Quest For The Key

Chapter 7: Birthday Wishes

Knock, knock, knock.  “Maple!” “ I’m going mom” whined Maple. “ I’ll get it!” cried Jack pushing his sister aside. “ Lazy bones” Knock, knock.  Jack opened the door and was staring straight into the stomach of a soldier. He looked up towards the sky and there was the man’s chest. Farther and farther he tilted his head till he was looking into the face of the man. He was middle aged unshaven, with dark green eyes and  brown hair that  was swept messily to one side. You could see he had come with great speed for his horse was retired  outside on the grass and the man was covered in sweat. Above all the man  was super tall.

Jack took a step back. “May I come in?” spoke the man in a deep, deep voice.  Jack was too far away to hear him. Maple kicked Jack, hard, who came back to this world. “ Sir, would you come in “ he managed in a high tone. Just at that moment, Mr. Woodmer came around from the back of the house.  Mr. Woodmer had been gardening and was covered in dirt from his waist down, with his shirt grass stained as well. “ Good Day” Mr. Woodmer welcomed politely opening the door for his wife who came from the kitchen. She didn’t look any better. Everyone knew as well as she did that she couldn’t cook so, when she turned the corner her apron was covered in food. She had flour on her arms that reached all the way up to her elbows and her hair was coming out of the neat, and tidy bun she always kept it in. There was flour on her face and pants as well and Maple thought she saw some egg shells in her hair. Mrs. Woodmer was so embarrassed that she excused herself from the company to get freshened up. It mattered not to the soldier what they looked like. He could care less if they all looked like ugly ogres. He was just here to deliver a message. 

Soon enough the family was in the living room drinking tea and talking.  “ My name is Thoron and I come with a message from the castle.” That took the outcast family by surprise but they listened intently . Thoron said that Centra wished a word with them at the castle. They were to  come tomorrow at noon for some tea. After all was said and done Thoron was thanked for his time and was shone to the door. Maple and Jack  watched through the window with awe as the soldier got on his horse and rode off in the direction he had come. Mrs. Woodmer who had come back from her room  just exchanged one of her classic looks with her husband. 

The next morning Mrs. Woodmer was more scrambled than a scrambled egg. “Honey, dearest, change that shirt.  Jack straighten your tie and Maple put your hair up. Don’t forget to eat your breakfast, Jack don’t you dare! where’s my other shoe?, Jack!” she was yelling out commands this way and that. 

Maple:_______________________________________________________________________

Like we didn’t know to we had to polish our good shoes. My mother is definitely off her rockers and my dad isn’t any better. It seems he’s lost everything this morning and Jack, well Jack is just being a pest! I hope he gets in trouble for pulling my hair. Today  were going to the castle and I wanted to wear my new silk dress that I made myself but, mom said it wasn’t lady like enough and started looking, frantically through her wardrobe. What is her problem? Let me just say one thing. My mother hasn’t gone shopping down in the market in years .  She asks me to do it for her. When she calls me away from my friends to go to town she means “ The Family”. It seems I’m the only one with reasonable senses around here. I mean, I would die without shopping. Jeeze, if you ask me that woman should indulge herself a little. How does she live?! 

Finally after minutes of searching she came back out of the closet with a grey, silk, puffy dress. When I tried to protest she just said “ Maple Jones Woodmer. I don’t want to here it. It’s a perfectly good dress and your wearing it. Now no it’s and no buts. Go up to your room this instant and put on that dress!” I was speechless. I haven’t heard my mother talk like that since before Jack was born, and now it was serious. I wanted to scream. To break down the wall and never stop running, but I didn’t. Instead I sucked the remainder of my pride and dignity and stormed up stairs.

I marched up to my room trying to sound as mad as I could and slammed the door. It was so unfair!

I put on the dress and stood in front of  the mirror. Afraid to open my eyes, I peeked through my fingers at my reflection and nearly cried out. It looked like a dead seal and it puffed up and down in random places. A little baby tear rolled down the sidewalk of my face. I could try to protest but I knew she would not let me out of the house without that horrible dress on. My mind buzzed, my heart thumped away and it beat painfully. Why did it hurt? Why did the dress hurt? Why do I hurt? Will people see me and accept me? Will I be an outcast. No not me I wouldn’t let this happen. I racked my brain for a plan.

Just then a gust of cold air blew in through an open window. I shivered in the wind hugging my shoulder to me. It was late spring but we had gotten really chilly weather lately. Just then, I remembered that the dress I was wearing had very fine straps. Mum couldn’t tell me I couldn’t wear a shall. Tripping over myself with glee I through open my closet doors, letting them bang aginst the walls.  The only shall I could find was black, not my colour but whatever. Even though the dress was really long and went down to my ankles so the shall only covered some of the ugliness. A few candy coloured jewellery spiced it up a little.  Looking  in the mirror again I sighed, A little better at least.