'STARS HANG FOR PENELOPE'

|Chapter 3|

      Penelope had a bored look on her face as she stood on the sidelines of the Richmonds family dinner. Her eyes scanned the room lazily, trying to find anything to entertain her. She didn't know why she forgot what "helping with dinner" would entail. After cleaning up the kitchen, Mama M had finished the food which then lead to them setting up the table; plating everything perfectly for the seemingly perfect family. The dinning table wasn't huge, able to fit up to 8 but currently only sitting 4; more than enough to Penelope.
         The family had been rowdy, filled with a delicious meal and some with wine, constantly talking about anything and everything. Penelope was slightly irritated, for she was tired and didn't quite understand where their energy was coming from. *Probably from them not having to work a day in their lives*, she thought bitterly. She needed sleep soon. She decided to just listen in on their conversation for the time being.

  " Oh darling you are a card!" Madam Alane giggled as she patted her husbands hand before gently caressing it.
         Their kids sat around smiling as they all looked in adoration. Penelope had a sunken feeling wash over her, she suddenly thought on the woman who groomed her.

      * * A younger version of Penelope worked her way around an all white-clothed table. The sun shining brightly through the room, as the wind blew the white curtains and cloth on the table. She had an easy smile on her face, as she hummed and continued to organize the items on the table; a finished set in front of each chair. The giggles could be heard as they escaped her lips and she twirled. Everything was graceful and In slow motion. A door was opened and she suddenly stopped.

    "Penelope." She looked over at the woman who now stood in the kitchen with her. Penelope looked at her face and couldn't help but frown. She did not look happy. The young girl stayed silent.
    " I see you sat the table, seemingly very well..." Penelope started to smile and went to hug the woman.
     The woman held up her hand.
    " You think you did well just because you set a table correctly Penelope? You have to do so much better..does a servant prance around like some loon?" The woman's voice menacingly calm. Penelope shook her head, bowing in shame.
    "Well?"
   " Once a servant has finished her duties, she stands still against the wall and waits to be ordered once more" she mumbled.
   Penelope snuck a glance to see the woman smiling tightly, a hint of greed in her expression. Penelope suddenly felt sick but she couldn't look a way. A servant girl wasn't allowed to look away . * *

       Penelope blinked fiercely.

     She wondered if her family would have looked at her like that, or maybe, would she have been blessed with the look on the Richmonds faces? She sighed as she focused back on the eldest Child's story of college. 

        "Leann thought they were so attractive, but I know no good city slickers when I see 'em. They was wearin' their fanciest attire and kept telling these corny jokes, which were to no avail. Leading them back to flash their cash and treatin us to more wine...not that I was complaining, it was a college party after all." Hilly smiled her dazzling, fluttering her lashes before opening her mouth again.
       Hilly was the 21, almost 22 in month, year old daughter of the Richmonds. She was a very peppy talkative being, with a southern belle vibe. She had nice plump lips like her mother, which she decided to cover in red this evening. Her hair was an orangish blonde, with nice layered bangs and braided; braids always pint to the back of her head. Her figure was very petite, with soft elegant curves. Just as her mother, she was very breathtaking and she knew it.
        Penelope never understood why someone so sure of themselves, could care about their looks so much. Hilly always had to wear the finest dresses, be seen with the finest men, and that's how it's always been. Penelope had nothing against her because, despite her shallow downfalls, she was actually pretty sweet for the most part. To her family at least; Penelope doubted she even knew she existed. Most girls at her status don't, sweet or not. Penelope was sure they wouldn't have anything in common anyways so it was comforting.
         Hilly was currently wearing a dark navy blue dress, with a custard long sleeved turtle neck. The dress came barely mid thigh, her exposed legs being covered with black stockings and brown boots. That was another thing about Hilly, she wore the most revealing things and somehow made them classy. It could have been a talent.