A loud rapping on the oak door to Dorthyann's bedroom provided two things: a rude awakening and a prediction of who was on the other side. It could only be her maid, Maudie. Dorthyann slid out of bed and dragged her feet against the Oreiental imported rug to unlock the door. Sure enough Maudie threw the door open, missing Dorthyann's face by a few inches.
"Morning miss!" She said cheerfully, her Brooklyn accent very presentable. Though Momma tried and tried at smoothing it out the stubborn thing never went away. Maudie always used to say, "The place you were born in has a place in your heart, mine is in my voice." Then she would laugh as it was the funniest joke she had ever heard. Her laugh sounded nothing short of bovine.
"Morning Maudie, " Dorthyann said with less enthusiasm. She stretched her face as to wake her up, Maudie while picking an outfit for today made judgemental faces in the mirror. Dorthyann rolled her eyes.
She carefully examined Maudie as she fingered through Dorthyann's dresses, stopping at her least favorite dress. She pulled it out and said, "This would be perfect for today!" Dorthyann frowned. The light pink dress had more poof in it's sleeves than the entire dress and it was a weird grey pink color. "Its unladylike to frown." Maudie said.
"Mother isn't here, so it don't matter." She said using improper grammer to prove her point. Maudie frowned and slipped the dress over Dorthyann's head. She pulled at the dress until it fit snug on Dorthyann's waist. Maudie guided her to the vanity table and she sat down on the plush velvet chair while Maudie fiddled with her truffle colored hair somehow tying it into a fancy updo.
Maudie went on and on about the days events. Dorthyann just tuned them out until the twenty three year old maid stepped back in admiration. "You look beautiful!" She squealed. Dorthyann looked in the mirror, she actually did look decent. Maudie worked wonders and even made the dress look good.
Dorthyann was swept away to breakfast with her family. Her family consisted of her parents, two sisters, and four brothers.
Mother's maiden name was Gulliver, that's why that was her last name. She was born to her father who passed away when she was twelve. Dorthyann loved her father but didn't miss him much. He wasn't very supportive and often wasn't home. Mother worked extra hard to take care of Dorthyann and her brother. Until she married William Hearst.
William Hearst. Her step father. If any oppurtunity presented itself to get away from her step father she took it. Dorthyann despised her step father. He was evil, vile, vicious, and cruel. He had no morals and often lied in his newspaper The Journal. Dorthyann always wondered why her mother married him, maybe the money but life would have been better off without him.
Her two sisters were Hearst born. Tilly and Beatrice were their names. They were twins and seven years old. Dorthyann considered them as the evil step sisters. They often broke things and blamed her for it. It got of Dorthyann's nerves.
Her two Hearst born brothers were alright. She did not get annoyed with them nearly as much as the evil step sisters. William Jr. and George were their names. One twenty three, the other nineteen she did not see her brothers a lot but often enjoyed joking with them but sometimes they took things a little too seriously.
Her natural brother was Jeremiah Gulliver. Jeremiah was the sweetest, nicest brother a sister could ask for. Jeremiah was three when he fell on his head and damaged his brain. Jeremiah was slow minded and speaking. He was always their for Dorthyann although, and she trusted him.
After breakfast Dorthyann went through the Wednesday schedule with little change except a longer visit to the mayor's house. Mayor Van Wyck had three sons who she had befriended and was often at their house. Robert, Anderson, and Thomas. Robert was seventeen, Anderson was her age of fifteen, and Thomas was ten. Jeremiah and Thomas were really good friends, while Dorthyann spent time with Robert and Anderson. Dorthyann's mother had practically already planed for her wedding to Robert even though she never liked him, Anderson on the other hand.
Anderson had striking features that attracted many girls, but he seemed to like her too. "The ladies are not falling at your feet!" Dorthyann scoffed blushing from embaressment and anger.
"Well my rippling muscles are hard to resist." He said flexing his arm, Dorthyann stared at his tanning bicep longer then she should have and rolled her eyes. He wore a plaid shirt rolled up to show off his muscles and dress pants that were tight around his thighs. Robert sat under a lamp in a rocking chair, his face so close to the book that I thought his circular glasses touched the large novel.
"You are so coinceited. You'd have better luck with a dog then with me!" Dorthyann teased back with her finger engaged in hair twirling.
"I've got an idea!" Anderson said. Dorthyann shifted on her seat. Anderson's ideas lately consisted of a competition and a kiss. "If I best you in a race then I get to kiss you. You choose where and what we race."
Dorthyann tapped her chin. Anderson would win by foot no doubt. Pretty much anything athletic he'd win. So that ruled out bicycles also. What Anderson didn't know was that she was very keen around town. "Ok. Race by trolley. We each take different ones and we'll race to the Brooklyn Bridge!"
Anderson's face went white. "Brooklyn? Trolley, what about the strike?" He hesistated.
"What's the matter are you scared?" Dorthyann teased. He shook his head quickly.
"Ready. Set. Go!" Anderson laughed running down the stairs. Robert had hardly paid any attention to them so he wouldn't miss them. She took after Robert and chased down the best trolley line she knew, avoiding the one on strike. The race to Brooklyn was on.
