Invisible to Me

Chapter 1 - A Coal Miner's Daughter

The fireplace was covered in grime, stained by the seemingly permanent blanket of soot that rested on the surface. Its darkened appearance owed itself both to the smoke from the fire inside and the coal dust brought in by Mr. Wells and his son. Black dust covered nearly every surface that was exposed to the air. The kitchen table, the windowsills, and the floors all had a similar coating.

At first glance, one might have assumed from the stained furniture and unornamented walls that it was a plain, unclean home, whose inhabitants cared not for its condition. But if that person allowed themself to look just a little bit closer, they would see that, despite its dirty appearance, the Wells' cottage was quite clean.

Although the floorboards were stained, there was no loose dirt on top. There were no cobwebs or dust piles gathered in the corners. The rugs were always shaken and the kitchen counter was always wiped clean. Though it was small, it was comfortable, and it met the needs of those who lived in it. The neighbors knew that the door was always open for anyone who wished to visit.

Mr. Wells and his two children, Henry and Adelia, were the current inhabitants of this place. Mrs. Wells had died of a respiratory disease some few years back, leaving her daughter to take care of the home. Though her presence was missed greatly among the townsfolk, her spirit lived on through her daughter. Adelia tried her best to imitate her mother in every way, though at times she found it difficult to mirror her mother's kindhearted nature.

Mr. Wells and Henry were employed by Mr. Kreuger, who owned the nearby colliery. Every morning, they, along with several other men from the town, would rise and begin their march to work. Pick-axes thrown over their shoulders, they resembled a grey river flowing out of the town and into the mine shafts. At night, when they returned, their clothes were covered in coal dust so that they blended against the dark sky. Such was the appearance of the two men when they entered their home.

The door slammed behind them and Henry threw his hat on the floor. "I swear I'm going to kill that man."

"Who?" Adelia looked up, startled.

"That blighter, Krueger. He's a spawn of the devil. I ought to send him back to where he came from." He spat.

"You don't mean that, Henry. Don't say such things!" She exclaimed.

"You'd want to kill him too if you knew the sort of man he is, Adelia. Don't talk of things you know nothing about."

"Then tell me what he has done! Although I cannot imagine what he could have done to have vexed you so."

"Trust me, there is no good in him. He cares nothing for his workers, only his ever-growing pile of money. Some of the workers overheard talk of new safety regulations that are to be put into place."

"I don't see anything wrong with that," she spoke up. "Surely he's just trying to help."

He glared at her before continuing, "Let me finish, sister, and afterwards you may praise the man if you so wish. Kreuger bypassed the new regulations in his mines. He claims they're a waste of time and resources. That money-sucking son of a-"

"Henry, not in front of your sister," Mr. Wells scolded.

"Are you not angry, father? Surely this has upset you as well." Henry looked incredulously at his father. "Or perhaps you believe him to be a saint, as my sister has foolishly assumed."

"I do not agree with his decision, but I have not resorted to anger in response," he answered slowly. "I believe I must learn to forgive him for his careless decisions. After all, the good book commands us to forgive men their trespasses, does it not?"

"You believe that rubbish, father, but I cannot bring myself to commit faithfully to a story that has not been proven true. Reasoning tells me that what Kreuger is doing is wrong and that he should be punished for his wrongdoing. If his injudicious choices hurt anyone, I swear I will kill the man with my own hands."

"Henry, don't let your anger cloud your judgement," his father warned. "What would your mother think if she saw you now?"

"Do not bring her into this," Henry snapped. "If anything, her death gives me all the more reason to hate him. If Kreuger had not imposed on our town and built his mines so near our residence, perhaps she would not have died from the dust in the air. His selfishness took her life and it threatens to take the lives of many more. I can not and I will not put up with this. Will you join me or will you continue to mourn my dead mother and stand by her useless beliefs?"

At this, his father remained silent. There was a dampness to his eyes as he looked sorrowfully in the distance, proof that the loss of his wife still pained him.

Adelia wiped her hands on her skirt and looked between her father and brother. Taking the silence as an opportunity to intervene, she announced, "Supper is ready. Why don't you two wash up and we can begin eating?"

Mr. Wells and Henry left the room, leaving Adelia to herself. The fire crackled and she turned her attention to the pot that hung on the fireplace. Using a long wooden spoon, she began dishing the stew into three bowls. It was a bit more watery than she would have liked it to be, but when paired with the loaf of bread she had baked earlier that day, the meal was filling enough.

The conversation at the dinner table was minimal. Henry inquired about her day and she gave a short response. Her father explained the situation at the mines. According to him, the mines in the surrounding towns had cooperated with the safety inspections and the inspection generals would arrive in the following weeks to look at the mines. Mr. Kreuger was reportedly stubborn and claimed that it was an invasion of privacy. He would not allow the inspection generals to visit his mine.

Henry made plans to gather the men and together they would go on strike.

When the meal was finished and the kitchen cleaned, they retired to bed.