Chapter six
Rosella stared at her reflection in the half broken mirror as she prepared for the day ahead. Today, she’ll have to look for a better paying job and she needed to look her best. She was far from pretty, she thought as she considered the dark smudges under her eyes due to lack of sleep. She also stared at her sunken cheekbones and the green color of her eyes looked watched out. I look like a chariot of horses has trampled me! She thought grimly as she glared at herself in the mirror. Another disturbing thought occurred to her…she didn’t have a single dress to her name. The only dress she had is probably a hundred years old. It was the only decent piece of clothing she had; she did not even want to think about wearing it. She walked slowly to the trunk and searched for the dress. She lifted it out from the trunk slowly. She had not brought the dress out in so long; she was frankly surprised it was not covered with a layer of dust and cobwebs to go with it. She lifted the dress to herself. Oh la! But this dress was ancient
; the ruffles making it look like a museum piece. “Why are you up so early...and what are you doing with that dress?” Cat asked dubiously eyeing the dress. Ro startled stared at her like a goose. “please…do not tell me you are even thinking of putting that on, why, if anyone saw you like that, I will be disgraced, surely” Cat said matter of factly. “You will be disgraced?” Ro asked incredulously. “Why, I do believe I am the one putting on this priceless artifact, it is my pride that will suffer, not yours Cat” Ro finished. “You are actually going to wear this dress! Whatever for?” Cat asked wide- eyed not quite believing her sister. “Yes, I believe I will” Ro said happily dismaying her sister more. “you see Cat, I’m going to look for a job, the rent has increased, and the landlord promised to throw us out by month’s end if we do not pay up” Ro said soberly. Cat shoulders slumped. “Whatever will we do Ro?” she sniffed. “I was thinking I’ll go by one of those really fancy houses on fifth avenue and ask for vacancy for a governess perhaps?” Ro said soothingly, not so sure. “But you will need references for these things, you don’t have any you know” Cat whined. Ro looked at her perplexed. “I will try my best Catherine, I should get prepared” Ro said quietly staring into nothingness. Sensing her sister’s abrupt change of mood, she ran towards her to give her a hug. “I shall help you dress then” cat said on a lighter note. “I should like that” Ro said half smiling.
Twenty minutes later, after shedding the offensive ruffles, the dress looked almost pretty. It matched Rosella’s eyes perfectly. She picked up her battered shawl, very much conscious of the fact that she did not have a bonnet to cover her bare head. Respectable ladies can not be seen outside with their bare heads!!! Why, the very thought of it was scandalous!!! “You are very pretty Ro” cat said wistfully. Bah! If it were only true.
The summer sun was not kind at this time of day. Rosella squinted and held her hand over forehead to shield her face, she hoped today held promise for her.
