Chapter 5: Living in pain
The party went on till the wee hours of the morning. When the Fairbanks got home everyone was asleep except a few servants. One of those still awake was a young woman by the name of Norma Leigh. Her smiling face welcomed the Fairbanks home. Her small heart shaped face with green eyes. Her short brown hair went to her shoulders. Her small figure wore a maid outfit made of white and black fabrics.
"Did you have a nice time at the Minkridge's party?" Norma asked as she came into the room.
"Yes same as every other party." William said taking his wife's wrap.
"It was a lot of fun. Like William said it was just like every other party that we go to twice a year." Greta said with a laugh as she sat down on the sofa.
"You would think after a while those parties would get really dull." Norma said with a laugh as she put up the coats.
"Yeah you would think." Greta said with a laugh. Norma had been with them for a few years now.
"Do you want a drink my dear?" William asked walking over to the bar.
"No thank you dear." Greta said lighting a cigarette. She looked towards her husband and said. "William dear you had about three glasses of champion at the party."
"I know I did dear, but there is nothing like having a nice cold drink before bed." William said with a laugh and smile as he got himself a drink.
Greta just looked at her husband shaking her head back and forth. One day William would drink way too much and he would be too drunk to do a darn thing. "Well I'm heading off to bed dear. Will you not be too long to night?" she asked getting up from the sofa.
"I won't be long dear." William said with a smile as he took a swig of his drink.
Greta walked up the white staircase with Norma right behind. They walked into the big master bedroom. While Norma went and got things ready for Greta, Greta looked out the window out at the clear night sky.
Greta was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't heard anything Norma had asked.
"Greta do you want the light blue night gown with the light blue jacket to match it or the red one?" Norma asked stepping into the room from the closet. "Greta?"
"Oh I'm sorry. What were you asking?" Greta asked turning from the window. Norma saw tears filling Greta's light blue eyes.
"Miss is everything alright?" Norma asked with a look of shock on her lovely small face.
"Oh yes um…everything's fine." Greta said whipping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"If you're sure miss," Norma said holding the night gowns.
Greta nodded her head yes. "What were you asking a few moments ago?" Greta asked looking at Norma.
"Which night gown did you want to wear?" Norma asked holding up each one.
"The blue one with the small jacket," Greta said pointing at the one in Norma's right hand.
"Very well miss." Norma said and laid it n the dressing room.
A few moments later Greta came out in her night gown with the look of sleepiness in her eyes.
"Will there be anything else miss?" Norma asked.
"No there isn't. You may go to bed now." Greta said looking behind her shoulder.
Norma was headed for the door when Greta spoke again. "If you could please tell William that I will be in bed and not to wake me when he comes in."
"Yes miss I will tell him." Norma said as she turned from the door facing Greta. Then she left leaving Greta all alone.
Great made her way over to the window once again. Only this time had the look of sadness in her light blue eyes. She put one hand on the wall and the other hand to her face as tears fell from them. Seeing Oliver Minkridge's sister talk about her little girl Julia just made Greta wish that she had a little girl to talk about and to love. More tears fell from her eyes this time it was like a river flowing from two small lakes. She put her hand over her eyes letting all of her sorrows out and letting a small puddle of water fall on the window seal.
A few weeks have gone by and it's a chilly day where light snow drifts from the clouds above. Joan walks out from the back door of the diner caring a box of fine China and a few wine glasses. The snow fell lightly on her hair and she carefully walked with her load. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mr. Clark coming out the door of the diner. He walked toward the back door as he slipped on his hat and quietly walked through the now snow covered ally. A man of 26 walks towards Mr. Clark and tips his hat while saying. "Hello Mr. Clark how is things at MGM lastly?" this man asked as he approached Mr. Clark. "Just fine thank you" Mr. Clark says with a smile and a tip of his hat. After hearing this Joan's jaw dropped and so did the box. Everything inside the box shattered. Realizing that the box contained only the finest dining ware, tears rolled down her face. At that moment Mr. Richards came walking out the door and saw the shattered glass on the snow white walk way.
"Oh you little good for nothing wretch, what in hell is going on out here!" Mr. Richards yelled as Joan began to tremble, standing before him.
"Mr. Richards I'm…I…I…was…only" Joan whimpered.
Mr. Richards aggressively jerked his hands towards Joan's small fragile wrist. Grabbing her wrist with his meaty hands, he squeezed and tightened Joan's small fragile wrist as a look of pain, misery and suffering filling her blue eyes.
"Oh I could just rip you apart and squeezing until I break those wrists of yours. Then you would never be so clumsy and fall over your own feet! You dropped my expensive diner ware that was to be used for the Fairbanks. Now we have to use the common white dishes that all the regular customers use. Oh you dreadful girl," Mr. Richards screamed as tightened his grip on her wrist and the crackle of bones could be heard by Joan.
Joan fell to her knees in absolute pain while pleading for him to let go. "Oh MR. RICHARDS PLEASE LET GO. PLEASE LET GO. YOU'RE HURTTING ME!" Joan yelled as she looked up at her boss's evil face. Her wrist where about to be broken and there was nothing she could do about it. She was helpless.
Over hearing the squabble between Mr. Richards and Joan Mr. Clark rushed to Joan's side. He put his hands on Mr. Richards hands and pried them off of Joan's wrist.
"What are you doing? This girl had it coming to her" Mr. Richards yelled in Mr. Clarks face.
"Sir I've watched you day in and day out treat this girl like a slave. Enough is enough. I stop the abuse here. Now take your hands off her before I give you back some of the abuse you have given her." Mr. Clark yells in Mr. Richards face.
Mean while Joan watched as pain shot through her wrist and arms from all the pain. She could of sworn that her wrist where broken. She tried moving her hands but it was no use there was too much pain to do so. While the pain shot through her body Joan hardly heard anything that was being said between the two men.
"What you can't do that. I won't let you." Mr. Richards yelled as he through his hands every which way. "She works for me you hear!"
Mr. Clark could care less what Mr. Richards was saying. All he heard from this man was him going on and on it seemed like as if he had held a grudge against this girl for many years. Mr. Clark held out his hand to Joan and said in a calm voice. "Joan you're coming with me."
Joan took his hand and got to her feet. "Where are we going?" Joan asked as she looked at Mr. Clark with confusion.
"I'm getting you out of here." Mr. Clark said. "I'm making you a star."
A/N: Sorry it has taken me a while to update been rather busy with college and all. What do you think?