Francesca's Dream

A Spy is Born

Francesca awoke to morning light shining in through a small cracked window. The other girls beds were empty; Francesca pushed her fair hair out of her face. She rolled out of her bed, her feet hitting the rough worn wood of the floor. She made her way to the closet that the girls shared. She pulled her uniform from the closet and shifted out of her this night gown. Once dressed she walked over to the small wall mirror, throwing her hair into two simple french braids. She slipped on her shoes and made her way down to the kitchen for breakfast. 

Everyone was already sitting at the table eating, that is except for the twins who were throwing pieces of their toast at each other from across the table. "Good mornin', about time you got out of bed." Heather said sprinkling flour onto the counter top. "Morning Heather." Francesca said with a smile; walking through the kitchen. Suddenly a chunk of bread came flying through the air hitting her in the back of the head. "Oi, if I see another piece of bread fly across the room, both of you will be cleaning the entire kitchen tonight." Heather shouted angerly at the twins. Atticus blushed red, while Delcan snickered at the remark. "Those boys will never learn! Anyway some breakfast is still over their on the table if you want it." Heather said, now rolling out bread dough for tonight's dinner.

Francesca went and sat at the breakfast table, a bowl of scramble eggs and a pile of toast. She devoured her eggs with furry, pouring a cup of weak coffee to wash down the toast. "You know my brother has a huge crush on you!" Declan shouted across the table. Francesca who was mid sip of her coffee, spat out her coffee coughing. "WHAT!" Both her and Atticus exclaimed. "I don't like her, I Barely know her!""That's not what it sounded like last night, while you were asleep. Francesca, Francesca, your soo pretty, kiss me!" Declan mocked. Before he knew it Heather had snatched him by the ear, leading him out the back door shouting 

"That's it! I've had enough of you, get out and stay out until you have learned to behave yourself!" Opening the door, she let go of his ear and kicked him out; slamming the door behind. "So help me Atticus, if you ever behave like your brother I will beat you with a wooden spoon!" Heather marched back over to the counter and continued kneading her dough. Atticus, and Sarah left the room as quickly as possible; Mr. Ellis left soon after thanking Heather for the food. Francesca was now alone with the still fuming Heather. The room was quiet for a moment, before Heather finally spoke clearing the air. "You can talk now instead of giving me those big doe eyes." She was with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "You came in pretty late last night, did you find what you were looking for?" The comment took Francesca back a moment, had Heather stayed up waiting for her? "Yeah I found it." She replied a little to loud. "Good, now get off your ass and go give Mr. Raswood his breakfast. Sarah left without it, and I don't need complaints that its gone cold." Heather replied with a little sass and sarcasm. 

Francesca went toward the silver tray that contained Eric's breakfast. "Oh and don't forget the news paper, on the stand next the the drawing room door." Heather added. 

Eric was tapping his foot, waiting in the drawing room for his breakfast. That Sarah girl was running late, and he wouldn't stand for it. Their was a knock at the door, "Come in." He called. It wasn't Sarah who entered the drawing room, but it was Francesca. She carried the silver platter over to the coffee table that propped his feet up. Eric removed his feet, leaning forward to inspect his breakfast; eggs, toast with various jams and jellies, a cup of black coffee and the morning paper. "Sarah was attending to other matters this morning, so I offered to deliver your breakfast this morning for her." Francesca said quietly handing him the morning paper. "Thank you, now close the door; I have something to share with you." He said with the up most seriousness. 

Francesca walked over to the door, peeking her head out of the room, assuring that their was no one listening. She shut the door, firmly locking it. "Please sit" Eric said patting the seat on the sofa next to him. Francesca came and sat on the supple brown leather of the couch, "I reached out to a very powerful contact in the Ozian Resistance. They are at war with Elphaba; they are fighting to return things to the old ways of peace. He is going to help free your friends in due time. We both have a mutual contact who is watching out for your friends inside the camp. He works in the news office inside the camp; I have some letters that need to be delivered to the head office inside the camp. You are going to give them to him, and he will update you on your friends." Eric said with a mix of fear and hope in his eyes. This was a dangerous game they were playing, but he had to free them and help the resistance. "How will I know who your contact is?" Francesca asked with the same expression in her eyes. "My contact is a scarecrow named Henry; he is the only scarecrow that I know of." Eric said with a small smile.

"Oh I have something for you here in my suit jacket." Eric said reaching into his suit jacket pocket. He pulled out a red hair bow."He this is for you to wear, I thought that you should wear something as bold as your personality." Eric said with a slight laugh. Francesca was a bit surprised, she never expected him to give her anything. What would she tell the other girls, they would surely ask about where she got the bow. "I told Henry that you would wear the bow when you meet;he sometimes forgets names, but can remember certain features about a person. The bow is how he is going to identify you." Eric said glancing at the wall clock across the room. "You must leave, someone will likely come looking for you." Francesca stood up to leave; Eric grabbed her hand with both of his. "You will do fine, don't stress yourself out with this. Just go in get the info ,and leave." He said with kind eyes, and with that he let go of her hand. Francesca quickly left the room before someone would notice her absence. 

Sarah was rounding the corner towards the drawing room, with dust pan and broom in hand. She noticed Francesca's pretty head poking out of the drawing room door; she was looking like she was trying to hide.  What is she doing?  Sarah thought. She quickly ducked behind a large potted plant; she watched Francesca look as if to see anyone coming towards the drawing room. Francesca quickly walked away from the room, closing the door behind her. Sarah waited a few minutes more, before moving towards the room. She placed her hand on the brass knob, when the door opened furiously before her. Mr. Raswood was standing in the door way; both of them had a bit of shock on their face. Sarah began tripping over her words," Ohh I- I'm sorry sir, I- I didn't realize you were still in here." She stammered. "Uh, Yes I was just leaving, and I expect that you will be removing my breakfast platter, since you did not deliver it this morning." He replied with a smart-ass tone. "Oh oh yes sir, I'm sorry I was busy with some- some other duties this morning; It will never happen again sir." "It better not, or you will be out of a job and back in the camp, understand." He said sternly. 

He left left quickly, leaving her alone in the doorway. "What could the new girl, and Mr. Raswood be doing so secretively in the drawing room?"Sarah said to herself, whatever it was she was going to find out for herself.