The story

well...tis been a long time since i posted...so i jus thot of posting...
i told u na? that am writing a story...i have only finished 3 chapters....lemme put the 1st chap for u to read...i havent decided the title yet...this is my first big story...plz forgive me if i put too much mokkai....i jus rote it for timepass.....

A New Home – Chapter 1

The light shone through the window. The gleaming eyes of one girl reflected on a mirror. She sat opposite to the mirror and looked out at the clear sky through the window. The stars were twinkling; she saw the crescent moon and the dark blue sky made her cry. She was to leave to Lubbock the next morning. Her mother had died three days back and her father wanted to leave her at Lubbock to live with her aunt.

Kelly was an eleven-year old girl with beautiful curly hair and rosy cheeks. Her hair was the most attractive part of her and she was as innocent as a rose. She loved gardening. She was a silent listener and a careful observer but did not talk much. She had loved her mother very much and now that she was gone, felt that she would not find anyone more lovable than her dear mother. Her father loved her, but he thought that he wouldn’t be able to take care of her, and thought it best to send her to his wife’s sister’s place. He had heard that she was a kind lady but did not know much about her.

Kelly cried on her pillow and felt lonely. She was more distressed because she did not know about God, her creator. She knew there was a God, but did not have a personal relationship with Him. Her mother had not taught her how to pray or communicate with God because she was an atheist. She knew few things about God because of her friends. Kelly had to leave her home, her friends here in Odonell and go to a strange place and live with an aunt she had never seen before. Will she like the new place? Will she find any friends? Will her aunt be rude to her? Will her aunt have any children? Will she have someone to care for her? There were so many questions which she thought will remain unanswered till she gets there. She felt that she was trapped inside a dark forest. She questioned God “Why have you forsaken me? Why do ‘I’ have to face all the problems in the world?” As she was crying, she fell asleep. Her father went to the upper room, saw his daughter and kissed her on her cheek and left the room unhappily.

The sun rose again the next day. Kelly woke up long before dawn and was sitting on her cozy bed trying to imagine good things about her future. She tried to console herself and thought that she would rather be preparing for her new home. But her little heart was broken and a little tear ran down her nose. Her father called her down for breakfast. She wiped her tears, and ran down as she was hungry. But she couldn’t eat much.

Soon, it was time to leave. She had packed all her dresses and she also took her doll in her hand. There were two big trunks in the living room and her father had gone to take the carriage.

Kelly enjoyed the journey but deep inside her tiny heart she felt that she would not come to Odonell again. She looked at the beautiful countryside and stored it up in her heart. She saw her school and a thought stroke her that she would be missing all her friends. As each familiar spot passed by, her heart grew weaker and weaker. She felt that the world was against her. They soon reached the station. She had to carry out the rest of the journey by herself. Her father said “My dear little girl, I know how you feel and this is the best I can do for you. May the Lord be with you and send His guardian angels to protect you (her father was a believer). Be a good girl and don’t be a matter of trouble to anyone, not even to a maid.” At this, they hugged each other and saw each other for the last time.

She sat down on her reserved seat. She felt very lonely. There was an old man who was very kind to her. She told him her sad story and expected him to pity her. Instead, the kind old man asked her to look up to her problems and face them boldly. She said “I loved mama so much and she loved me with her life, but now she’s gone…” He said “Jesus loves you more than anyone else can ever love you. Ask the Lord God to help you face your problems. He will always be there by your side to guide you.” She cried a little. Then, she smiled at him but inside her heart, she thought “If God loves me more than my mother did, why did He take mama away from me? If there really IS a God, He is unfair.” But, she didn’t want to argue any longer with her old friend because she did not have the strength. They were talking till the sun set.

At last, she reached her destination. She saw the “Lubbock” station arrive. She bid her old friend “Good-Bye” and he helped her with her trunks. They agreed that each night they would remember each other and the time they spent together. She dragged her trunks to the station master and asked him if anyone had informed him about a girl called Kelly McKinney. He told her that a deep brown carriage with two white horses will be waiting outside for her. He helped her take her trunks. It was a big carriage that Kelly saw and a man was sitting there. She asked him if he was Mr. Gary Vernal (she was told of the name earlier). He looked very kind. He said with a twinkle in his eye “Yes madam. Are you Ms. Kelly McKinley?” She said “Yes. I am.” He asked her to get on and loaded her trunks onto the carriage. They were talking like good old pals. Finally they reached the big house.

It was a beautiful rose-red house with a large garden. There were colorful flowers and white daisies, one of her favorites! She had begun to love the pretty garden since the moment she kept her eyes on those daisies.

There was a name inscribed on the side of the door ‘The Shackletons’. Mr. Gary asked her to go ahead and he came behind carrying the trunks. She rang the bell and a small girl about her age opened the door. She looked like a princess, Kelly thought. Kelly did not dare to talk with her. The little girl helped her in. There was a big fat lady sitting on an armchair with a stern face. Kelly assuming that she was Mrs. Darlene Shackleton, her aunt, greeted her by bowing low her head. Mrs. Darlene got up and said with a stern voice to the maid “Hulda, show her the room in which she is to stay and tell her the rules of this house and make sure she conducts herself well. Ensure she is disciplined and teach her everything ‘she ought to know’. I suppose you understand what I mean by that. I will not allow any misbehavior inside the house.” After this, she faced Kelly and said “You better learn everything you are taught and don’t sneak up into others’ room. Keep your room neat and don’t throw stuff about. If you want anything, you can ask Hulda. The rest will be taught by Hulda. Off you go now.”

