My Knightly Tale

CHAPTER 1

"I'm sorry for his passing, ma'am. He's a good man."

I can only be subdued lethargic. Staring at my mother sitting limply in her chair. Her eyes were already in tears all day. Then I saw mom staring at me and my little brother, I knew she was trying to strengthen me.

My name is Annella Samwell, I was exactly 20 years old yesterday. I'm a freshman at an out-of-town university. Tomorrow is my submission of value and today my father has died. I should have seen my parents proud of the value I've achieved so far, but it's just a dream.

"Annella, you have to be strong your mother can only count on you now". I nodded to hear my aunt's words. I can only hug my brother tightly.

Hope it's just a nightmare.

.

.

I packed some clothes to get back to the flat. I usually take a four-hour bus ride. I put some clothes on my red coat.

"Do you have to go? What about me and mom?". Liam, he's my 16-year-old brother. He's tall, maybe handsome if he doesn't prank me often.

"I have to go back to my flat. You need to be able to take care of mom now, Liam." I stopped and looked at him while sitting on the edge of the bed. I saw mom behind Liam. Since when was she there?

"Liam, you've grown and you can take care of me now." My mother said with a thin smile on her lips. 

"But mom...". Liam whining, habit.

I just smiled thinly as I got back to tidying up my suitcase. I only brought a little stuff when I got back to this house. I was in the café and I saw the screen of my phone my dad called me. my dad cured! I thought. 

But after picking up the phone I could only hear Liam's panicked voice repeatedly saying I should go home and I heard mum crying. Instantly I said goodbye to Ella who accompanied me in the café and ran home to my flat. Remembering it again gives me goosebumps as well as sadness.

Now my suitcase is ready, the last thing I'm going to do before I leave is say goodbye to my mom. I walked to mom's room. I saw her sitting on the side of the bed staring at a picture of my mom and dad, like she was staring at a picture of dad holding Liam as a baby. 

"Mom..". I called her as I walked closer.

"Ann! God, you surprised me." Mom quickly wiped away her tears and I saw her.

"I'm sorry. Dad look good mom, in that picture." I said, in that picture, dad still looks young and healthy. "I still remember how happy your father was when Liam was born." Mom said with a smile stroking the photo.

"I know, you've said it a thousand times." I laughed a little, trying to cheer her up at a time like this. I just chuckled a little. Then I saw mom put that picture on the table next to her. 

"Ready?". My mom said that while embracing my shoulders slowly.

"Mom, I'm going to say goodbye." I said and lowered my shoulders slowly."Ann, I'll be fine here with your brother". Mom held my hand slowly. I'm really worried about mom right now. Now my mom only lives with my brother who is in first grade in high school.

"I'm just worried about you." I can't stand it anymore. I cried in her shoulder. I know after this mom can only count on me. I'm very sad about my father's passing. Now I have to take care of my mother and brother alone. I have to be strong.

After the weight of letting go of my mother and brother, I'm on my way to my flat. Right now all I'm thinking about isI should be able to not longer bother my mom. I thought that I should make my own money for my needs. Maybe I can work in a café or convenience store near campus, I have to earn money.

On this bus I smelled a very pungent cigarette, not to mention the sound of the buskers who could hurt my ears. I bought an economy bus ticket on the grounds of saving money.

I saw a old man selling a newspaper, and I immediately found a dime in my jacket pocket. Ah, there's money. Out of pity I bought a newspaper. 

In this newspaper all I see is political and sports news. There should be job seeker jobs, right? Oh yes! And I have to find him now. I flipped the paper in a hurry. And I finally found what I was looking for! The job seeker column is here on page 6, above the movie screening schedule in theaters.

With a new spirit, I started looking for a job that suited me. But that spirit slowly dimmed when I found out what most experienced or experts needed. 

Besides me who hasn't graduated from college, I don't have any special skills either. Because I can't sew even if I just put the buttons off, and I can't also be a muslim clothes designer assistant. Since I'm afraid of all kinds of animals, I can't be a pet shop keeper. Moreover, I also do not remember elementary school lessons, I can not apply to be a tutor.

Right now I realize that, both as a woman and as a human being, I'm not very useful.

My view is that it's focused on a nightclub waitress's job. I was almost intrigued by this desperation, until I saw an invisible classified ad at the bottom corner of the page.

In the field it says IN SEARCH IMMEDIATELY. BABYSITTER. FULL TIME. CALL: 0856XXXXXXXXX. I scratched my hair. A babysitter doesn't need special skills, does it? Just looking after the baby, right? Like feeding, changing diapers, it won't be too hard.

I used to look after my nephew Sean. It's not very good but I've had a bit of a baby.

With 'holding Sean' as an experience, I immediately searched my phone and I dialing the phone number listed on the job ad. I do the pulling and exhaling while I wait for the phone to connect. My heart rate is now out of order.

 It wasn't until two seconds, there was a lift.

"Ha–"

"Your credit balance is insufficient to do..."

Instantly, my life was like flying away from my body, I put a cell phone in my face. I straightened my seat in the hard bus seat. My back bone makes a strange noise.

I stroked my back, holding back the pain while staring at the bus driver who was right in front of me.

"What's wrong with me, god" whined me quietly, embarrassed if anyone heard.

I think my path to my ultimate goal, escape from poverty, is still very, very far away.

Much further than I initially thought.