Once Upon A Gotham

Dust and a Dress

Barbara was dusting the inside of a book.

If this seems like a completly, utterly useless thing to do, you would be right.

"You keep a house in perfection condition since you were seven, and this is the thanks you get," Barbara muttered to no one. It was true, Barbara had kept the house in flawless condition (she had nothing else to do) so her aunts thought of a unaturaly cruel punishment. Dusting the inside of books.

The worst part was, Barbara was not allowed to read the unused books, only clean them.

After hours of dusting Barbara finished and looked out the window. "It's past dinner time....maybe I can eat something."

She walked through the long halls and winding staircases thst lead to the kitchen.

"It's better than nothing....." Barbara said as she finished off a small loaf of bread. As she ascended to her attic bedroom, Barbara herd something that made her stop.

"So your nor letting her go to the ball?" It was Harley, her voice sounded almost sad.

"Let the little urchin go to the ball? Never! Even if she finishes her work she will never be able to make a dress."

"But Red-"

"Harley! I know what I'm doing. Don't you argree with me, Selina?"

The woman simply shrugged and contined to pet her cat.

Not go to the ball? Barbara couldn't believe her ears. She knew Ivy was cruel, but this was evil. She knew Aunt Harley was on her side......for now. The woman's mind could change instantly. Aunt Selina seemed netural, that was much better than it could be.

Ivy will obviously give me useless chores to do if I'm up.....but if I'm "sleeping." Barbara intdrupted her own thought and silently sprinted up the stairs. She dug through many boxes trying to find a very specific item.

"Please still be here, please still be here- got it!" A set of silky blue sheets were in Barbara's hands. "Not the best material, but it will have to do." The redhead looked out the small window to see that it was already late.

"Sleep is overrated anyway," Barbara mumered as she began to cut out pieces for her dress.

Barbara thought sowing was an unusually cruel activity. She always had. As she carefully began to put the needle through thread Barbara's mind wandered to a differnt time.

"Mommy! I don't like sowing! I want to go and play with James!"

"I know darling, just help me finish up this this sleeve and than you can go play."

Barbara did as her mother told her and finished the sleeve.

"Your going to be the prettiest lady at King Bruce's party, Mommy."

"Thank you darling. One day we will go to a ball together and find you a kind gentleman to dance with."

"Ewww! Boys are ivky!"

The woman laughed, "Of course they are. You can go play with James now."

Barbara kissed her mother on the cheek. "Thank you!"

"It's not nearly as good as the dresses you would make mother, but it will do." Barbara started at her finished creation, than to the morning sun just starting to come though her window.

"Tonight I will go to the ball, and dance with a kind gentleman, just as you wanted." Barbara wiped a tear from her eye.

"It's time to start making brefast." Barbara put her creation in a chest next to her bed and went downstairs to start the day.