The Hawaiian Princess

Chapter 4-The Girl

Edmund

I slipped into bed after the midnight snack and replayed all the events that had taken place. I had headed down to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water when all of a sudden I heard someone coughing and wheezing. I quickly follow the coughing just like I followed the singing and soon found myself in a servant's quarter and soon into a room with many beds but only one occupant. She was only a girl, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, with freckles and possibly brown or aurburn hair. I calmly walked over to her and offered her the bottle of water I got from the kitchen. Through all her coughing and gasping she smiled and looked at me as if I were her angel.

While she drank I turned on the light. The water seemed to have been of little help and she started searching for something else. She seemed to have found her medication and take her puffs. She was an asthmatic and her Ventolin seemed to help settle her. "Thank you," she says breathlessly to me.

"You're welcome. I was in the kitchen when I heard you."

"Oh," the young, red-headed girl said looking a little disappointed. "Well thank you, if you hadn't of been in the kitchen I might not be here right now."

"No problem," I replied. "What is your name?"

"Anela, what is yours?" I just smiled and said, "You'll find out soon enough," and with that I turned the light off and left. And now as much as I tried, I could not fall asleep again. Who was this girl and why was she working in this place? Why was she not at a school? My mind kept swirling with idea's but just like the singer I could not figure out what was going on. I could still hear her coughing here and there and more questions came to my mind. Why was she alone? Why didn't the other workers help her? The questions just kept coming but no answers, eventually I fell asleep and morning came.

"Good morning Jonathon," I say as I enter the room.

"Good morning Edmund, Jessica should be down soon, how was your night?" he replies from behind his newspaper.

"Well funny you should ask," I say with a smile on my face.

"Why, what happened?" he asks dropping his newspaper to show a face filled with curiosity.

"One of the maids has asthma," I say rather bluntly.

"Ah yes, that would be Anela," he returns to his paper as if what I said wasn't important.

"So you know?" I say.

"Yes, I've knew before she started working," he replies but I know he is focusing on the latest news story.

"When did she start working here?" I push him.

"Seven years ago," he replies dully. "Why are you so interested in this girl? You came here for Jessica, remember? You agreed." He reminds me.

"Yes and I intend to fulfil that promise but that is not the point. Why is she in a room all by herself when she could have an asthma attack? And why and you so disinterested in this matter?"

Jonathan folds the paper and tells me sternly "She is just a maid. As long as she does her work she can stay. You are not to get involved in this Edmund; you are here for one reason, if you stick your nose where it doesn't belong you'll be out as quick as you came in. Understand?"

I had more to say but I saved it, "Yes sir," and continued to eat.