"August! August you better not be eating sweets again! Adela, what are you doing! Reading by the window again? Get away from there! NOW! Work on your sewing like a proper young lady!" The Alligator Lady was in one of her moods again. Married barely a year now and all ready the façade of a proper woman with an occasional halfway decent smile had shattered to reveal a true demon. Orders were all that spewed from her alligator teeth embedded mouth and forget about 'good day's or 'good night's. The only day worthy of being the recipient of a 'what a beautiful day today is!' was a day when this new woman could go to town with August and gobble up every gem and expensive piece of cloth.
August, who had recently taken an apprenticeship at the village's bakery, rolled his green eyes and settled himself into a corner of the window seat to flip through a book filled with literature on the mysteries of life. She'd caught him once about a month after she had married his father eating a sweet hard candy without permission and ever since he was a criminal, never to be trusted again.
A wince stole over his handsome face hearing his sister being scolded for the exact same action. His mother had always read stories to them, much rather she had pushed him into novels at a young age and had started doing the same to Adela. Unfortunately after her demise, so too ended the solace both children had sought in books. That seemed to bea talent this new woman in his father's life had; mocking and destroying anything that had been associated with his mother. She was no longer welcome in the new woman's home. No longer needed.
Adela stood from the window and replaced the book on a close by shelf. Unlike her brother who would usually put up a fight over any particular dense command, Adela rather meekly obeyed. Her father had told them both time and time again to humor the Alligator Lady, so…she did.
One would think the woman would be satisfied seeing the girl jump so quickly to obey, but not this lady. "I get no respect in this house! Just two ungrateful brats that never do as they're told! I'd like to see what suitable young man will marry you, girl! You don't know how to keep house, why all you do is sit and read! Foolish things books are. Turning young girls into downright whores!" The woman shifted about the study, plucking up a duster and needlessly sweeping it over shelves and tables. "…And you're Father supports such nonsense. Well. I'd like to see what your dowry is going to be. Seeing as how he spends whatever little money he gets on those papers already filled with ink! You are sure not getting any of my money." Her movements stilled as she paused plucking a small painted portrait from the mantel of the deceased mother before her disdainful tone continued. "And your dead mother left you nothing. Why if she hadn't been such-"
"Stop this now." Though the young man was only sixteen years old, his voice had long since deepened and the baritone voice was cool and quiet. His large hands were curled into fists at his sides, kind emerald eyes like his father's now blazing with fury. How dare this, this ghastly replacement try to criticize his Mother? "How dare you speak ill of our mother when you never even met her! And those books you loathe so passionately at least made Adela-" Horrified the Alligator Lady simply watched her step-son appear in the room. It was frightening for her to see him so lividly upset. August was a good deal taller than her and she knew from the various street fights he kept getting into how strong the boy was. He rarely lost a clash once involved. But all too soon that fear crept away replaced by a smug smirk as her twin beady eyes caught sight of something lurking unknown to August.
"August, that is quite enough. May I see you for a moment." It wasn't a question. He didn't even have to turn around to identify whose colder, disapproving, commanding voice had spoken behind him. His father. Without another word he turned away from the other woman and his sister who had been frozen by the bookshelf in astonishment watching the scene unfold before her, unable to do anything.
"What are you doing just standing there! Get to work on your sewing! I want to see a good portion of it done before supper!" The woman snapped at Adela after the men left the room.
"Now, son," the older man began with a tone full of sympathy and exhaust. Having just returned from another long day in the woods hauling fallen trees, this wasn't what he was hoping to come home to, albeit he expected it. "…I know it's hard for you to see another woman trying to be your mother, but it's hard for her too you know. She's never had children before and now to take on two all of a sudden….it's not easy for her. Can just please try and be more accepting of her? Just do as she says and bite your tongue. If not for her then for me?"
August just looked at the man unsure of what to say or do. He was compelled to rebel against his father's defense for the new woman, but this was also a man he loved and looked up to. How do you argue with a man you respect? "Fine. But at least tell her to stop badgering Adela and scolding her for reading. It's not right how much your wife reprimands her when Adela goes out of her way to try and please her."
With eyes that mirrored his son's the elder searched the young man for…something. A soft sigh escape his lips as he shook his head. "Is that all you see her as, son? My wife?"
"What else should I see her as? My mother?" Was the curt reply. The Alligator Lady would never be his mother. Not even close.
"No. She can never replace your mother." He said softly. "I'll talk to her." Both stood in silence for a few moments now that the problem had been resolved. "Do you remember when we use to dress Adela up in wings and your mother-"
"-would make her a crown of flowers? I remember." A slight smile spread across August lips. "She's always been the angel in the family."
"You both were angels." Corrected his father.
"Were?"
The man laughed softly. "Are. On some days you are at least. On others…. well…it's questionable."
"Thanks." Shaking his head after the sarcastic laced word emerald eyes dropped to the floor as the silence stretched on. "We would have been fine without her…we didn't need her…" Both didn't have to ask whom the 'her' meant. It was clear that both Adela and August didn't have a natural fondness for the Alligator Lady.
"I know…but I needed her." The young man did not look up at his father; not wanting to see what emotion might be playing on the elder's face. Better to remain ignorant on some subjects where the heart was concerned.
And so life went on. The hatred the new woman had towards her husband's children just as evident as their hatred for her. And matters didn't improve much when months later a jubilant lady with teeth a little too sharp gave her husband the glorious news late one night that she would soon have a child of her own. Growing in the dark confines of her belly was what should have been a blessing for the entire family to share. But all Adela and August could think about was how horrific life was going to become after the new addition was born. No, this was not happy news for every one.