𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑛-𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒜𝓇𝓉𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒟ℴ𝒹𝑔ℯ𝓇//ʲᵃᶜᵏ ᵈᵃʷᵏⁱⁿˢ

𝙴𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚂𝚒𝚡

ℐ 𝒶𝓂 𝓂ℴ𝓇ℯ 𝓅ℴ𝓌ℯ𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 ℐ 𝒶𝓂 𝒹𝒶𝓂𝒶𝑔ℯ𝒹 －𝒩𝒾𝓀𝒾𝓉𝒶 𝒢𝒾𝓁𝓁

MARY-ROSE

THE NEXT DAY WAS A HASTLE; but not due of the horrid Australian weather, but more on the matter of sneaking out from under the covers without Jack—being the light sleeper he is—waking and asking where I was off to. Although tired, I had my mind set on a mission that I was going to stop at nothing to fulfil because if I didn't get this task done, Jack would be missing a hand, and I couldn't sit by and let that happen.

It was beyond early in the morning when I woke myself from my anxious sleep, the sun hadn't even risen from its own slumber let alone anyone in the house. Thankfully, the bank had an early morning start too, I had a dear friend who worked for the local company—that was the only reason I trusted my funds to be locked away there, I trusted Pearl with my money and life savings because I knew she'd never use it for her own gain and she'd damn well ensure to if somebody would try, they would die trying if they were to take a even penny from my account. She was a hard nut to crack, tough, strong minded, and certainly sassy, she's just not one to be pushed around. She scared me sometimes with the amount of people she threatens because they looked at her funny, but I loved her.

I've known the girl for years, growing up on the harsh streets of George Town with nothing but the clothes on our backs, we made do. Pearl was an orphan, living alongside her Aunt Maggie. Lovely lady she is, kinder than the rest of the townsfolk and rather over caring with the strays—including the children. Aunt Margaret is a gorgeous woman, even to the day she contracted the Typhus disease.

The strong woman she is, survived, coming out of it with a toothy grin and then saying 'Nothing can kill the soul'. And she was right. She was in fact the soul of the town, the living spirit and the most beautiful woman to know. She made your day bright although the overcast clouds blocking out the sun, she made everybody see the colours beyond the rain if you will. Maggie is a woman who looks her best without trying, a woman who saves pennies for the kids on the cornerstone pavement, she feeds the hungry and chips in to every fundraiser, she loves the children of this town, she says it reminds her of Pearl. Aunt Mag didn't have any of her own kids, her husband never came back from the war so she found comfort in mothering for the parent-less youth.

To this day she believes Charles is looking over her shoulder, giving her advice on what to do. She says every night, as she sits alone in bed, a bed she once shared with her husband, she looks up through her window, clasps her hands together and prays to Charles—asking him if she was doing the right thing. My heart aches for Aunt Maggie, but like she says, the good die young and God just must have spared her due to knowing she had unfinished business, she needed to save these children as give them a chance.

I suppose Pearl took after her in that way, Pearl inherited the kindness and religiousness when somehow finds a spare schilling or shelter for the children who have nowhere else to go, she seems to always spare herself a few hours each day to go help somewhere in the town and when she's not at the bank, she's spending time at the church or orphanage where Maggie spends her own time. We all work together in trying to get the kids back onto their feet, get them clothed, sheltered, in good health, and loved.

That's where I come in. When the child is in bad health, which us majority of the time from the years of neglect, Jack and I tend to the wounded or sick and give them a fighting chance and we don't stop until the child has recovered sufficiently to the best health they can be in. So, on top of assisting the children, we work at the hospital—this certainly keep us busy and by the time we get home, we hear word of somebody else who needs our help.

Wrapping my fist onto the old wooden door, it wasn't long before my dear friend Pearl answered, the doorframe being filled with her pleasant features. "I'll give it to ya', Rosey, you're determined."

"Pearl, lovely to see you again," I smile at the brunette girl, she truly was a sight for sore eyes. I always loved her company, she was just as joyous as a puppy when it came to life. I never quite understood how she ended up behind a Bank counter, I more expected her to be inside a carriage, waving a white gloved hand with a handsome prince beside her—that was her dream when we were just little girls on the sidewalk, dancing to our own singing with flowers in our hair. We never worried nor thought of how we might look, neither did we care. "I was wondering what my account balance would be?"

Pearl reached under the chipped oak countertop, appearing back with a dusty manilla folder. "Twenty Pounds, Mary," She opens the folder and slides over a slip of paper, a few simple scribbles on the tapered piece. "May I ask the reason for your request to meet at such hour?"

Sliding my glasses farther up the bridge of my nose, I fold the paper and stuff it into my purse. "Family matters. Jack  ruffled a few of the wrong feathers and got himself into some trouble."

"You really shouldn't be wasting your money with that man," That's another thing I forgot to mention, Pearl despises Jack. She has ever since Jack and I were arrested when we turned sixteen—Although Pearl trusted and believed in my own dreams, she thought I'd be happier, safer, and a whole lot better off at a job like hers or as a mothering wife. That is the only thing Pearl and I don't agree on.

"You and I both know Jack doesn't have the money to carry this debt over, it's a one time thing, Pearl," With a coy smile, I place my purse back onto my shoulder.

"You said that last time, Mary-Rose," I frown at the use of my full name, not many people still use the 'Mary-Rose' term anymore, it seemed in Australia I was referred to as nothing more than two syllables because it was too difficult for the Australian accent to speak.

"And there will probably be a next but until then," I give the woman a wave before showing myself from the pine themed building, venturing down the street and towards my final destination of the morning. I was determined just like Pearl said and I wasn't going to let him down.