Gemma sighed, kicking at the sand below her feet. Acting as lookout for Violet and Ophelia was not her idea of fun. They were trying to search Aribella's office for solid proof that she was indeed trying to sell the orphanage, as Eleanora had suggested.
The garden where Gemma was positioned was warm. No. It was sweltering hot. Definitely not a good time to wear jeans and a long sleeved shirt- no matter how nice they look on you.
But that was exactly what Gemma had done and so when the lunch bell rang, she didn't hesitate to rush back indoors. All thoughts of looking out for her sisters banished from her mind.
•••
The dining room was rather big. There were three huge chandeliers hanging from the sky blue ceiling. The ceiling itself was grand. It was arched into a little dome and at the top a little bird was hung in flight.
Everyone knew about the bird. It was one of the first things you'd find out the moment you enter the orphanage grounds. It was hung so high up, no one could really tell what color it was. Yet somehow, everyone knew it was a bird.
Another thing one should know about the bird is that people liked using it as a target of some sort. They'd throw rocks at it and even shoot ketchup through their straws. The odd thing was, no matter how hard they tried to hit the bird, the bird just never seemed to get hit. Whatever was being used to harm it would just fall short of a few centimeters.
That is why the orphanage was nicknamed 'Dove Orphanage' because doves are holy, magical birds. The ceiling bird was definitely one.
Now back to Gemma who so happened to be flinging the bird her mash potatoes using a spoon. She was never a big fan of potatoes.
Suddenly the dining room doors burst open with a loud bang. There stood the figure of Aribella but there were two people with her too. Everyone instantly kept quiet.
Who were they? Gemma squinted at the far away door. Oh no...
Her mother grabbed Ophelia and Violet by their ears and walked briskly to the centre of the dining room, still managing to appear lady-like and elegant.
She cleared her throat purposefully. Gemma eyes flicked towards her twin sisters. Both of them appeared disgruntled and were glaring at her. She hurriedly looked back at her mother who was about to begin a lecture or a speech or something along those lines.
"Girls, it has come to my attention that a rumor has been spreading that I am selling the orphanage," Aribella began.
At once, whispers darted from across the room as everyone started talking at once, looking wide-eyed and shocked.
Gemma couldn't help but grin. No one knew about that except her sisters and herself! Now practically the whole orphanage knows.
"Attention! Girls! I assure you that this is not true. So not a word about selling from now on, got it?" She glanced around the room at her orphans- I mean kids with no families.
"But what's going to happen to us once it's sold?" a girl with a annoyingly squeaky voiced piped up.
"It's not for sale!" shouted Aribella and immediately remembered herself. Her face relaxed a bit. "Can I see my daughters now please? The rest of you may continue with your lunch."
Gemma's eyes bulged out and she felt like throwing up.
•••
"It wasn't us!" insisted Eleanora. "We didn't spread rumors."
"Eleanora. Do you think I was born yesterday? I've had many girls entering my office and lying through their teeth since I've been owner of this orphanage. I can spot a lie as easy as Penelope counting to ten,"
Aribella snapped.
"It's true! We didn't tell anyone. We didn't even know!" Gemma added.
"Liar."
Gemma's sisters glared at her as if saying 'it's because of you we are in trouble. So just shut your imbecile mouth'.
She got stared into silence.
"First you spread rumors, then you break into my office. Honestly! I thought you knew better. I am really disappointed in all of you. If anything like this happens again, I swear I'll disown you!"
There was a collective gasp and Aribella looked like she was regretting her words too but said nothing.
Mavis mumbled an apology and the others followed suit. Their mother shooed them away.
Once they got away from Aribella, Eleanora said " Well we can't stop now can we? We need another plan since we didn't find anything in Mom's office."
The others nodded in agreement.
"But we must remember that Mom would be keeping an eye on us. Don't look now but here she comes,"
Ophelia muttered.
Everyone looked and Ophelia beckoned them, rolling her eyes, up the nearest stairs leading to the library.
"There's bound to be another way to get proof," said Penelope, holding the door to the library for her sisters to enter.
Just as they walked in, another person shoved her way past them and hastily took off for the other end of the corridor.
"I think I have an idea..." Gemma said, watching their tutor round the corner.
