The Servants of the House

Chapter 1 A heartbreaking Farewell and a New Life 1800 It was a cold autumn day and the father of the family had been out hunting for poultry because that's the only way the family could eat even though their dad didn't like killing animals he had to so they could eat. The mom was roasting some nuts in the fireplace and had picked some berries for them to eat. The last bit of money they needed was for the rent and their two dear little girls Sharon and Julia both came home that evening from their old school, crying their eyes out because the other children for having holes in their shoes bully them at school. The mom didn't really pay much attention to the girls being upset, then the big brothers, both come back home from work, covered from the mine dirt. Their father then comes back home from hunting and both Sharon and Julia run straight into their daddy's arms, he was the one that always comforted them from the bully's at school, he also managed that night on a rare occasion to catch a goose for the starving family to eat, which the mom plucked and cooked, while Sharon and Julia went and played outside with their brothers. Their big brother Jack was keeping something from the girls, but he felt he had to tell them. Jack: I don't want to alarm you sisters, come sit on my knee. They go and sit on their big brother's lap. Jack: This family is very poor I must away for a time to work on a dairy farm the other side of the country, but it will bring the money in. Julia *crying her eyes out * But no, you can't leave us please don't. Jack: * Sorry darling, but I have to, to bring the money in, our parents can't make ends meet, we all starving, and it's very rare for dad to be able to catch us meat to eat. The two little girls hugged the big brother they loved so much in tears. Jack: Its ok I’ll be back before you know it and we’ll be richer and more comfortable he then wiped the tears away from his little sisters eyes* And the little girls nodded their heads in agreement with Jack. Julia: When do you leave? Jack: Next week. They looked across at their elder sibling Patrick, but he was going to stay home to carry on working in the mines every day. Then their mom calls them all in for dinner. They enter the muddy old house and eat the goose nuts, berries and bread made only of flour and water and drank a bit of milk. After dinner, their Father takes them to bed, tells them a story, and kisses them both, smiling, telling them how proud he is of them both. He instructs the girls to ignore those who bully them because of poverty. Then after the girls had been put to bed, there was a knock on the door by their mean old landlord, the girls spied through the floorboards. Landlord: The rent has gone up I need more money or you’re all out in the streets. The girls hear mom crying and so both girls then prayed to God for a miracle to happen. In the morning, as usual, the family gets up at 6.30 am to head off to work, housework and school, the girls don't feel like or want to go to their schooling because, they are just so upset about Jack decides to go to work away from them, and don't want to face the taunts at school, the family is also worried about being chucked out on the streets. Dad made porridge out of water and oaks and the girls hugged their parent’s goodbye to go to school. After all the children left their parents sat down to talk about the money situation. Mom: *with tears in her eyes* I don't want to lose the girls, but we need them to work, so they can bring the money in to make ends meet. Dad: Our God is good we cannot lose our girls, he will make another way. Mom: I can't see any other way, it's nearly winter, and if we are thrown outside we will all freeze to death. Dad *voice choking up* Yes, dear, you're right. They both hug each other crying, then the dad gets on his horse and rides into the country to see what work he can find for the girls, he rides for hours, but then he comes to a house way out in the sticks, it's a beautiful big house, very posh, he rides up to it. A tall man comes to the gate: Yes and my name is Malcolm how can I help you, sir? Dad: I have two little girls aged nine years old, I know they're very young, but they are very hard workers, do you have any vacancies for them? Malcolm: Yes, ok, I guess we can get them trained and I make sure they get to a school near here. Then the dad hands him some paper with their address on it.' Dad: Thank you so much, as he rides off. Malcolm: I will send for the carriage tonight at 6 pm. When the afternoon set in Jack and Patrick came home, bringing along their two little sisters who ran home together from school. They smiled at their parents. Julia: Daddy, what have you hunted for us tonight? Dad: *tears in his eyes*: Come sit on my lap, listen, we are in poverty if we don't get in the money we be living freezing cold on the streets which could even kill us, but I'm sending you to a very nice family to work who will take great care of you both. The two little girls: *holding dad crying* Please daddy don't make us have to go. We would rather die than be without you and mother. The father with tears streaming down his cheeks holds them close. Dad: We have to be brave my sweet little flowers, we are in poverty which could kill us all if you don't go and work for these nice people, they are good to you, give you the things we cannot afford and we will still visit you regularly. The two little girls go up to their mom weeping and then hugging her, all have family hugs each other and cry together before Malcolm's carriage came to pick the girls up. Feeling overwhelmed helpless and sad the girls with sunken hearts climb onto the horse-drawn carriage, waving goodbye to their parents and brothers, with tears streaming down their face, their parents and big brothers get smaller and eventually disappear out of sight, the girls hold each other close, scared, sad and alone, they travel through a vast forest and eventually arrive at the house, all the time traveling up there the girls remains very quiet, both just very heartbroken. The house was massive and the garden seemed to have no ending, they get into the house both looking it up and down shocked at the size of it. Malcolm *big smiles*: Hey hello girls, my name is Malcolm and this is my wife Lisa, what are your names? Sharon*half-smiling* Sharon. Malcolm: And what about your big sister? Julia *just looks about and ignores him* Malcolm: Well, I appreciate you coming to work for Lisa and me. Julia: Whatever, just take us home to our family. Lisa *giving them both a harsh look* you better be good and not give us any grief. Malcolm: Come on Lisa just leave the girls alone they have been through a hard time being separated from their family. Malcolm