Chapter 3: A New Life
The day of Lucy's 12th birthday started off the same as everyday. She awoke at 4:45 and tidied herself. Then she went to do the hard cleaning of the kitchen. After that she started breakfast. At 7 o' clock, Madame rang for her breakfast. Lucy carried it to her room and took her unmoving pose she was forced to stand in, while Madame ate her breakfast. But when she went to take the tray after the meal, Madame stopped her.
"Lucy," she said, "For 12 years a have sheltered, and fed you in my home"
Lucy snorted at that statement; she was not sheltered, she slept outside, she was not fed, she ate one sad meal a day, and if you called these rags she made out of threadbare old sheets clothes, well. Madame ignored her
"I know what you are thinking, that this was not adequate care, but things, my dear, can always get worse. Today, changes will be made. Dame Olga is coming to take you away for a life of servitude in her household. Things will get worse. Dame Olga is not a kind woman, and her daughters are just like her. Do not expect as good a treatment as you have gotten here."
"Wait," Lucy tried to take it all in, "Dame who? What?"
"Dame Olga, one of my friends, the woman responsible for your whole life. She brought you here 12 years ago and she will take you away today." A knock came from the front room. "The time has come. Come along."
When Madame answered the door, a massive, frightening lady was there, filling the doorway. Realizing, this is the woman she was to go with, Lucy burst into tears. Seeing her, Dame Olga broke out into a sly smile.
"Ah, my dear," she placed her hand on the back of Lucy's neck and squeezed it, giving Lucy the shivers, "Well come along. We have a long journey and Juliet is only too excited to see you." She handed Madame a sack full of coins. "Thank you Mirella, for all you have done."
When Dame Olga tried to drag the girl to her waiting carriage, she started sobbing harder. "Madame, Madame, don't let her take me. Madame, I'm sorry. PLEASE, whatever it is I'm sorry, just don't let her take me!" For though, her life with Madame was horrible, she had never been with anyone other than Madame and the idea of living with this lady frightened her to tears. "PLEASE"
Madame, however, only turned cold, hard eyes to her, and said, "Get out of here you worthless child and never darken my doorstep again." And with that, Madame pushed Lucy out the door towards Dame Olga and closed the door.