I sat at the long dinner table, I at one end, Aunt Hazel at the other. We sat like queens, more food than I could ever imagine miles in between us.
All four butlers/maids stood in each corner of the room, waiting for someone to call on them to assist.
Aunt Hazel ate slowly and gracefully, using a different spoon, fork or knife for each meal.
I ate with the same fork for every meal.
I could tell it disturbed Aunt Hazel, but she didn't make a noise for a few minutes, the she sighed.
"Elliot, bring me the Book of Manners" She ordered.
"Yes Ma'am" His deep voice echoed around the room, then followed by his footsteps as he exited the room.
When he returned, he had a heavy book, which when he plonked down onto the table, echoed loudly.
"Now, Elvira, we're going to have a lesson on manners" She said, tight lipped. I groaned inwardly.
--
1 hour later, I was allowed to retreat to my room to be in peace. Instead, when I opened the door, it wasn't my room.
The room I had found was dark and had a single spot light on something in the middle of the room, or someone to be precise.
A girl, on her knees, was before me. Strings were attached too both her ankles and wrists, and one last one on her head, disappearing into her wavy brown hair.
A single black rose was presented in her hair.
Her dress was white until her waist, then the rest of the flowing material was black.
Long neat stitched ribbons made down her front to her waist. She was gorgeous, yet not caked with make-up.
She was slumped forward, her head lolled forward loosely.
Then her head jerked up to look at me, then her left arm raised, sort of like a robot, then her right arm and she then stood up, like a robot it seemed!
I stood there in disbelief. I was absolutely positive this was my room! Then, the puppet woman started to speak.
"I've been waiting for you, Elvira" Her smile was friendly, and welcoming.
"H-how do you know my name?!" I demanded.
"Everyone knows your name" She answered.
"B-but, I've only told a few people…" I reasoned.
"You told Clara, and she is apart of this house, brick and mortar, as am I. Then I am bound to know." She spoke with an Irish accent, focusing on the syllables in each word, making it much more pronounced than it normally would.
"I know all" She gave a cheeky smile.
"Exactly what do you know?" I questioned, becoming interested in what she was telling me.
"What do you want to know?" She tilted her head to the side and walked forward, the strings at her limbs pulling in unison to make her walk.
She really looked like a walking/talking puppet.
"Exactly, what are you?" I said down in the doorway, unwilling to go any closer. Her torso lolled forward.
"I am Chira, a puppet. Being controlled by the strings that decide my fate or destination" She looked up at me.
"Don't let her drag you into her web" She insisted, and before I could ask her what that meant, or who's web, I felt an incredible strong gust of wind push me back into the hallway, and the door slammed shut.
I scrambled to my feet and re-opened the door, to which I found my normal room, everything perfect, as I left it.
