Author's Note: A BIG thank-you to those who have left me reviews I really appreciate it! My stats show that there have been lots of visitors to this story, so I would be very grateful to the readers to take a few moments to leave me a review – your feedback is very much appreciated! I would love to hear your comments and what you think of this story. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Three
A Peep of the Sun
A whole hour must have elapsed before I heard the creaking of the stairs, and the familiar rhythm of that purposeful tread, the tread that I had grown to dread and repulse, which betrayed that my Aunt was on her way to deliver one of her disparaging lectures.
Sighing heavily, I reluctantly left the covert of my bed, and crept cautiously to the door and unlocked it, to save my Aunt the trouble of demanding me to do so. I then scuttled back noiselessly and hastily back to my bed, and sat up facing the door just as the handle turned in one resolute and domineering twist, and the large, buxom figure of my overbearing Aunt appeared in the doorway.
I will never forget that look in her eyes for as long as I live. She fixed her cold gaze upon me as she slowly and firmly closed the door behind her, whilst never speaking a word for a full two minutes. Words were not needed. The intense, steady look of burning hatred, loathing and malicious triumph were more piercing than any spiteful words or angry tones. When at last she spoke, her voice was calm but icy, which chilled me more than any of her angry bursts of temper which I had been the victim of many a time.
"Due to your despicable and inexcusable behaviour towards my son, even after all my kindness to you, I have made the decision that you can no longer remain under my roof, but you will be sent to a boarding school in Plymouth where I hope you will learn to behave in a more controlled and restrained manner. You have a terrible temper, Julia, and you must endeavour to control it, or you will find yourself getting into terrible trouble at your new school. And you must overcome your hateful tendency to lie – it's a wicked habit and will earn you no friends. No one wants to befriend a bad-tempered, spiteful lying little girl – and you remember that."
During my Aunt's speech, I underwent a variety of the most conflicting emotions. When she told me that I was to be sent away to school, my heart began to sing inwardly. Whilst the thought of being sent to a boarding school would unnerve and disconcert most children, I was experiencing the highest feelings of felicity. To be sent away from this hell, for that was how I perceived my life here with my Aunt and cousins, to escape all the hatred and spite that was imposed upon me every day was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. My initial feelings were those of the greatest joy and release; but to then hear my Aunt's next accusing words, and upon such false grounds, and spoken in such a low voice of unmistakable contempt, stirred a new feeling deep within me, which far exceeded the first impressions of pain and severe hurt. A profound sense of overwhelming injustice at her false allegations provoked in me a new and completely foreign emotion inside of me: courage to defend myself.
"How dare you!" I cried, hardly believing it was my own voice speaking these defying and bold words. "I am not a liar, and never have been! The only liars in this house are your mean and wicked children! You might have asked the reason why I hit Jake, which I have never done in my life before, though I've had cause to. He struck me across the face for no reason and gave me a bloody nose! For no reason! And that's how he's always treated me – this innocent, ill-treated son of yours! I'm glad you are sending me to a boarding school! It will be a relief to get away from here, and I hope I never see you again for as long as I live! You've never loved me – you've never made me feel wanted or included in this family. I've always been an outsider, a nuisance and a pain." I was trembling all over with agitation, and with surprise at my own daring speech; but I held my head high in defiance, whilst I spat out my words at full force as I narrowed my eyes in passionate hatred and revulsion. "Well, I'll be out of your way soon – and then you will be rid of me, and thank God I will be rid of you!"
During my excited and heated dialogue, my Aunt stood before me with the most extreme look of shock and silent astonishment. For once in my life I had actually robbed my Aunt of any speech. I felt proud of myself, and I glowed at my Aunt with the utmost look of sheer pride, disdain and triumph. It was as though after all these years of silent and meek suffering, I had gained the upper hand and won the last and final battle over my scheming and hateful relatives.
It took several moments for my Aunt to recover herself, and when she had composed the rising feelings of rage that I had motivated within her, she replied in a calm but hard tone, "So this is all the thanks I get, is it, after all the years I have taken care of you? Well, now I know how you feel, perhaps it is mutually beneficial that you go away. You will remain in your room for the rest of today." She then turned upon her heels and quietly quitted the room, shutting the door behind her somewhat more warmly than she had done before.
As for me, I felt as though I had begun to live my dream. I did not care that I was confined to my room for the remainder of today. I was leaving this house and my relatives for good! I was getting out of here! And to a boarding school in Plymouth, too! I had heard of Plymouth before. One of the boys in my class at school had relatives who lived there, and often went to visit them in the holidays. I knew it to be naval port, and had a big statue of Sir Francis Drake at the Plymouth Hoe. I had studied him for history when we had done a project on the Tudors and Elizabethans. And there was also the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim fathers had sailed from for the New World . . . I knew that Plymouth was steeped in quite a lot of history – one of my favourite subjects! I couldn't wait! And best of all, Plymouth was a long way away from here where I currently lived in Bolton. I guess my Aunt wanted me as far away from her as I desired to be! Yes, my prospects seemed a lot brighter indeed!
As I sat upon my bed contemplating these happy thoughts, a strong shaft of light penetrated through the window. I turned my head to soak in the warmth of the bright sun as it peeped behind a passing cloud, and broke into a beaming felicitous smile.