“Do yo' haf enny grub fo' mah siblin's, miss?” A little dirty boy asks as he pulls on my skirt.
I look down at him, nose wrinkling despite my effort to control my expression.
“I’m sorry, little boy. I do not carry any food with me.”
He sighs and walks away dejectedly, head hung.
I start walking, stop and turn around intending to give the boy the half penny I had sitting in my pocket but he was gone. Part of me was relieved but another part of me felt sorrow for the child. London was full of homeless children always wanting money. If I gave coins to every child I would soon join them. Father did not agree with this logic but Mother lived by it. I sighed, whose side I would take, I don’t think I’d ever find out.
I kept walking; head down so as to not make eye contact with anyone. I was in a hurry. Beatrice had told me to hurry home for she had heard word from Father. We had decided to not open it until Mother and Alexander arrived home from Martha Green’s house where they were having tea.
Finally I came upon a brick house that looked as if it was slightly sinking in the middle. It was old and smelled slightly no matter how many flowers we put in the rooms and the blue door was atrocious but I loved it none the less.
I walked in, “Mother, I’m home.”
“Greetings, darling. Come, sit, let us read your father’s note.”
My siblings and I all crowded around my mother as she sat in her favorite armchair. I plopped down onto the ground, grinning excitedly.
Mother folded her hands in her lamp and looked down her slightly pointed nose. “Bridget, what have I told you about sitting on the ground?”
I sighed, “Ladies should never sit on the floor. It is unbecoming and the floor will no doubt ruin my dress.”
“Yes. Now shall we follow my teachings?”
“Perhaps…” I said, prolonging my stay on the floor.
“Now, Bridget.”
“Please, Mother.”
“I do not know why you must make such a fuss about this Bridget. Just sit on the couch or I shall just read this letter to Beatrice and Alexander.”
“Fine, Mother. I shall follow your ‘teachings’.” I heaved a large sigh and stood up being sure to hike my skirts well above my knees in doing so resulting in a sharp intake of breath from my mother. I grinned and sat down taking a few extra seconds to arrange my dusty skirts around me.
I looked at mother. “I believe I am ready.”
