The Story below came from nowhere, I was playing around on ChatGPT, changing some aspects of classic literature, when I decided to write something about it. Therefore, in this version of Little Women, the character of Theodore Laurence is divided into two characters, one of them is the florist Hector and the other, Laurie himself, however described as a boy with mental and intellectual disabilities.
The story in question is a new version of how the girls met Hector and Teddy for the first time.
Hope you like,
Have a nice reading and don´t worry, i wrote the story myself and only used the AI to fix.
UNBREAKABLE BONDS
Amidst the tumultuous period of the Civil War, families yearned for the safe return of their dear ones—sons, fathers, and husbands—grappling with the uncertain fate of the relentless conflict.
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On a crisp autumn afternoon, the March sisters, their concern for their father at war palpable, chose to wander through their quaint neighborhood. Meanwhile, their mother, Mrs. March, embarked on her customary visits to nearby households to extend her helping hand.
The sisters—Margaret, Josephine, Elizabeth, and Amy—adorned in their coats, set off, engaged in conversation while reveling in the charm of their newly embraced abode, the small town of Concord in Massachusetts. They had settled there upon Mr. March's counsel, aspiring to make it their abode for a considerable duration.
As they ventured into an enchanting flower shop, Amy found herself captivated by the sheer beauty of the blooms and proposed acquiring some to surprise their mother in their new dwelling. "That's an excellent idea," concurred Meg with a warm smile.
Beth, ever practical, whispered, "As long as they don't break the bank."
As they pondered their choices, a young man by the name of Hector Greenwich, slightly older than them, emerged from behind the counter. He possessed a crown of rich brown hair and a genial smile. "Good afternoon, ladies. Can I be of service? I'm Hector Greenwich."
Beth, with politeness, responded, "Greetings, Mr. Greenwich. We wish to purchase these flowers, please."
Hector, chuckling warmly, replied, "Ah, a splendid choice... and please, do call me Hector. 'Mr. Greenwich' is my uncle's title. Are you new in town?"
Jo, forthright as ever, inquired, "Shouldn't you be with the other soldiers?"
Hector's cheerful demeanor momentarily dimmed as he confessed, "I was discharged... due to matters of the heart," his tone tinged with a touch of flirtation.
"Heart matters, you say? Well, Mr. Greenwich, perchance you've discovered your true calling amidst these blossoms, caring for delicate flowers instead of the battlefield. Quite the change of pace, I dare say," Jo remarked as they departed.
"He was rather charming, wasn't he?" Meg commented as they exited the establishment.
"I thought so too," Beth added with a chuckle.
Jo, ever practical, noted, "Did anyone else notice his unfortunate breath?"
"Oh, Jo, must you always dash our moments?" Amy grumbled, unaware that she herself was quite taken by Mr. Hector Greenwich's beguiling green eyes.
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They tarried a little longer, perusing various stores with differing price ranges and encountering new acquaintances in the bustling town. Eventually, they deemed it time to return home, where their mother eagerly awaited their arrival. As anticipated, Mrs. March was delighted with the flowers and promptly arranged them in a charming vase.
"To brighten this home amidst these solemn times," she remarked with a tender smile. "And how fared your afternoon?"
"It was delightful. We glimpsed a bit of the town," Beth began.
"Jo showed quite an interest in the florist's nephew," Amy teased, prompting Jo to playfully toss a pillow in her direction.
"I was hardly interested in that cheeky young man," Jo retorted.
"Girls, let us not quarrel," admonished their mother. "I have something for you—a missive from your father," she added, her eyes sparkling.
"Truly? That's splendid, Mother!" Meg exclaimed.
"Please, share all the details," urged the others.
"Of course," replied their mother, producing an envelope and unfurling the letter to read to her daughters. Within the letter, Mr. March poured forth his profound love for his daughters and his wife. He spoke of his intention to return for Thanksgiving, if only for the weekend, eagerly anticipating celebrating the joyous occasion with the remarkable women in his life.
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For the remainder of the afternoon, the sisters engaged themselves in household chores, assisting their mother and contemplating an outing for the morrow. As night descended and all prepared for slumber, Amy, the youngest of the March sisters, heard commotion outside—laughter and applause. Intrigued, she approached the window and peered into the neighboring yard. A young man about Meg's age roamed in his night attire, at times clapping and laughing, seemingly enraptured by something visible only to him. Later, an elderly lady emerged, engaged him in conversation, and escorted him back indoors.
"There's someone in the Laurences' yard," Amy exclaimed.
"Don't pry, Amy; it's impolite," scolded Beth.
"But he appeared so amusing. He didn't seem much younger than us, yet he was rather comical," Amy replied.
"Nevertheless, prying is impolite," Beth reiterated.
"Could we desist, please? I'm reading here," Jo interjected.
"Now, that will suffice. Let us all retire for the night. Tomorrow holds much to be done," Meg declared, guiding her sisters to bed.
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The following morn, the sisters roused early to join their mother in a charitable endeavor. They busied themselves baking a delectable cake and brewing hot coffee, intended for distribution among the most destitute families in their modest town. They confessed to finding deep satisfaction in this benevolent task.
