SLEPT TO A DIFFERT ERA

Darkness in humans

Misfortune, an enigma for the rich. However, for the downtrodden, it is the way of life. The saying of ‘smiling in one’s misfortune’ is conceived to bring some pitiful sense of hope in the lives of those less fortunate. Hope is the creed for mental might, it yearns for a better tomorrow. Albeit, can change be brought only with hope…

-          A mind in despair

“Lucy! Save me!”

“Aunt Lucy, Lilly is making a scene again.”

Two little girls, one is six and the other is eight are running towards the graceful back of a quaint young lady. Lucy, a graceful youth of 18 years, standing in the meadows with a serene look over the scene. The vestment of the green pastures has only brought maturity to her refined visage.

The laughter and cry of the two little girls has only added a sense of music for this peaceful scene. The younger of two is being chased by the older girl, the girls were clearly having fun. The younger girl named Lilly reaches Lucy and jumps onto her with faith that Lucy would catch her and so she did.

The older girl, Mary, is not one to miss out on fun, as Lucy caught Lilly and spun around to balance her, Mary jumped onto her back making her stumble down. The young lady laid Lilly by the side before she fell down with Mary on her  back.

The children forgot all about the scuffle before and climbed onto Lucy with merry laughter.

“Marry, I’m not old enough to be called Aunty.”

“Ha-ha yes, you should call her Lucy, as I do” chimed Lilly.

Amused by the little girl’s cheekiness, Lucy laughed to herself and said, “Marry, Lilly. Come down. How long do you expect me to be on the ground?”

“Carry us!” “Yes yes, you have to carry us! We heard that Knights have horses carrying them.”

“You are our horse for the day. Giddy up! To the church.”

As the girls were having fun laughing out, things are not as cheerful in the Little Flowers Orphanage. Mother Theresa, a matronly woman in god’s service, clenches her fist reading the letter from the Merchants’ Association regarding their withdrawal of the meagre monetary support that they have given over the years to the Little Flowers Hopetown orphanage. Though the sum donated was pitiful, Little Flowers Orphanagecould not afford to

“Mr. Kennedy, what is the meaning of this?” raged out Mother Theresa to the man who brought her the letter.

Sitting on the only chair in the small chapel of Hope Town Orphanage, Mr. Kennedy looks at Sister Theresa, like a python as it slowly coils around its prey. Similar to the cold blooded beast, Mr. Kennedy enjoys helplessness of others.

Mr. Kennedy came out to Hope Town ten years ago as a distant royal family of the throne. Hope Town is a small insignificant head village of the clustered villages of outskirts of Fides Kingdom.

Mother Theresa was just a sister back then, but Mr. Kennedy was already 50 when he came to Hope Town. He is the embodiment of a ‘perverted old man’, yet not lacking in cunning and cold emotions.

Mr. Kennedy let Mother Theresa rage out as he let his depraved sight roam over her body. The disgust in Mother Theresa’s eyes only intensified. Clenching her fist she tried to sound reasonable to the lecherous old man.

“Mr. Kennedy Little flowers Orphanage already has a hard time taking are of the children with the diminishing support of Merchant Association. If you take that completely away, we are not going to last this winter.”

“Oh Miss Theresa, it is not my personal decision to withdraw the financial aid for Little Flowers, it is the decision of the association.”

“Please call me Mother Theresa, as the new vice president of the association, I believe that you can do something. I beg of you MR. Kennedy. Little Flowers will be very grateful to you.”

“Oh I don’t know if I should mix personal feelings with business. Besides, we are yet to know each other well enough for me to call in a personal favour… he-he, why don’t we meet at my mansion for some wine?”

“Mr. Kennedy, I’m a lady at God’s service! how could you…”

The doors were kicked open as a calm visage of a tall male came in wearing the robes of the clergy carrying a young Lilly on his back, with a fidgeting Mary close by.

Sharks are born swimming, Lions are born to roar. Despite the lack of any evidence of a lineage, the restrained calm of Lucy and his piercing stare froze the conversation in the room.

“That means a firm NO, Mr. Kennedy, if you cannot read between the lines, I shall make it clear for you.”

“Oh, if it isn’t the Hope Town’s young Lucy. The sight of young and brave always brings joy to me. However, respect is for those who command power. If by age you consider yourself a man, not a boy, then I’m a bigger man. If by lineage, I, a Royal descent and you, ha, an orphan. If by wealth you wish to compare, do I need to say anymore? Know your place.”

“Respect is a selfless admiration for the deserving. Money may invoke envy, authority is built of fear, and people notice your luck for lineage. Mr. Kennedy, you are delusional if you think that you are respected. A snake is feared with disgust, it is never highly thought of despite the deadliness of its venom.”

Being berated by the young man the chapel ensued in silence, Mr. Kennedy dangerously glared at Lucy, with Lucy eyes not backing away.

“Lucy I am scared of that man”, said little Lilly as she pulled on his cuffs.

Mr. Kennedy walked up to Lilly, as she hid behind Lucy, “worry not child. I am not what I appear to be”, uttered Mr. Kennedy with his eyes fixated over Lucy.

“Mother Theresa, if Little Flowers is going to drop all pretence, you are smart woman. Little Flowers gets it aid, when I get what I want”, saying so Mr. Kennedy walked out of the chapel without looking back.

“Mr. Kennedy, please…”

“Let him go sister Theresa, a human can be reasoned with, but one cannot reason with a beast.”

Mother Theresa halted her futile attempt in appealing towards the better nature of Mr. Kennedy. Seeing her sand by Lucy has only intensified the coldness in the eyes of Mr. Kennedy, with a mocking snigger he walked away leaving the chapel, etching the image of Lucy well into his mind.

“What are we to do Lucy ... It will be winter soon. How will we take care of the children?”

“Don’t worry sister, Mr. Kennedy maybe the new vice president of Merchants’ Association. I know the son of current President, Seth Pecunia. We did church duties together growing up, I think he will help us in our plight.”

-Sigh- “That may as well be our only option, child.”

As the duo in despair decided to ask the President’s son for aid, everyone but Lilly failed to notice the smirking silhouette of Mr. Kennedy, as she pulled on Lucy and pointed towards the broken window, there was none.

“Ha, Seth Pecunia? This has become more convenient than I expected,” said the sneering image of Mr. Kennedy as he slithered his way to his black wagon in shade. For anyone looking, the image conjured a sense of gloom as the horses didn’t neigh at the whip of the wagoner. The coach pulled away with only noises mechanical, completely lacking any sense of life.

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