Tears of a Bluebird

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Winter was never really my paticular season. Father always said to me that I was a summer baby, and I could not agree more. Winter, well winter always reminded me of dead things. It's such a dark season, covered with pointless sleets of snow which often bring us humans to a premature stillness. But, having said that, I found that I enjoyed the winter of 1953. I enjoyed the people I spent it with. My arrangement with Anna was always as normal; I'd go over to hers in the frosty mornings after I finished my morning chores. My mornings spent by Anna were finally tolerated when Anna turned up on Ms. Harrington's front door and evidently I knew this wasn't always an every day occurrence.

Ms. Harrington called me down from cleaning the bedrooms when someone knocked on the door.

   "Girl, the door... Get it."

I walked downstairs answered the door, only for my flesh to jerk off from my bones with such fright that a constriction seemed to tie around my ribs. 

"Why hullo, wee lass!" Anna smiled, greeting me as if I was the mother of Joseph myself. "Does your mistress happen to be in?" she asked, slanting her blue eues.

  Ms. Harrington swiftly scurried to her feet and over to the door, where she pushed me aside like I was thin air.

"'Anna?'

    'Ooh! So you remember me then, do you? Huh! I was wondering if I could steal Molly here this evening, Carol... I need an extra pair of hands, you see. I'm not as young as I used to, but Molly there looks as fit as a fiddle and I'm sure enough she'd manage to help clear me front path."

I watched the mistress hesitate before she looked backwards and gave me a long scrutinising grimace, stating in an austere manner, "I'll send you my oldest lad, Richard. He'll do it in half the time. Besides, the girl is already occupied, Anna. She's my maid, not a sociable encounter!' Ms. Harrington went to close the door shut, but suddenly Anna's foot barged inbetween the frame and prevented the mistress from closing it entirely. Ms. Harrington's eyes glared at her foot in awe for some seconds, before she looked back up at the bright smiling face of Ms. Anna Florrence. 

   "I thought you might be reluctant and say that..." She was laughing now, her breath vidid in the snow. "So I resorted to plan B and the father said I was perimitted to take Molly this evening. He also asked me to pass you on a message, saying I was to tell you to meet him at the Campbell's where some sort of exorcism will be taking place. So, I've passed on his message and while you attend to that, I will take Molly. Come on Molly, let's go before am blue in the face."

I couldn't move. I was like a frozen statue, staring in trepidation at both Anna and the disgusted expression of my mistress. When I didn't move, Anna laughed. "Does it help you that Ginny and Maggie are already waiting for us? We're gonna have a tea party!"

Aah, her cake. Her cake was enough temptation for me.

   I gulped. "Mistress?"

There was a long pause before Ms. Harrington replied and I knew too clearly that she was beyond vexed with the both of us.

"Well go on then, girl! God in Heaven knows why you'd be of use to anyone, but there we have it!"  The mistress yanked me forward and pushed me again, this time towards Anna. I hadn't even regained my balance yet when already the mistress had slammed the front door shut and I could hear her shouting to herself.  I turned and looked across to Anna, who was grinning, then the towo of us walked together back to the cottage.

   That evening was spent with, not only with Anna, but with Edwardalso . Edward just happened to stop by his aunts, bearing a gift for her. Her gift was beautiful. I remember staring at the pearl necklace, totally mesmerised by its beauty. Anna almost cried when she unwrapped it. Edward blushed whilst saying it was nothing -  anything for his favourite and only aunt. I still liked Edward. His sense of humour, and his conversationalist skills always kept me talking and laughing; forgetting about my past. Which helped. For now, every syllable which rolled of my tongue, were always elicited with a high pitched laugh. Anna said it was good to see me so happy.