Soon thereafter, while Mrs. March lent her expertise to a friend in the art of breadmaking, the girls returned to their homestead, prepared to tackle the domestic duties that awaited them. It was during this interval of respite that they once again encountered Hector Greenwitch, en route to deliver his fragrant blooms.
"Good morrow once more, ladies. How fare you?" inquired Hector.
"We're well, Mr. Greenwitch... Hector, thank you," replied Amy, her cheeks tinged with a charming blush.
"That's splendid to hear. And where might your path lead you?" he inquired further.
"We're bound for home, and we're in something of a hurry," Jo responded, her practical nature leading her to voice their collective sentiment.
"Oh, I see. Might you allow me to accompany you?" Hector requested, his gaze earnest. "I'm just on my way to deliver these flowers to the Laurence household."
Jo began to protest, "There's truly no need..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Meg intervened with a gracious smile. "The Laurences? They are our neighbors. It would be our pleasure to have you accompany us, Hector," she kindly offered.
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On their journey back, while the trio of sisters engaged in lively banter and laughter with Hector, Jo adopted a quieter stance. Her resolute nature urged her to conceal the burgeoning emotions within, reluctant to let her sisters glimpse the quickened pace of her heart in the lad's company. Thus, she chose silence as her faithful companion, masking the inner tumult of her feelings.
Approaching their dwelling, the quartet of young ladies and Hector encountered another lad, nearly Meg's age, appearing somewhat bewildered. He clutched one hand tightly with the other, wandering in circles while murmuring incomprehensible words.
"Hello!" greeted Meg in a friendly manner. "May we inquire as to who you are?" she asked.
"That's the lad I spotted in the Laurence yard yesterday," Amy whispered, recounting her observation.
"What?" Beth inquired, bewildered. "Are you related to Mr. Laurence?"
"He's my grandpa," the boy responded, finally making eye contact with them. He bore some affliction, though its nature remained elusive.
"Where do you reside?" inquired Jo. In reply, the young lad pointed towards the grand mansion.
"There... Grandpa mentioned he was expecting some flowers, so I came to have a look."
"Ah, well... the flowers have indeed arrived," Jo remarked, gesturing towards Hector. "Let us inform your grandfather..." She took the boy's hand, urging him to proceed, and he quickly ambled away, eying the girls with suspicion.
It was at this juncture that Hector conceived a plan. "Girls, stay put. I shall deliver the flowers... and fetch assistance," he whispered, before discreetly departing.
After Hector's departure, the March sisters attempted to engage the young boy in conversation, but he could only manage brief responses. Pronouncing his name seemed an insurmountable challenge, prompting a bout of laughter. Despite being their age, the boy displayed a childlike shyness, seemingly lost without his parents and uncomfortable in the presence of strangers. He gently hit his head in frustration, attempting to utter his name, yet it remained too intricate for him, leading to another round of laughter.
"Master Theodore!" Suddenly, a stout lady with kindly features emerged, taking hold of Theodore's arm. "Master Theodore, venturing out like this is perilous. What are you doing out on the street?"
"I... I don't know," he replied, head bowed. "Sorry, Ms. Kirk."
"No need to apologize, my dear. Oh, how impolite of me. Good morning, girls. You must be Mariane March's daughters, correct? I'm Edwiyn Kirk, Theodore's caretaker. He... he possesses the heart and mind of a child and adores wandering off to play."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Kirk. Teddy, I'm Margaret, and these are my sisters, Elizabeth, Amy, and Josephine."
"Please call me Jo," corrected the girl.
"Teddy, I like it, Teddy, yes, Teddy," the boy giggled, inciting laughter from the girls as well.
"Ah, you liked the nickname we give you, Teddy?" Margaret expressed warmly.
"Now, this young man requires his lunch. See you later, girls. It's been a delight meeting you. I'll drop by to speak with your mother sometime... and I'll make sure Master Teddy is safe at home," the caretaker replied, still holding Theodore's arms and guiding him back towards their abode.
"It would be a pleasure to see you again," they chimed in unison, their hearts warmed by the newfound connection.
"He's quite endearing, isn't he?" laughed Amy.
"Who's endearing?" Hector inquired as he approached.
"Teddy. He's like a little kid," she said. "But you're more handsome, Hector."
"Why, thank you, dear Amy," he responded with a smile.
"Oh, come now, she's just being kind," teased Jo.
"Thank you for walking us home, Hector, and getting help for Teddy," Meg interjected.
"The pleasure was truly mine, my dear friends, but now, I must go," he smiled with a small bow. "We shall undoubtedly meet again."
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Once the florist was out of sight, the girls entered the house, spotting Teddy through the window, playing with his food, and they chuckled. The move to this small town seemed like the tart of great adventures, even in those dark times. They couldn't wait to meet Hector and Teddy the next day—Hector, the gallant young man always ready to assist them, and Teddy, the boy with a child's mind and heart, who would become the little brother they never had and whom they would care for forever.
END.