feel so lowly?
"Not every one is as rich as you Madeline. Some people can only afford one servant." I replied harshly. Madeline looked as though she had been slapped in the face, and tears began to roll down her pale cheeks.
"Don't cry because your rich," I said, reaching out to wipe away some of her tears. Madeline jerked quickly away from me.
"You are so mean, Loraine Farthing! Like I'd ever come to your house!" Madeline burst into violent tears, and ran back upstairs.
I told one of the maids my address, so she could pass it on to Madeline. There was also the message that if she had a change of heart, she was still welcome to come.
It may have been cold outside, but I was steaming. What I said to Madeline may have been mean, but I wasn't sorry. I had meant every word of what I said.
If you ask me, she was being very immature about it all, crying over a few harsh words. No one could survive in New York if they acted like that.
As my thoughts turned on New York, I forgot about Madeline until that evening.
Jim asked me at dinnertime where I had gone that day. When I told him that I had gone to invite Maddy over for the next afternoon, he wasn't so please with that.
We had a huge fight about it but Jim stormed out. He came back a few hours later, happy, and with a few extra dollars jingling in his pocket.
I felt almost sorry for the girl. She would have to skip a few meals tomorrow thanks to Jim. But as I said, I almost felt sorry for her.
I waited nervously the next day until 1:00; by that time I was convinced that I would never again see my first friend ever again. I tried to convince myself that I didn't need such an emotional rich girl as a friend.
Drake obviously saw my distress, because he disappeared for a time, and arrived back holding a small paper bag.
He sat down next to me, and held it out bashfully.
"What's in it?" I asked.
"Just look." He mumbled.
I took the bag and reached in. When I pulled out my hand, I was holding a soft pink frosted cupcake.
"Cupcake!" I exclaimed.
Jim had been walking through the room looked over at me. "I know I am, but what are you?" he teased. I rolled my eyes, and Jim wandered out of the room again.
"Cupcakes are my favorite. How did you know?"
"I didn't," Drake mumbled, blushing slightly.
I laughed and took a bite. I then noticed that Drake was looking at my cake, his mouth probably watering. I really didn't want to share, but Drake had gone out of my way to cheer me up.
I hastily broke my cupcake in half and passed one side to him. He didn't object, and took the half from me and began to eat it.
There was knock on the door, and we heard Jim go and answer the door. A few second later, Jim ushered a nervous looking Madeline into the room.
"Maddy!" I jumped off my chair. I probably would have run up to her, but I choked on a cake crumb and began coughing.
Drake stood up and began smacking me on the back. Madeline rushed past me and brought me a cup of water from the table.
"Thanks Drake," I gasped, when I was through with my coughing fit. He gave me a friendly squeeze on the shoulder and exited the room.
"You and your servant seem close. My servants would never handle me that way." Comment Madeline, trying to break the silence between us.
"Yes well Drake is more friend than he is servant." I replied, looking down at my fingers. There wasn't anything wrong with them, but I couldn't meet Madeline's eyes.
" I'm sorry for being rude to you Loki." Whispered Madeline.
"That's ok. Every thing I said to you I meant, but I'm sorry it hoit your feelings." I cringed when I realized that I had said hoit instead of hurt, and hoped that Madeline wouldn't notice my mistake.
She obviously didn't notice because she continued talking.
"So can I see your house?" she asked excitedly.
"My dear, what an un-lady like question!" I exclaimed in mock horror.
"My dear, we are both far from being the perfect ladies," Madeline joked back.
I laughed and grabbed hold of her hand, leading her into the next room. I showed her the whole house, including my room, which I told her was my 'dressing room'.
If she found out that I didn't share a room with Jim she would grow suspicious. Lastly, I took her down to the cellar. I thought it would be interesting to see her reaction.
We went down into the dank dark room, with just a candle.
"Are there any spiders down here?" she asked nervously.
"A few, but probably more mice than anything. Those little squeakers are practically wild, scurrying around and nibbling at your toes," I told her casually.
I could see by the glint in her eye that I had made her nervous, and for my next actions I couldn't resist.
"Look over there!" I pointed to a corner, but before Madeline could turn her head, I blew out the candle and made squeaking noises.
Madeline screamed and scrambled as quickly as she could out of the cellar. The men had heard her scream and came running to our aid.
"What's the matter?" asked Jim.
" There was a pack of rats down there!" exclaimed Madeline.
I stood behind her, biting me lip, trying not to laugh. Jim saw me, acknowledging my crime.
"I am frightfully sorry. It was awful of Loki to take you down there." Said Jim, pretending that he didn't know of my trick.
Madeline was shaking slightly, and Drake put a soothing hand on her arm. She calmed down soon enough, and I led her up to my room, to calm her nerves and put her mind to rest.
... yay! I finally got another chapter done. I don't know how long it was since i updated. It was probably less than a week, but it seems like forever though.
Shouts Outs
Koodles4you: Save your money for the hit man. I'm sure you can find better uses for him(or her). So far, i really like Jim and he's gonna be in the picture for awhile. Last night I actually wrote out the plot for my story (i didn't have one b4, that says something about me) and Jim is a big character so yeah. I'm glad you are enjoying my story to the point of threats:D
Racetrack's Goil: Loki isn't evil, shes just...um...um...got a strange sense of humour! I'm glad you like her name, i saw it on a website awhile ago and knew it had to be mine! Thanks for reviewing again. I'll read your story as soon as you've updated so please do so!(thats a command).