Deeds Not Words

ෆ chapter seven: I'm sixteen!

When we were walking back home, my feet ached and throbbed making me wince every time I took one step. Despite Gillson, Johnny, Benji and Winnie asking me if I was alright, I put on a brave face and nodded.

So, of course, as you'd expect, I was ever so grateful to be back home and I sat on the carpet in the living room.

Benji was seeing to Daisy and Roger, Winnie had long gone to start her shift and Gillson was in his "studio room", painting an elaborate picture.
So it was just me and Johnny. He got up and sat beside me. "Now tell me the truth, how is your foot?" He put a hand on my shoulder, consolingly.
"Really not good, It throbs and stings, I feel like I have a thousand odd blisters" I sighed, dramatizing it.

Johnny chuckled softly and untied my boots, I kicked them off immediately and took off my stockings right then and there. "Excited for tomorrow?" He looked at me hopefully. "Oh very, it'll be wonderful to have everyone here, just one happy house" I smiled.

He laughed softly, "How about I make you some tea?" He offered, getting up.
"Oh Johnny, I'm already warm enough" I chuckled.

It was true, the heat was making my dress stick to my chest and my hair was soaking wet.

"Hmm I suppose so, you get some needed rest Missy" he patted my shoulder and smiled once more.
He wandered off, blowing a jokey kiss at me. I blew one back and giggled.

I looked down at my foot and there was a big looking bump. I winced every time I touched it. It was terribly sore.

I was a bit angry at myself. I just spent a day with my dear friends (and partner, and brother) yet I just could not be happy. I always had to complain and the thought of Marion being alone, in a gloomy prison cell kept me shaking in my bed all night.

I could not fall asleep no matter how hard I tried, my nightgown was sticking to me like my dress was earlier, so I pulled it up to above my knees, but It never worked.
I touched the sash, stored underneath my pillow. All the memories of the women getting dragged away, the screaming of crude words and the horses hooves clanking all came flooding back.
I winced slightly at the memory. It was empowering and euphoric but also shockingly scary.

I woke up the next day, my birthday!
I shot up in my bed, smiling joyfully. "Happy birthday" Daisy whispered, tip-toeing into my room. Roger was following behind. "Thank you Daisy" I bent down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Roger crawled up on my bed and hugged me.

"Happy Birthday!" Mother opened my door, carrying a tray of bacon, eggs and sausage. "Mother, you didn't have to" I smiled and retrieved the tray.

Benjamin, Johnny, Mary, Gillson and Amelia walked in, holding many presents. Small ones wrapped in green paper and pink ribbon, Big ones wrapped in Silver paper and white ribbon. Oh I couldn't bear the excitement!

Lastly, Father came in. Stumbling and stuttering his words. I figured he was on the sauce last night. He even called me by Ethel's name, then Mary's before he uttered "Marigold".

He handed me a long box. I nodded him my thanks and opened it up. It was a brand new fountain pen. The case was what really intrigued me though, the pen rested on silk inside of the little case!

As much as I hated Father due to his mean spirited temper, I couldn't deny the fact that this pen was an amazing gift. Try as I might.
Daisy handed me a handmade card, the paper obviously being torn from a notebook, she scribbled stars and hearts and marigold flowers all over it.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIGOLDE"

I swiftly ignored the fact she spelt my name with an E (just out of respect) but I kissed her cheek and hugged her. "Thank you Daisy" I whispered to her. She smiled sweetly, her blond hair was flowing down her back. She really looked like an angel in her nightgown. So much so, that if I squinted at her I could see a halo above her petite head and angel wings sprouting out from her back.