Margaret Leviston stood at the open grave staring at the plain pine board casket without a single feeling of sorrow. She heard them mumbling around her, but simply didn't care. She felt nothing. Did they expected her to cry? Her eyes have never been dryer. What was she supposed to mourn?
Her stepfather belt cracking in the air to strike her. Smell of booze and him swearing and destroying everything in his path including a few remaining dishes. Her escaping through the window barefooted and standing in the dark shivering and listening until house fell quiet. Then she knew he had fallen asleep, and it was safe to return.
No, she won't miss that. No matter how much they think she should.
Frederick Freeman was not going to be missed by his stepdaughter. Margaret felt free for the first time in her life. He kept her on when her mother passed away to take care of him. She was sixteen then, now at Eighteen she was not very old but she felt seasoned and older.
So, they can whisper behind her back and say things about her not having any compassion.
They all knew him, but none of them ever wanted to interfere. It wasn't their problem. Why would it be? You don't just trust a nose in someone else's business. It wasn't nice.
Even now they didn't care where will she go after all this is over. They only wanted her tears and grief. Expected it!
When they didn't get it, Reluctantly, unsatisfied, Slowly one by one left her side until she was left alone standing over the hole. The last present each of them left behind was a loud thud of earth hitting the casket. Finally, the quiet made her to look up. They were gone. The one thing she felt now was a relief. The cemetery worker pretended to be fixing the fence nearby, but she knew he waited for her to go, so he could finish his job and go home. He never said a word to her, but he glanced her way a few times. She silently agreed with him.
It was time to go back to the house and pack her few belongings.
The strong wind blew her skirt around her legs as she left small cemetery. The roads were already a sticky, gooey mess from earlier downpour.
She chose to walk by side of the road on a tiny strip of grass wherever possible. When she reached the first row of houses, the rain begin again. The dark clouds they were hanging all morning started to deliver their load.
As she approached the house she lived in for the last eight years right aware, she spotted Mrs. Wingman standing at the foot of the door waiting for her bundled in the heavy dark shawl. Her face reflected her misery. Margaret never liked her. She was one of those woman that never had a nice word about anyone. Only time her eyes showed any other emotion but coldness was when she collected rent and saw the green bills in her tenants hands.
Margaret didn't have the illusion that she was there to extend her sympathy. No sympathy to be expected from her. Without any hesitation as soon Margret was close enough to hear her she announced.
"Your father owe me the last month's rent. You can't stay here unless you pay for last and upfront for upcoming month." Her fat fingers of one hand tightened the hold of the umbrella, with the other she held two corners of her shawl together, while her small, cold eyes pierced at Margaret.
She knew she didn't have that kind of money. Frederick left everything at the salon as soon he got paid. He worked for a local coal mine but he never entered the shafts down below. He delivered wood and goods that was needed and clean around the buildings. Margaret was surprised they kept him on, but anyone capable, worked in the mine making double the amount the company paid him for his work.
"I don't have it. The last of it went for his funeral." Why bit around the bush? It was easier to get it over with.
"I have a few tenants waiting for the lodging. I need place cleaned by the morning." Her landlord didn't try to be polite. She started walking away and at the same time cursing the wind that almost blew her umbrella away.
Margaret didn't expect more from her. What did it matter? After all she didn't want to stay here, anyway. It wasn't like she would be leaving happy memories behind.
With the first sign of dawn she was gone. Only taking her belongings.
Her destination unknown. She just wanted to escape this small, dirty town. Where she was going to end up she didn't know.
