I stand outside my Master's office, psyching myself up to enter for my my trial as a secretary.
I feel my hands grip my skirt in anticipation.
What if I'm late?
I don't want to make a bad first impression...
I don't want him to hate me...
No, I'm sure I'll be fine.
I use what little willpower I have to try and open the door but my body doesn't respond.
Come on, why now?
I force my hand to the handle, slowly turn it and push.
I further force myself to walk inside.
"Ah, Dido!" My Master looks up from his work. "Right on time!"
The relief that washes over me at those words gives me strength.
"I-I'm glad." I blurt out.
An awkward silence takes over.
"C-can I get you anything?" I ask.
"I'm quite thirsty..." My Master says with a pondering inflection.
"How about some tea?" I have to focus on not stuttering.
"That would be lovely." My Master sets his pen down.
"Right away, Master." I look around and spot the tea station in the corner of the office.
Time to hone my tea-making skills.
"Would you like biscuits as well?" I call out to him.
"Yes please!" He calls back.
I want to tell him to avoid formalities like that...
No, it is best not to.
"How strong do you like it?" I ask while pouring the water.
"About...mid strength." My Master's voice is soothing to me.
I finish the tea to, what I would call, perfection.
I take some biscuits, place them on a plate and move all items on to a tray.
Slowly, I make my way back to the desk.
I wonder how my Master will li-
Suddenly, my foot hits the leg of the sofa and I trip.
The tray flips upwards and I hit the floor.
My eyes start watering.
A plate falls and hits me on the head, smashing as it does so.
I immediately burst into tears and clutch my head.
"Dido!" My Master leaps up from his seat and rushes over to me. "Are you alright?"
His tender tone is doing its best to try and calm me.
It hurts...
"Master..." I try to say through sobs.
"Dido, can I see where it hurts?" My Master
He takes my hand gently and moves it aside.
I hear him sigh in relief.
"Luckily, there's no blood." He places my hand back over the ailment.
I want to stop crying but I can't.
I'm thrown into a hug from my Master.
Why?
A Master and Maid should not engage in such activities.
So why?
Why is he doing this for me?
I feel his affable strokes of my hair as he comforts me.
"I...I'm sorry, Master..." I sob out.
He moves away slightly but keeps his hands on my shoulders.
"For what?" Even my Master's gaze is comforting.
"For...for making a mess..." I wish I could cease my crying right now.
"Dido...it's not your fault." My Master rubs my shoulder, creating a faint calming effect. "That sofa is in an awkward position anyway, even I have tripped over it a few times."
The tears are slowing.
"Master...t-thank you..." A Maid should never thank her Master.
What am I doing?
"No problem." My Master helps me stand up.
I end up leaning on him as I continue to cry.
Why did that have to happen?
Please, PLEASE, do not dislike me for that.
He seats me on the sofa and places himself next to me.
"How much does it hurt?" He asks, with his signature smile.
"I-it's fading..." I reply, through a sniffle.
"That's good." He pats my shoulder tenderly.
I see him inspecting me closely.
"Where's your Doll?" He asks, enlightening me to the reason why I have felt off this entire morning.
"I-I must've left her in my r-room..." I stare at the floor, longing to be reunited.
"Do you want to go and get her?" He wipes away a lone tear. "Or can I?"
I think for a few seconds.
"I'll clean up..." I conclude while standing up.
"Alright, I'll go get your Doll unless you don't want me to." How can he remain so friendly at all times?
"A-as long as it's not too much trouble..." I shake my head involuntarily.
"None at all." My Master stands up as well. "See you in a few minutes."
He gives me one last smile before leaving.
Now I'm alone in my Master's office.
The immence pain has faded to a barely noticeable feeling.
I have to clear this up, but with what?
I can't see a mop or dustpan and brush anywhere here.
My vision drifts and I see a door in the back of the office.
Maybe it's in there...
I walk over to it and place my hand on the handle, imitating my earlier situation.
I open it and switch on the light.
Four shelves of files greet me.
"Mmmm..." I scan the room, growing frustrated every passing second.
Aha!
The back wall has cleaning supplies hung.
I wander over and take the mop and bucket.
I then take them to the sink and begin filling the bucket.
While that's happening I return to the back room and take the chemicals and dustpan and brush.
I pour some chemicals into the filling bucket and begin sweeping the broken pottery into the dustpan.
Belfast said I would make an exceptional Maid.
So why did that happen?
I do not feel fit as a Maid for my Master.
Yet, he still treats me well.
I pick up the now full dustpan and pour the contents into the bin.
I return to the bucket, turn the tap off and place it by the tea spill.
I dip the mop in the water and get to work.
A few seconds pass in silence as I'm focused on clearing this stain.
Once the mixture has been thoroughly worked in, I retrieve some paper towels and begin drying the moisture.
I sigh.
My first day, and I've already made more of a mess.
Was Belfast...lying to me?
My thoughts are interrupted by my Master's return.
"Here she is!" He wanders over to me and holds out my Doll.
I immediately take her and give her a hug.
"Thank you, Master!" I slip out.
No more thanking him!
"You're welcome!" My Master looks over to my work. "Are you finished?"
"Almost..." I turn back to the drying spill, carefully hooking my Doll to my uniform.
I pick up the soaked paper towels and dispose of them.
"Thank you for that, Dido." My Master smiles again.
"Please, do not thank me, Master." I defy him. "I'm just doing what a Maid should."
"You're still a person, and deserve to be treated with proper etiquette." My Master maintains his expression. "Don't tell Belfast I said that, she'd have a seizure."
"Noted." I simply reply.
"Now that's over, let's get to work." He starts to walk over to his desk.
"Wait!" I instinctively call out.
"Hm?" He turns back to me with an inquisitive glance.
"What about your drink?" I ask.
"Don't worry, I had one on the way back, I'm fine." My Master is a very smiley person.
Still, I can't help but feel a little dejected, knowing that he had to fulfill his own request.
Not only that, but his first order for me.
I internally sigh.
"Dido, your desk is there." He points to a smaller desk to the side of him.
"O-oh...right..." I resist the urge to sulk on a corner.
I trudge my way over to my newly allocated desk and take a seat.
"Here, just sign these off as a secretary ship, and pile them up." My Master puts half of his pile on mydesk, in front of me.
"U-understood..." I look over my desk, but I have nothing to write with.
"M-Master?" He looks at me. "Forgive my selfish request, but I have no pen."
"Oh, I'm sorry." He takes his pot of pens and hands me one. "Here you go."
I take it wordlessly.
"And that was not a 'selfish request', Dido." My Master remarks as he places the pot back on his own workstation. "It's going to benefit me as well."
I stare at the paper in front of me.
I have never written before...yet...I know I can do it.
Apprehensively, I place the pen on the paper.
I'm hesitating.
Why?
Please, my Master needs the help, so go!
I place the pen down, unhook my Doll and place her on the desk, facing me.
Her gaze gives me the boost I need to begin writing.
It's surprisingly easy, given I've never done it before.
I look at it to conform it says, under ship name, 'Dido'.
Yes, that is definitely D-I-D-O.
I move the sheet to the other side of the desk and take the next one.
This is gojng to be a bit tedious...
But if my Master needs it then...
I'm going to do it.