Save a Flower (TBA)

Chapter 2: A Sad Girl

When I awoke in the morning, I felt something I had never felt before. I believe it is called excitement. I was supposed to meet the Fairy Tale wizards in the afternoon at Mrs. Jeeves house. She told me when I was designing the flyer for my job that they could convene at her house.

I hide the excitement when I ate my one allotted meal for the day, a slice of bread with jam and a glass of juice. While I was cleaning after myself, Mother and Father came out of their bedroom, fully dressed. Father told me what they requested for breakfast, as I began to prepare it.

While cooking, I thought of a convincing fib to get me to Mrs. Jeeves this afternoon. They had seen her come to the door yesterday. "Mrs. Jeeves has asked me to help her move furniture. She has difficulty with it in her old age," I stated while handing Mother and Father their plates. Father replied quickly and matter-of-factly while stuffing food in his mouth.

"It is not a wife's job to move furniture." I had already thought of a way to incorporate the letter. "She paid me yesterday." Father turned red at hearing this. "You know you are supposed to give me three quarters of what you receive." I remembered the rule. I was supposed to give him a majority of what I receive by the end of the day.

"Before I could, you had me buy a large amount of garlic with my own money. I had to use all the Jewels I had earned from her on that. I now have to help." Father opened his mouth angrily to respond, then closed it. Mother allowed me to go. She is slightly less extreme than Father. She is still a terrible person, perhaps worse for what she did to her own child, her own flesh and blood.

"You may only go if you work twice as hard before hand. When will you leave?" Father asked. "Mrs. Jeeves will come when I must leave." It wasn't a lie. We agreed that when she said I could use her house for the meeting.

Father had me work for one extra hour, as he didn't believe that I hadn't finished last night. I worked in the intense sunlight for an hour and one half, as punishment for his sleep. I must work and get on the good side of my parents.

I finished once more. It was time for Mother and Father to eat lunch. I prepared it for them, then dusted while they ate, as I usually do. After they finished, I gathered the plates and utensils and washed them absent-mindedly. I realized I was done when I heard a knock at the door. I dried, put away the dishes, then answered the door.

"Hello Mrs. Jeeves," I greeted after answering the door, "Mother, Father, I will go to Mrs. Jeeves' now." I stepped out and was told that I must be back before dark, 'or else'. I was walking down the street with Mrs. Jeeves, and was half way down when one of us talked.

"Are they there at the present moment?" I asked breaking the silence between us.

"Yes. They are seated in the parlor." She sounded strange, and I had only heard her like this once before, and I only faintly remember it, yet I know the under tones all too well. It was sorrow at the loss of a loved one. I thought of her as a mother, yet I had no idea she loved me like a daughter. There was more silence.

"Do you remember what happened a few months ago?" she asked out of nowhere.

"With Lullaby at the guild conference hall?"

"Yes. Three of the wizards here are the tree who fought it."

My jaw dropped, then went up again. The Human Dragon, The Armored Lady, and the Iced King, as Mrs. Jeeves called them, were here for me. They told me that I needed to get away from my parents, and join a guild, unintentionally. 

We continued to her house in silence. We got there and she stopped me before opening the door. "Rose, are you absolutely sure you want to do this? You can still back out now." Tears were beginning to pool in her eyes

"I can't back out now. They are expecting me and expecting payment of some sort." She looked like one more word would cause a large amount of tears. She opened the door and let me in.