Murder at the Mansion

Chapter 5

I woke up with up with a bad headache, I must have underestimated the Lager, I had to drink. I yawned as I slowly got up. As I got up to get a drink of water. I felt all my energy drain out and all the soreness from running come back to me. I groaned as I poured myself a glass of water.

After my glass of water, I walked into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror as I dragged my hand through my hair. It was dry and clumped together from the gel. I groaned and got in the shower. I washed off all the gel as well as all the pain and my headache.

I walked out and brushed my wet, dark brown hair and rubbed the shampoo out of my blue eyes. I looked in the mirror and smiled at my reflection. I laughed at myself as I got dressed and started to make breakfast. I cooked a few sausages and made some toast. I then made a small bowl of porridge.

I sat down at the table and ate slowly. I found myself looking through the window and admiring the view. Outside was the main garden where the kids were playing yesterday. I smiled and finished what was left of breakfast.

* * *

I left my room and was happy to find myself not bumping into Miss Crumble again. I whistled as I went down the stairs and towards the mansion. I stopped by the shed which was located on the west side of the mansion near the door from which Angelia and the twins ran out yesterday, and well everyone else, except a couple maids and such.

I opened the shed door and grabbed a rake and started to rake up the fallen leaves. It was all I ever did these days. The closer it got to winter the more and more I found myself raking leaves all day long. I think I enjoy spring most. During those days I go around planting new flowers and plants and making the mansion more beautiful.

Summer isn't my favorite, because all I do is water all the plants to make sure they don't wilt, from the hot sun and air. Sometimes I trim the hedges, though I do get to trim them into fun shapes and animals sometimes, which is fun I must admit.

Yet, Winter is the worst. The ground is covered in snow and it is my job to keep the entrances clean from snow. I have to spend the day shoveling snow and getting rid of ice. The worst part is the cold weather. My hands and feet are numb and frozen by the end of each day, and my whole body is sore.

I sighed and continued to rake. I did have to admit the view was spectacular. The gold, orange, and red leaves falling and the scent of cinnamon and spices coming from the kitchen. It was beautiful and divine.

As I raked I got closer to the south side of the mansion. It was my favorite place of the gardens. Here delicious vegetables and fruits grew. Around me were pumpkins ready to be picked and the apple trees were full of red beauties. I raked slowly here to spend more time and allowed myself to take breaks and sit on one of the marble benches and look at all the food and the fountain in the middle.

I was relaxing when Emily and Alice came.

"Oh John, what are you doing here?" Emily asked, " Sleeping on the job?"

"Huh, no, of course not," I said getting up and grabbing my rake.

"To be honest I was just enjoying the view and the smells. I love Autumn," I replied.

"Me too," Emily replied, looking at me and smiling.

"Umm- Emily. The pumpkins?" Alice asked shyly.

"Oh, right. Alice and I came to pick a couple pumpkins and a batch of apples. Were making pies for breakfast," Emily said.

I looked at my pocket watch. The time was 9:30 and breakfast was served at 11 am. I knew that pies took at least an hour to bake and another one to make. They were already short on time.

"Let me help. You guys probably need some help carrying back the pumpkins and apples,"

"That would really help. Also, can you cut off two ripe pumpkins, while Alice and I pick the apples?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied.

As they walked towards the apple tree and started to gather apples, and went over to the pumpkin patch. There were about 12 ripe pumpkins. I looked around for the biggest and orangest pumpkins. I found the perfect two. They were huge. I was absorbed in the pumpkins, that I forget that I didn't have the pruning shears. They were all the way back in the shed at the east side. I stood up and ran back towards the shed.

I got there out of breath. I opened the shed and took out pruning shears. I put them in my pocket and ran all the way back.

When I got back to the garden. Emily and Alice were almost down picking the apples. I crouched down and snipped the pumpkins off the vine and cut of all the loose tendrils. I put the pruning shears back into my pocket. I got up and slowly started to lift up the heavy pumpkins. I groaned as I did so. I took me a couple tries, but I was able to lift both.

"Were all done, John," Emily yelled to me.

She and Alice walked back with a galvanized tub full of apples.

"Me too," I yelled back.

"Great, let's walk back to the kitchen," Emily said.

While Emily and Alice seemed to be enjoying their time carrying back the apples, I was struggling with the pumpkins. I almost dropped one a couple times. When we finally made it back to the kitchen I dropped the pumpkins and sighed with relief.

"Thanks, so much," Emily said giving me a small kiss on the cheek.

That kiss made all the struggling worth it.

"No problem," I said.

"No problem," I said, my face turning as red as the apples they had picked.

I turned back towards the door, as some maids moved the pumpkins to the sink. I was about to walk out, but I found myself not wanting to leave.

"Is there anything else I can help with?" I asked, looking back at Emily.

"Huh," Emily said, looking back from the kitchen.

"No, you're all free to go back to sleeping on the job," she replied, winking to me.

"I wasn't," I stuttered back.

"S-u-r-e," she teased.

I stormed out of the kitchen and back to the garden. I sighed and grabbed the rake. I started to make new piles of the leaves that blew away from the top of the piles, as well as the newly fallen leaves.

As I raked all the guilt came back to me. I felt bad for storming of from Emily, but she did laugh at me as I did so. I was too distracted to rake, I dropped it and went back to sit on the bench.

I looked at the marble fountain in front of me. It had to angel leaning on top of a small waterfall. They were about to kiss. I sighed and took off my hat. I looked down and stroked my hand through my hair. I let the sound of the water calm me down.

After a couple of minutes. I raised my head and put on my hat. I got up and started up again. I decided to go in talk to her when I got to the kitchen. My face flushed red as I thought about her again. Why was I always so excited to see her?