Kelly had tears in her eyes but did not show them until she reached her room. It was a big room upstairs but it was full of dust and cobwebs. Hulda, the maid was quite a young girl about fifteen years of age with blue eyes and a kind heart. She saw the tears in Kelly’s eyes and said “Madam has strict orders that I shouldn’t clean up this room for you. I am sure that she never comes to this room as she cannot climb the stairs. I will clean it up for you. I can understand how you feel.” Kelly wiped her tears and thanked Hulda and promised that she will also help in the cleaning.

Kelly saw that she liked Hulda. She told her all about her sorrows and interests. When Kelly said that the thing she loves best was gardening, Hulda threw her arms around her in delight. When Kelly asked her what the matter was, Hulda explained “Madam also liked gardening and loved anyone who was as interested as her in gardening. She is to give her pretty garden to anyone who is worthy of it. You can ask her about it and she may test you, if you satisfy her expectations, the garden is yours!”

Hulda had her orders. She showed Kelly the cupboard and said that she had full freedom to do whatever she wanted in her room. She talked very casually and Kelly felt ‘at home’. She taught her table manners and all kinds of things ‘she ought to know’. She explained that Mrs. Darlene detests bad behavior and has a very kind heart but a stern face and a burning anger. She warned Kelly “You must be very careful with Mrs. Darlene and always call her ‘Madam’ and not ‘Mrs. Darlene’ or ‘aunt’ or anything else. Since her husband died, she is very strict to everyone. Before saying anything to Madam, you must think twice whether it is appropriate or not. If you win her favor, then you can do anything. But getting her favor is something which would be the hardest thing on earth. She insists on praying as much as she does on manners.” Kelly said angrily “I never pray. I don’t believe there is a god. If there is someone like that, why did he let this thing come upon me? Why did he take mama away from me?” Hulda said “There is a God in heaven. You can’t be angry with Him. God has a plan for everyone. He also has a plan for you.” Kelly was a bit angry but remembered what her father had told her. So she thought about other things.”

Kelly asked her about the ‘princess’, as she called her. Hulda explained “She is Madam’s daughter, Ms. Braulia Shackleton but Madam treats her as some orphan. Braulia is a sweet girl she longs to have a friend of her own age. I am her friend, but she wants someone who is perfectly fit for her. She has no one to play with as her only brother is 5 years elder than her and he does not like to play with her much.”

Kelly questioned “What are you interested in?” She replied “I am interested in you! Oh Kelly, wait till you talk to Braulia, she’s my friend too, but in front of Madam we behave like we are strong enemies because Madam doesn’t like Braulia having fun with maids and servants. We have so much of fun together and it will be really funny in front of Madam. You can join in too. As a matter of fact, Braulia signaled me in the living room that she likes you very much. We have signals like that…you see.”

Kelly said “Oh! Is it so? I thought that the girl would never like to speak with me because she is so pretty and I’m as plain as –” Hulda broke in “Oh Kelly, don’t be silly. I am sure we will be the best of friends. But remember what we have to do in front of Madam, ok? We will be in trouble if she catches us. Braulia and I hardly get caught. Once when we did get caught, we managed to escape somehow. Madam usually does her knitting or reads her books or talks with Ms. Mary Duncan, our neighbor. Ms. Mary is an old spinster and a great companion for Madam. Madam is sure to be in the living room or her bedroom. She isn’t seen anywhere else. And we, Braulia and I, have our fun time in the last room downstairs next to the kitchen. It is a very fine room with a small bed and a beautiful carpet, magnificent drapes and rich furniture. We call it “the castle”. It is actually the guest room. But there aren’t any guests. So, Madam rarely comes there, but one day, as I told you, we got caught. But then, she never comes there again. I can’t wait to see you in the room. It will be great fun. I assure you that you will like this place. The Lord God has brought you to the right place. The only thing that you have to do is ‘ignore Madam’. Now we have to go down for tea. Get into your casuals. I’ll better be off now. You remember you table manners, alright? See you then!”

Kelly thought about the words of Hulda ‘The Lord God has brought you to the right place.’ Kelly said to herself, “Is there really a God? Will He make my life any better? I know I can count on Hulda, but what about God? Does He see me down here searching for goodness? I know I will miss my life in Odonell, but life in Lubbock sounds fun and exciting!! I can’t wait till I talk with Braulia… and all the new people I would meet here… One thing I must never forget: to behave well and remember my orders.” At the word “orders”, she remembered her orders. She got into her casuals and went down for tea. She knew how to behave in front to Madam (she got used to calling her Madam now, as Hulda used the word too often) she only had to try it out. How many things she was going to learn in Lubbock and what fun she was going to have!!!