Griselda

Chapter 3

Griselda’s POV

As I continued my cleaning around the mansion I noticed the paintings displayed by the walls of the hallways, at first glance you will think that they were just abstracts along with the others but if you will combine all paintings together, you will be able to produce a wide mosaic of a family consisting of a mother, father, a child standing beside the parents while they are holding a baby in between them.

“You seemed busy.”

I looked at the person standing beside me, “Oh, Bernard. I didn’t noticed that you came home already.”

“It’s fine, no one does.”

We both laughed by the thought and then he cleared his throat, “Brian was always fond of painting that he was able to finish two of these every year.”

So Brian did this? He turned their family portrait into a mosaic? He is talented.

“He’s great.”

That was all I can utter, I cannot believe at his young age that he can be this talented.

“He is. More than I do.”

I looked at him and he then flashed a smile.

“You may now stop cleaning the mansion.”

“Why? Are my parents here?”

I was about to rush to the stairs when I heard him sigh.

“No, I’m sorry. I just thought you may be already tired from all the cleaning. And I bought you something.”

My excitement vanished but I still tried to smile to him.

“You didn’t have to bother but thanks anyway, should we go and check it now?”

With his nod we went down to the receiving area and there I saw all the bags that he bought from the city.

I was astounded when he said that those were all for me.

“I figured you will be needing clothes, and stuff while you are here and since you brought nothing but yourself, I decided to provide it for you. And don’t worry about the fee, consider it as part of our generosity to you so you can reciprocate it with things you wanna do in this mansion.”

That is more acceptable than being a charity case.

I took all the bags of clothes to my assigned bedroom across the bedrooms of the two boys and there I started to check it one by one and placed them inside the old cabinet placed by the window.

I also made a bit of cleaning around the bedroom and turned as my own while I am here.

And then I heard a knock on my door and it was Bernard.

“If you ever feel or need anything just tell us and we will help you, got that?”

“I will, this is actually more than enough, and thank you.”

He gave a slight nod before he closed the door and left me alone.

I looked outside the window and thought about my parents again.

I hope they are here so they can see how kind these two brothers are.

“I hope you’re fine, Ma and Pa.”

I fell asleep after taking a bath and then I woke up to the knock of Brian outside the door.

“It’s time to eat, Griselda. Don’t make me mad now, I’m already hungry!”

Well Brian’s got a bit of an attitude to be honest but I do not mind that. I do not even hope that we can get along because them giving me this kind of help is already too much and it will not hurt me if he does that occasionally.

“What do we have for dinner?”

Brian asked as I helped Bernard serve the food at the table.

“I made your favorite steak, a soup and I bought us some ice cream for dinner.”

My eyes lit up when I heard him mention the ice cream.

It is my favorite dessert, Ma and Pa always made sure that I get to eat one every month.

“Griselda, let’s eat.”

As we sat on the table we started to eat and I must say that Bernard really knows how. Maybe that is because he is the older brother in the family and he is automatically in charge of taking care his youngest brother whom I believe depends his whole life to Bernard as of the moment.

“Did you went to our cousins in the city?”

“Of course. They wanted to come with me but I realized that it would be better if we won’t accept guests at this time for Griselda’s sake.”

“I’m sorry—”

“Oh, don’t be sorry. I just don’t think that it will be good for us once they knew that we let someone in our house without announcing our relatives why.”

I wish to understand Bernard but maybe because of the age differential I cannot understand his point.

“Our relatives are kinda strict specially when it comes to us. You know we lost our parents already and we don’t have anyone to protect us, they’re just worried. And they will be threatened once they knew we have a monster looking guest right here.”

Just when I thought Brian can be a friend, he really made sure that he will not be one.

I continued to eat and finished my food just after Brian and Bernard excused themselves.

I automatically washed the dishes and then I enjoyed a bowl full of ice cream and went up to my bedroom to watch the stars from the window. The view there is massive and serene, I love it.

And having to watch the stars at night makes me think that I am watching it with my parents beside me. They will always stay with me once the skies are clear and the stars are everywhere. They always tell me stories about stars and how big it is when you get to be near those. They always make me believe that if I wish upon them, it will eventually come true on the right time.

I just wish you are here, Ma, Pa. I miss you and I do not know what I should do without you.