Summon All The Courage You Require(DISCONTINUED)

Christmas Carols

Happy St Patrick's Day 

Have a nice Spring

Enjoy, vote if you like it, and comment :)

A. de Noailles

December 24, 2017

11:29 P.M.

Mama and Papa had gone out the night before to pick up Louise from the airport. Apparently, she and her boyfriend had finally gotten engaged, so the four of them went out to celebrate. Louise promised to spend this Christmas with us for her "last family Christmas," but with how much Mama and Papa loved her, no way she was giving that up completely. 

I'd hoped they'd come back for my birthday, that Mama at the very least would call. I badly wished not to have to spend another birthday without them because of my damned sister. But looking at the clock, it didn't seem like I had a choice. I sighed and got up from my bed.

I made my way past the massive array of flashy, useless household shit bought only to show off our wealth. Opening the refrigerator, Florence, one of our maids, rushed over to me and rapidly asked if I needed assistance in French. I responded by dismissing her and pulling out a cold chocolate cake from the fridge. Before I started my journey back to my childhood room, a small, chubby hand landed on my forearm. 

"Bon anniversaire, Mademoiselle Noailles," Florence beemed at me. "Merci beaucoup pour nous respecte. Et essaie de vous souvenir, nous vous aimons." (Happy birthday, Miss Noailles/Thank you so much for your respect. And try to remember, we all love you.)

"Merci, Florence," I thanked her and turned back towards my room. Florence pulled on my arm before I could leave.

"Suis moi," she urged. With nothing better to do, I tagged along behind her. Florence was one of our newer maids, but she was the daughter of my first babysitter and oldest maid and butler. For a moment, I remembered playing with Florence as little girls, with only a three year difference. Eventually, Papa pulled us apart, saying that noblewomen didn't play with their maids' children. It's bullshit like that that separated me from other kids my age. It would be another ten years until Florence entered college and started working alongside her mother to earn some extra cash. With a vigorous schooling and working schedule, she could only manage to come to work during winter and summer vacation. I looked at my old friend, short, unkept, black hair, brown eyes, and small smattering of freckles on her face. Her bruised, pale fingers kept a hold of my arm. We stopped in front of the Chambre de Fête doors. The nineteen-year-old looked back at me with a bright, worn expression. 

"Aprés Mademoiselle Louise distracts votre parents durant votre anniversaire," she continued and place a hand on the door, releasing my arm, "normalement, vous avez contrarié. Nous voulons modifer ça." She gently pushed one of the doors open and let me in. Our entire staff of maids and butlers jumped up from their hiding spots, blowing on party horns. (After Miss Louise distracts your parents during your birthday, you normally get upset. We want to change that.)

Edmond, Florence's father, stepped up and asked, "Cette an, fêter con nous?" Everyone went silent, awaiting my response. I scoffed at the idea of ever saying rejecting such a thoughtful setup. (This year, celebrate with us?)

"Bien sûr," I simply answered. 

11:52 P.M.

"Bon anniversaire à vous! Bon anniversaire à vous! Bon anniversaire à vous! Bon anniversaire--!"

All of our maids and butlers went silent, waiting for me to pipe in. I smiled. While I never spent my birthday with my friends nor family, I always had them, and they were kind of a mixture of both. Florence brought in a huge, fresh, chocolate cake and her mother, Céleste, brought candles and lit them. I watched as the two settled in next to Edmond and the other staff members. Claude, André, Melissa, Marc-Antoine, Léa, Geneviève--each one had a special memory and/or past that I held dear. These were all people that made my time here bearable, and occasionally, enjoyable. I blew out my candles and finished the song while they cheered, "À moi."