Locked away

All words are welcome at the dinning table

Battered note book in hand, ink lines drawn into the creases of his skin. Upright on the neat and tidy grass, he had leaves and fallen twigs tangled in his hair and the biggest smile the world could ever come to love. Here I present Oliver Black, he stood taller than any thirteen year old boy I have ever seen, his hair scruffier than any dog I have ever touched. He dropped the battered and torn note book into a bush then covered it with all different leaves and weeds then he looked over his shoulder before covering it more and then taking a stand two steps away looking suspiciously at his surroundings. His face flushed with the morning sun, under his bulbs of deep green he had an intoxicating array of blues and blacks he looked like an old man that could never get a wink of sleep. He was wrapped in slightly muddy linen that covered his torso and loosely wrapped around his arms, it hung like a deflated balloon. Around his waist was a now battered pair of cotton paints that were rolled at the ankles followed by long socks but no shoes. His eyes set on a tree not so far ahead but before another thought could settle in his cranium a twig snapped sending Oliver into a jump. " so sorry brother but mother has sent me to get you for dinner we are having guests over do try to look presentable" he spoke in a happy tone. Oliver spun around and gave a sickening look towards his brother "you know she just wants to show off that she has two sons to carry the name" Oliver spoke with sadness etched in his voice. "that's all she had us for" Oliver whispered under his breath. Before his brother could even breath one more word he was off with a smack on his brothers head laughing as he went, his brother trapped in a charming suit could never compete. Oliver even being younger than his brother by three years was faster, faster and free. Before they even knew it William stood at the bottom of a hill looking up at Oliver in a ridiculous suit that restricted him from even the most tedious of tasks. "Well played" William let out with a chuckle painting as he rested his hands on his knees bent over "thanks will" Oliver painted, Oliver stretched out a hand and pulled William from the bottom. They were joint at the top gazing at the once wild garden now turned to a cruelly shaped maze of broken spirits."Let's say hello to mum shall we" William gave a pat on Oliver shoulder before leaving. But Oliver stood for just a few moment more.

Inside Oliver was greeted by maids, almost immediately he was rushed into a side room where he was fitted with a dark suit that was prickly and uncomfortable his glasses were striped from him and thrown to the side, no doubt it sure was torture. The fitter left the room to grab a polish kit and new leather shoes for Oliver, on his mother's order. The lose clothing was tossed in a corner surly to be thrown out later, Oliver hastily felt around and tucked them under a huge water pot so he could find them later and keep instead of more suits that pierced his skin better than a knife could ever. His fitter ran back in with the shoes in a napkin make of silk and the polish and brush in the other. Oliver clumsily sat on blind on a chair, legs out stretched as the man slid socks on and then the shoes, tightly strapping them into place making Oliver wince. The man then dipped the brush into some polish spreading the waxy consistency all over both shoes. "Do you think that life is unfair sometimes" Oliver muttered "Sir Oliver I think that you have a great life" the man robotically replied "I see nothing has changed" Oliver huffed annoyed with the same response he got last time and last time before that. After the shoe scrub that was both awkward and silent the man grabbed a comb and wax and suppressed the birds nest on Oliver's head making it look flat and glossy. The man left giving Oliver a bow and closed the door, Oliver stood facing the mirror he hastily put on his glasses in an attempt to look at what his mother envisioned him to be. "I look stupid" he laughed, a few hairs fell out of his slicked back hair they bounced before they settled. His green eyes pierced the mirror before he left the room  hands deep in his pockets fiddly with the loose ends of the thread, he walked hunched through out the hallway taking small strides to get to the dining room.

When he opened the double doors of the dinning room he was met with his father, his mother, some random people he has never even met and his two siblings William and his beloved sister Nicole.The dining room has been done up and for once he could see the sun, the thick black curtains had been done up in golden ropes but on the rope laid years and years of dust. The room was filled with not so bright flowers and the dinning room table looked like it was spruced up with the finest polish. "Shall we dine?" proudly proclaimed his mother, her eyes never once left Oliver, he had his glasses that she despised and his hair looked unkempt he also could not have bothered to wash off the pen that was allover his right hand. They all sat an inch between each other as the room got louder the more Oliver's ears bled; the men that were invited talked over money, business and all of above. Oliver fiddled with his fingers removing dry mud from under his finger nails and wiping it on his trousers leaving grey and brown streaks. The only subject that sparked his interest was his own name during the dinner, Oliver was snapped back into reality as all the adults looked him up and down waiting for a single word to suddenly fall past his lips looking as he was a mouse on the table fit for vultures. "Er yes" Oliver spoke in a small voice avoiding eye contact with not only the men but his father and mother. "Oliver we were just speaking about how Henry's son attends a brilliant school" "yes brilliant school" Mrs blacks eyes burned into the side of Oliver's head as she repeated what her husband said, she smiled a fake and mocking grin. His father continued with an equally sickening voice"we were thinking about sending you to a boarding school; you will learn to be a proper gentleman that will respect his family and the trade" his father grinned. Oliver's gaze lowered to the floor scrunching up his fits. "I don't want that" Oliver mumbled.