The Courage That It Takes To Live

Chapter 3/ The first day of Work

I woke up early in the morning along with Jack. I made breakfast for the both of us and left some on the stove for the others, I also left them directions for how to heat up the left over stew. I put on my maid dress and apron and then went to grab my coat. As I was going to grab it my hand ran into Jack's hand "oh sorry, here let me get that for you" he said as he handed me my coat and hat " Thank you" I said."Your welcome, oh and Mary" he said "Yeah?" "Just remember to stay safe and if anyone gives you trouble tell me and I'll deal with it" he said. "I will, I promise" I said with a smile. "Bye" he said "Goodbye". Then I went out the door and started walking towards the orphanage.

I walked up the steps and knocked on the door. The same maid from the day before answered it. "Oh Mary c'mon in" she said. I walked in and took off my coat and shoes. I tied my apron on and slipped into my cleaning shoes which were black flats. "Ms. Pearl is busy at the moment but she said I can give you a tour and explanation on what you are to do, oh and I'm Edith by the way" she said "Thank you" "your welcome, let's get on with the tour shall we." I nodded my head and followed her down the hallway. "This is the library and school room, this is where our kids do schoolwork at, this is the living room where we read books to the children towards sundown both before and after dinner, and this is the kitchen where you'll be doing dishes and cooking." She said as she led me down the hall. She then pointed towards a set of stairs "that leads to the children's sleeping quarters, that's where they are at the moment but once they wake up for school they'll be in the library, and once they do so, you'll go up there and help me clean the fireplaces but that's it because we have them make there own beds and keep there rooms tidy" she explained. I nodded respectfully, after that she led me outside "this is the garden where you can collect herbs and vegetables for dinner" we then went back inside and she led me to another staircase that went downstairs "That is wear the laundry room is and that's also where we send children who are very very bad, they are punished with extra chores including to clean out the toilets, but don't worry you won't have to do anything of that sort" she said as she led me back upstairs. "Well that is the end of the tour, why don't you go help with the breakfast and then once your done meet me upstairs to help me clean out the childrens fireplaces" she said. I nodded and thanked her for the tour, I then headed towards the kitchen and walked inside. There was a girl only a few years older than me, she had black skin and hair put up in a bun. " Hello you must be Mary, I'm Sarah I work here in the kitchen mainly, come let me show you what I'm making for breakfast" she said " I'm making boysenberry porridge with a slice of toast" "That sounds delicious, and it smells divine" I said "Are you hungry I could make you a bowl?" "Oh no thanks I already ate but thank you for the generous offer" I said "hmm I'm trying to think of what you could do, oh I know you can sweep and then when your finished with you can collect vegatables and herbs from the garden for dinner" she said. I nodded my head and got to work on the sweeping. When I finished sweeping I went out to the garden to collect herbs and vegetables. When I returned both Sarah and the pot of porridge were gone, I assumed that she went to go serve breakfast. I decided to wipe the counters while I waited.

Sarah returned with the pot of porridge but it was completely empty. I offered to clean it but she said Edith the other other maid needed me more right now. I went upstairs the the childrens sleeping quarters and started looking around for Edith. "There you are, here take this" Edith said as she handed me an Ash tray and mini sweeping tool. "You can clean the rooms on the right side of the hall and I'll take the left side of the hall" Edith said. I nodded and went to clean the first bedroom. Inside was a bed made all neat and tidy. I went to the fireplace and started shoveling out the ash and putting in new wood. Then a girl came in she was probably about Eliza's age. "Oh I'm sorry I don't mean to intrude your work I just forgot my apron" she said "Oh no worries" I said. She quickly grabbed her apron and left, I finished cleaning the fireplace and went on to the next room.

After hours of cleaning the fireplaces I finally finished and met Edith in the hallway. "Oh dear you are quite dirty why don't you go wash up and then go to the attic and fetch some new sheets one of the little ones wet the bed last night" "Yes ma'am" I said. I went downstairs to the kitchen and washed up. I went up to the attic and opened the door. It was very dusty and cold, usually the attic would be hot but since it was mid fall it was quite chilly. "Help me" I heard a voice say, I looked around but saw no one I thought that I was just hearing things but then I heard it again, louder this time "Help me." I turned around to see a little girl locked up in a cage "oh dear, are you ok." The little girl was sitting down with tears rolling down her face "Who did this to you" I asked "Ms. Pearl. She locked me up because I work for her and she doesn't want me to be seen for some reason, she never feeds me or brings me water" she said "Don't worry I'll get you out of here and when I do you can come live with my siblings and I" "I'm much obliged of your offer but the only way to unlock the cage is with a key and that is in Ms. Pearls office which no one is ever aloud to go in unless there told to clean it" she said sadly "Don't worry I'll get the key and I'll get you out of here, you just have to stay here for one more day" I said. "Thank you I really appreciate it, what's your name by the way?" "Mary" I said "That's a beautiful name, I'm Delilah, oh and thank you once again" she said. I nodded and then grabbed the sheets I had originally came to get. I decided not to tell anyone about Delilah. Well except for Jack maybe.

The day ended and I headed back home. My siblings were all playing alongside the fireplace. "Hello everyone" I said "Mary your back how was work" Ben asked? "Good thank you, wait where's Tim?" " Oh yeah about that when Tim was playing with John outside today he started feeling sick so I sent him to bed, it's not that bad, well at least not yet" Ben explained. Fear flooded over me as I realized Tim might not survive especially because it getting colder and he didn't have the warmest of clothes like the rest of the kids.. "Did you find work at least Ben?" I asked "Yeah down by the loading dock, but they said I could start tomorrow" Ben said. "Why don't you and John go hunting again and if you can get some potatoes from the market" I said "But we haven't any money, how are we to bye potatoes?" I handed him some coins that I earned from work. "Thank you, c'mon John let's go hunting." They grabbed there bows and headed out. I decided to sit down and rest for a moment.

After awhile Jack came home which was when I got right up and told him we needed to talk. I led him outside far away from the barn so the children couldn't hear what we were talking about. "What's wrong Mary" "Today at work I went up to the attic and found a girl locked up in a cage she was about 13, she told me she works for Ms. Pearl but for some odd reason the mistress doesn't want anyone to see her, she never gets fed or given water either, oh jack I felt so bad for the poor thing" I said sobbing. Jack gave me a hug and tried to calm me down "shhhh it's ok we'll save the girl don't worry, and when we do she can live with us we'll just have to work harder for more money but we'll manage" he said. "Ok tommorow when I go to work I'll rescue her and bring her home." He looked me in the eyes and I knew he could tell how sorry I felt for the girl, he gave me a kiss on the cheek and my face got all red "Don't worry everything will be ok" he said. When we finished talking we headed inside and at the same time the boys came back with a chicken and potatoes. "Where did you guys get a chicken at" I asked " We bought it along with the potatoes but boy did we have to do alot of bargaining" "Well I can tell that you guys won" I said, they nodded and went to go skin it. I made baked potatoes and chicken for dinner, everyone enjoyed it and after we all went to bed. That night was different though because me and Jack were closer now and it didn't feel weird sleeping next to him, actually I felt comforted by his presence and I soon drifted off to sleep.