When the Hydrangea Flowers Bloom

Chapter Five: The First Day

Dear Family,

It's amazing here! The trip was long but enjoyable. The car ride was incredible. It was so much smoother and faster than a horse. We stayed at an inn the first night, and I met a very interesting woman in a pub. Don't worry I didn't get drunk.

I wrote three whole pages describing the past few days, before taking a good nap. I awoke to a knock on my door. Eugene came in saying, "It's dinner time. Come on, everyone's going to the dining hall."

"How big is this place?" I mumbled as I stepped out of bed.

After a quick hair check in the mirror, Eugene and I walked downstairs. The dining hall was incredible. It had a huge ceiling with windows going all the way up on two walls. There was one big table in the middle with at least 20 seats. Richard sat at the head of the table and everyone else sat near him. Eugene and I took seats next to Winnifred and Simon.

A maid came up behind me and gently dropped a napkin onto my lap. A door on the back wall opened up and servers with platters of food came spilling out. Each one of us got a plate with a silver cover on top. They had us choose between sparkling cider and wine. I chose the sparkling cider.

The servers lifted the covers all at once, revealing a salmon with mashed potatoes and string bean sides. I had never been one for fish, but it was delicious! Even though I wasn't very hungry, I devoured it. I noticed Flora picking at her salmon, eating the smallest bites possible. By the end of dinner, she had barely made a dent in her food.

After everyone (except Flora) had licked their plates clean, the waiters brought out dessert. We all got our own little chocolate cakes, and when you cut into it, chocolate sauce poured out. The chef told us it was called a "lava cake". Everyone but Flora ate theirs, and after Richard stood up.

"I hope everyone enjoyed their meals! Breakfast will be served at 8:00 tomorrow, but feel no obligation to come down then. It will be available to you until 11:00. Have a good first night!" And with that, he left the dining hall.

I felt extremely tired, so I stood up as well. Winnifred, Martin, and Simon stayed behind and talked.

"Good night you guys," I said as I pushed my chair back in. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Flora rolled her eyes, but Gertie said, "Good night!" and waved. Flora pushed her hand down.

"Good night, Hydrangea!" Winnifred said.

Eugene wished me good night, and I walked away. The manor was dark, and there weren't any maids rushing around anymore. I walked up the stairs, now lit only by small candelabras on the wall that held lightbulbs, not candles.

My room was lit by the moon, so I didn't bother turning on any lights. It was warm out, so I kept the french doors open. I changed in the dark and washed up. I lay down in the bed, almost being swallowed whole by large pillows. Slowly, my eyes started to close...

...

I woke up to a cat licking my face. At first, I didn't realize anything was odd, but after a few seconds I sat up quickly. "Ahh!" A small black cat with green eyes was sitting next to me. He must have gotten in by somehow getting on the balcony. I tried to get him to go back outside, but he wouldn't go. I walked into the bathroom to wash my face and he followed me.

"Shoo, cat," I said, waving him away.

He sat down. "Meow."

"Go away. This isn't your home."

"Meeowwww." He looked up at me with the sweetest eyes, and I couldn't turn him away.

"If you're going to stay with me, you'll need a name. How about Pietro?"