takes the girls upstairs and shows them their bedroom; he then kindly gives us a very nice meal of macaroni cheese and mash potatoes and veg's. Malcolm: Girls keep this quiet about the meal if Lisa finds out I fed you well she won't be amused. Sharon half smiled at him and Julia gave him a dirty look because she blamed him and his wife for taking them away from their family, but both girls eat down their food quickly because they were starved and never tasted anything so delicious in their lives. Malcolm: Would you girls like a story. Julia: No thanks just leave us alone. Malcolm: Ok, just let me know if you need anything. As he left out of anger, Julia threw a cup at him: How can you take us away from our family. Malcolm: That wasn't my intention darling; I am just trying to help your family through a bad situation. He left the room. Then the girls talk among themselves. Sharon: Michael seems nice, but I don't like the look of Lisa. Julia* crying * I hate them both because they took us away from our parents and brothers. Julia started crying her eyes out and Sharon comes climbs in bed, beside her, hugging her, to console her. Sharon: I know sister, but, at least, we still have each other, no one is going to separate us sisters. The girls wake up the next morning to the sounds of the birds singing sweetly in the trees, both girls had been crying all night long and Sharon had gone back to her own bed, Julia woke up realizing that she had wet the bed. Julia: Oh no! Sharon: What's wrong sister? Julia: I wet the bed what shall I do? Sharon: shh, it's ok big sister, I will creep down, sneak out some dry sheets, and put this with one in the laundry without being noticed for you. Julia: Please be careful sister. Sharon: Don’t worry sister, I will be. So Sharon sneaks past everyone she hears Lisa being sick and Sharon thinks oh disgusting in her mind, she hides and puts the dirty laundry into the washing basket and sneaks to get out a dry sheet. Behind her comes a boy servant *the bullyboy Daren*: What are you doing? Sharon: Never mind. Daren: *He pulls her hair* you wet the bed haven't you? Julia overhears and walks in: No, it wasn't her it was me. Daren ridiculed them badly and pulls at their hair; Julia runs off crying. Sharon: Julia, please don't be upset it’s not your fault. As Julia runs, she nearly runs into Lisa, who is pregnant with triplets. Lisa: For goodness sakes stupid girls, can't you see I'm pregnant? Malcolm: Come, come now everyone what's the matter? Daren: Julia wet the bed. Lisa: Yes then nearly ran into me, she ought to be punished for wetting the bed and for running into me. Malcolm: Oh come on Lisa these girls didn't mean anything by it, I will just go and change Julia’s bed and all is well. Lisa: Your stupid husband is going all-soft on them. Malcolm: Well. Malcolm went upstairs with the girls to change the sheets on Julia’s bed; Daren follows them all ridiculing them all. Malcolm pays no attention to Daren then just changes the sheets. Sharon: Michael are you and Lisa having a baby together, she was having morning sickness wasn't she? Malcolm: Yes, my dear, we are having triplets, which means that we, having three babies all at once. Sharon: How do you make a baby? Julia: Yes how is it done, please tell us how new life is made. Malcolm *blushing * Well a man and a woman have a very special hug and kiss. Daren is crude and rude and a boy who had seen life to the full, let the girls know all about the birds and the bees and facts of life. The girls together: Yuck disgusting. Julia: I hope that ain't true right? Malcolm: *blushing nods his head* Yea girls it’s true’, but Daren you should not have told them. Julia: Yuck, that is so disgusting. Malcolm: Not if you love someone's sweetheart. Julia just gave him a dirty look, and then the girls got ready for their new school. On the way downstairs, Lisa brushed their pretty long hair and put it in pigtails. Lisa: You girls ought to be grateful that we are looking after you and stop whining all the time. The girls: Yes, Mrs. Jackson. Both of the girls went off with Daren and another boy called Nick, to their new school, in their very new classy school clothes. When they got there they all queued up in an orderly fashion and went inside, as they got into their seats behind them was a really nice looking boy with dark curls and brown skin, Sharon looked and stared at him and he poked his tongue out at her, he then started giggling at her and pulled her hair, Sharon got a bit upset about that and gave him a dirty look back but he just teased her and laughed. The teacher: Now come on settle class. From that time the children all did as we were told and concentrated very hard. After school a couple of girls from their class went over to them, and started to befriend them, they told the girls that the boy who teased Karen was called Ben. They told Sharon that they think he teased her because he seems to like her, but Sharon just thought yuk to any boy liking her, because of what Malcolm told them about the facts of life or rather Daren. And even the thought of kissing a boy was too much for a little girl so young and innocent. Anyway, the children got back home and had dinner, and then did their 3-hour cleaning schedule to raise the funds for their parents back home, in the background they heard Malcolm and Lisa arguing about letting the girls see their parents over the weekend, Lisa being against the girls visiting them. Then that just really upset Julia that she lacked concentration for a bit and Daren came deliberately kicking over her bucket of water and laughing. Nick came to the rescue. Nick: You fool!!! Daren, you better leave those girls alone or you have me to deal with. Daren: Oh, you again Nick the too good to shine, did you know the girl you stick up for wets the bed? Nick: I'm ignoring that comment because Daren I'm not interested in what you have to say. Lisa comes out: Why on earth is this water all over the floor. The girls *defending each other*: It was Daren. Lisa: No, it wasn't. Nick: It was, I saw it. Lisa: No, it was one of you and I'm going to crown you both for it. She gets out the little girls' precious hands and hits them both very hard on the knuckles with her ruler; Julia runs off crying, and Sharon runs after her. Malcolm: *shouting in anger at Lisa * you did not need to do that Lisa. He runs after both girls to find them both crying near the riverbank, he gives them both a nice long warm hug, takes them both back, and gives them a meal and a nice warm mug of hot chocolate, he tucks both girls in for the night, then leaves the room. Sharon: There you are Julia, Lisa is a real piece of work, but Malcolm is really nice. Julia: I still don't like either of them; they both took us away from mom and dad.