A Friend And Enemy

2 *Angela's POV*

"Angela...? Angel? May I come in please?" I heard a voice outside my door. It was Lou- our maid.

"Of course you may, Lou. But be very quiet. I am supposed to be in bed." I said and mopped my eyes.

"Thank you Miss. Sorry for calling you by name." Lou said and entered my room.

"That's alright Lou. You may call me Angela but only when my parents aren't around though." I said and smiled slightly and looked at Lou properly.

She was a petite girl with lovely, lemon coloured hair and big, blue eyes. They were a shining, brilliant blue that could see right through me. Her lacy apron contrasted with her rosy dress. The dress would have been a harsh grey but I demanded it was pink because she wouldn't match my room. Her boots were the same, old black ones that she wore when she was at the Foundling Hospital though. I wanted them to be petite slippers- similar to my ones but they were too expensive and her black boots still fitted her. She had a slight smile on her young face.

"How old are you, Lou?" I asked.

"15, Miss. Sorry... Angela." She replied. I gasped. She was so young!

"Is everything alright Mi... Angela? Should I call for your Mother?" She questioned me.

"No! No! Please do not! She... They have just told me that I will need to go to the doctors soon and oh! I am so very scared! Then they said might conclude in my going to the hospital for a while! Oh woe is me, Lou!" I cried and fell into her arms.

"Oh no! I am so sorry Angela but I am afraid there is nothing I can do" she made a sad face "however I can tell you about my harsh times and hopefully you will see that going to the hospital may not be as bad."

"That would be outstanding! Thank you."

...

"My first memory is somebody's arms holding me close and the next thing that I know we are entering a noisy place full of dirt and smoke. A huge piece of metal stands there and I am led into it. I sit on a hard seat and people are trying to make me laugh. The next thing I know I am being led into a cab and then strong hands lift me up and take me to big, iron gates. I must tell you that I was 6 years old then and I was very, very scared. The Foundling Hospital stood before me in all it's glory. A pair of unnaturally smooth, cold hands grabbed my own hand and led me into a room full of white baths in orderly rows. There were also porcelain sinks with iron taps. The floor was like a black and white checker board. The smooth hands let go of me and said: "Matron, this is Louisa Bead. She has just arrived from her foster home." I looked up at the new woman. She was very fat. She had at least 5 chins! She told me to take my clothes off. So I took my coat, dress and petticoat off and stood in front of her. "Take all of your clothes off Louisa. Do not be silly." I didn't want to argue so I did. She grabbed my clothes and crumpled them up, throwing them into a basket. Next she grabbed my boots and threw them on top of the other clothes. "Get in the bathtub this instant!" she barked at me and I did. The water was icy cold but when she scrubbed my hair clean she spilt a bucket of scorching hot water over my head. Then she gave me an ugly, mud brown dress with a pristine tippet, cap and apron. I put them on and she led me inside a ro..."

"What is the meaning of this???!!! Louisa! Why are you talking to your Miss as though she was your best friend???!!!" Oh no! Mother had made her way into my room when Lou was telling me her story.

"Mother, it is alright. I told Lou to do this." I said.

"Oh yes? But do I have any proof? You shouldn't be a best friend with your servant, Angela. And I'm sure I heard her calling you by name! It is unacceptable! Now Lou, you will make your way all the way down to the kitchen and wash all of the dishes and cups and saucers left from supper while I have an important chat with my daughter." She said in a very grim voice.

"Yes ma'am." Lou said in a sad voice. "Goodnight Angela!"

"Yes Mother. Goodnight Lou." I said and realised that I made another mistake.

"You must not wish your servant! Angela when will you learn?" Mother screamed.

"Never! She is my servant and I shall talk to her as I wish!!!" I screamed back.

"Go to bed this instant!!! We will talk tomorrow!!!" Mother shouted and left my room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Oh Mother..." I thought.

I rushed to my wardrobe and took my dressing gown off. I hang it on the peg and stepped towards my bed. Suddenly my legs started to shake and I fell down, my head crashing to the ground.

~~~

Hey! Sorry for the short chapter- I would have done more bur I wanted a cliffhanger, you know- she falls down etc. I hope you're enjoying the story so far as I am trying to spend as much of my private time on it as I can :)

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Peace

Magda xxx