Caesar

CHAPTER THREE • DEAR MR DALE

1893

In thin round framed glasses, a cheap lousy but neatly ironed suit, black leather brogues, Mr Dale wanders walking aimlessly through a huge mansion. Through his glasses, he views the relief sculptures of "Ser Damerian Devoy, 1440(The Founder)." The exquisite designs on his stoned clothing are quite extraordinary, seeming real but frozen. Damerian's stone eyes stare back at him as his legs wander towards the entrance.

Two men of great might stand in front of the mansion guarding it. Their stern faces dictate an answer from him. He seems only but a dwarf in comparison to both giant guards.

"What are you here for?" One voices out loud, his voice deep and authoritative.

"Mr Dale...I am Mr Dale... The music teacher.... I am to begin working as a tutor for young Mr Davoy!"

Their squeezed fierce faces becomes even more fierce as the same voice answers him taking a step from his post;
" This way, ser!"

Walking past a huge hall, dim yellow escapes a crystal chandelier. Mr Dale walks in silence as his eyes give him a tour around. As they draw closer to the child's room, there is no sign that a child inhabits the mansion. He contrasts the Devoy's mansion to the orphanage he runs with his wife. His eyes imaging balls, toys or even child friendly books but there's nothing littered around.

He follows the lead of the stern faced guard climbing up the stairs. A loud giggle sounds from the top as a bunch of young women climb down.

One stands out, her brown hair is wrapped up like a ball and her golden earrings dangles. She stops opening her mouth as an angelic soft voice escapes it; "Mr Henry, right?"

"Yes, I am to..."

"Ensure you teach my son properly!" She replies rudely.

With that she heads down the stairs accompanied by her ladies. The guard bends down greeting her, she ignores him chattering in her angelic voice.

"That Young Woman is the madam of the house?" Mr Dale asks unable to hide the puzzled expression on his face.

"Yes." The Guard replies shrewdly then hurries up the stairs standing in front of a massive black door;
" we are here!"

He knocks on the door and a morose child's voice sounds from behind the door.
"It is never locked!"

He walks inside, eyes roaming round till they see the owner of the voice. A god of a child sits in the hall sized room going through some massive sized books. There are no toys in his room, just heavy sophisticated books. When the child's golden brown eyes come up, Culprit shoots his arrow and he falls in love instantly with the child. Why not? He was a beauty!

Mr Henry dips his hands in his pocket bringing out a piece of candy.
"What's your name, young Master?"

As this wide eyed beauty stares at him, he could sense a bound of unexplainable sorrow, too massive to be in the eyes of a child his age. After an eternity of heightened silence, the child finally responds barely in a whisper; " Caesar...it's Caesar Devoy."

"What a nice voice you've got there!'

" Don't lie...Daddy says it's hideous and I shouldn't speak!" Caesar immediately responds then goes back to reading his book.

"What are you reading?"

"Advanced Chemistry!" Caesar answers with his eyes still on the book.

Mr Dale stares puzzled but stretches his hands out; " You want a candy?"

Caesar's massive eyes stare down at the pink sachet sweet, his eyes full of curiosity.

"You don't know what this is?"

Caesar's eyes remain on him, static refusing to divert.

"I can't believe it...Come dear boy...it's a candy, silly...all the children love it...it was made by my wife!"

Caesar stands up, eyes on the candy as his feet draws him closer to the stranger who tears the sachet open for him.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???" A woman's voice sounds from the end of the room. The candy falls to the ground breaking into minute pieces.
"Candy...he says he has never had it before...!"

Her eyes stare down at the trembling child then goes back up to Mr Dale; " And is this what I pay you for? Feeding my baby trash...! " she screams loud.

"It's not trash, Madam...all the children around me...!"

"All those peasant kids...My Caesar is not like those hungry children of yours, he's fragile, weak...is this how you intend to do your job?"

"No madam!" She walks further then stops at the door; "Caesar, your Father wants to see you!"

Caesar walks towards the door but is held back by Mr Dale.
"Here kid...quick!" The man hands him the candy with a smiling face. Caesar picks it up and the cutest little smile appears on his immature face as he devours it.

"Smile more...you're beautiful!"

"Beautiful? Isn't that for girls?" He speaks still chewing the candy, his voice is higher than before as he asks with a confused face with his eyes still on the ground.

"You're prettier than all the little girls I have seen!...now quickly eat up the candy... It would add some sweetness to your bitter life!"

He nods throwing the rest of the candy into his mouth.

"Caesar!" His mother screams louder, he runs towards the door then looks back smiling at Mr Dale. His smile is naive and innocent with two milk teeth missing.

"Don't let me say your name one more time!..."

He runs out of the room in the cutest way wearing mismatched socks.