The second chapter of my story...

Looking around - Chapter 2

Kelly awoke from her sleep the next morning. She looked around and did not know where she was. She soon got up from bed and then thought about everything and figured out that she was in her aunt’s place in Lubbock. She had a vague memory of yesterday. She remembered Hulda’s words “Get up in the morning, get ready and come down at eight for breakfast”. She did that and went down to the table.

The Dining table was empty, so she went straight to the kitchen. She saw Hulda and wished her a merry morning. Hulda told her to go the table and sit on the third chair left. She obeyed immediately. She waited for a couple of moments until she saw Braulia arrive. Braulia was dressed in white and her hair was made up in such a way that it was very messy. Braulia began the conversation “How do you like it here?” She replied in a low voice “I haven’t seen much yet”. Braulia said without thinking “I’ll show you around after breakfast, wont we Hulda? I don’t think Madam would mind.” for Hulda had by then come out of the kitchen and standing leaning on the cupboard.

When the clock struck eight, there was Mrs. Darlene. And behind her was a tall good-looking young lad who came and sat opposite to Braulia. Kelly understood that it was her son. Mrs. Darlene insisted on the seating arrangement of the table. There were strict rules which had to be followed when Madam was there. Madam spoke in a high but kind voice “Good morning children!” Everyone greeted her together “Good morning Madam”.

No more words were spoken until everyone had finished eating their allotted share. Kelly was still hungry, but she did not take more of the plain white rolls that were kept in a basket on the table. She had been warned by Hulda last evening “Never take more than your allotted share while sitting on the table. Madam doesn’t like it”. Madam spoke in a tone that made Kelly comfortable “Braulia, you will show Kelly around. I see that Hulda has taught Kelly about table manners and Kelly is doing well. As a reward for Hulda, she can have a fun time accompanying you for showing Kelly around. Don’t disturb Jim. He has got to study hard today. Both of you can stay away from school today. Make Kelly comfortable – that’s your job for today and I’ll inspect it at supper. I shall ask your school mistress about Kelly’s schooling. Tomorrow, I will go with you to school and we shall take Kelly with us. Let us see what Ms. Janice has to say. Off with your work now everyone.”

While Mrs. Darlene made her long speech, Braulia’s face lit up with delight and so did Hulda’s. As soon as Mrs. Darlene went to her room, all three girls sprung up and hugged each other. “What fun we’ll have!!” said Braulia, “Let us go to ‘The Castle’ ”

They went to the last room downstairs. Kelly saw that it was indeed magnificent. It really looked like a castle. The drapes and furniture was neat and luxurious. They sat down and talked their hearts out. Braulia put on airs and explained as though she was very serious. She took a box from under the bed; it had an old spectacle without glass, an old paper, some bits of cloth and few old coins. Braulia asked the other two girls to take a seat and she stood on the bed.

She put on the spectacles and began to read aloud. She read “This is the castle. I, Queen Jane want to introduce to you, Princess Diana, a new member who will take part in our formal duties. Let us welcome ‘Princess Susan’ to The Castle.” (Claps). Kelly was bewildered. She went forward and took a big bow and came and sat down. Braulia continued “We will now discuss what we have to discuss. Do we have anything to discuss?” Hulda got up from her seat, took a formal bow and waited for Queen Jane to take her outstretched palm. Queen Jane stood aside. Princess Diana spoke now “Dear ladies, I am here to bring to your notice a matter about Princess Susan. She is very troubled now and questions God about her life. She needs to be explained a few facts for which I hope you will co-operate”. Braulia took a seat now. Hulda continued, “Our Dear Princess Susan, we must understand that God has a will for our lives and we must go according to His will. He has the perfect will. No one cares so much about us as our God the Father cares for us. There may be so many troubles brought to us by Satan, but we must stay till the end. We all are sinners. We must accept Him as our personal Saviour. Okay, I suppose there isn’t much to discuss… let us conduct the closing ceremony and disperse to the ‘garden of delight’ (they called the garden that way) shall we?”

Braulia got up and asked everyone to put their hand forward and then, everyone took an oath, “We will always remain true to The Castle by keeping it tidy. We are sure to gather here next week and do our duties sincerely”… They put the spectacles and everything else in place and left the room. “Wasn’t that the most solemn thing in this house?” Braulia asked Kelly. Kelly was excited too. She enjoyed the formal things too. Then they decided to go out to the garden.

The three cheerful girls sat on the soft green grass and smelt the flowers. It was very beautiful. The flowers danced like stars. Braulia said “Did you see my brother? He looks good, doesn’t he? But he never plays with me. I like Hulda but have always longed for a girl of my own age to be there for me. Now I found you! You have no idea how happy I am. You can come to school with me. I am sure Miss. Janice will love to have another student in her class. Jim is in another grade. The grade is for children from 11-15 years. I am in the grade of children between 4 & 10 years. You are nine, right?” Kelly replied “Good Heavens! I’m eleven!” Braulia said with a sad expression in her face “oh! Then, you will be in Jim’s class. I also wanted someone of my own age to be my best friend. Now you are two years elder than me. Nothing good ever happens to me…”

Hulda cheered her up “Don’t say that! You have a friend with whom you can play at home and you should be grateful to God for that.

“I guess so” Braulia said with a smile, “Mr. Bill will be your teacher then. I have heard Jim say that he is great to be with. Hope you have fun!”

Kelly thanked her. She felt little sad that Braulia was not in her class but felt encouraged when she thought that she would meet new friends in school the next day.

Braulia changed the topic… “Can you smell the sweet breeze of the goats? They are just behind the house. Let’s go and have a look at them. I have a favorite one called Snow. She’s going to give birth soon. It is so much fun taking care of goats, you know.”

Hulda said “Yeah! Lets go and show her the goats, and then we go inside right? I feel hungry now and I know that Kelly is hungry too. I saw the expression on her face today morning. She wanted to take an extra roll, didn’t you Kelly?” She replied laughing “Yes…I was.” Hulda put her arm around her and said “I’m glad you remembered what I said. You would have been in trouble if you had taken it. Let’s go and asked Margie for a slice of bread after we see the goats.”

Braulia said “That’s sounds like a good idea to me too!”

The three girls went behind the house hand in hand. There would have been three happier girls in all of USA by then, but I doubt it.

Braulia showed Snow. Then, they went inside to have a snack. It was half past ten by that time. With their stomachs quite full, they went down the lane and all around their neighborhood. Then they went inside the rose red house. The reason why it was called the rose red house is because the house was painted in pink and the roof was red.

They went to the living room and then to the common room. They found Jim sitting on a chair beside the table. He was in a world of his own. He was always in a world of his own. Daydreaming was one of his favorite passtimes. He was a clever boy for his age and quick at wits. At first, he did not notice them. So, Kelly was able to take a closer look at him. Suddenly, he looked at the three girls and said “Hi girls! Will I be disturbing you if I stay here? You can go on with what you planned to do here. Please don’t mind me.” He looked at Kelly and said “How do you do miss?” Kelly answered timidly “Fine. Thank you─sir.”(She added the “sir” after a pause). Jim replied with a laugh “You need not call me ‘sir’. Just call me ‘Jim’, okay?” Kelly was a bit comfortable now; she smiled and said “Yes Jim.” Braulia laughed out loud. Hulda joined in too! “Looks like everyone are getting together fine, don’t you think so Braulia?”

Kelly was drawn to a huge fresco on the wall. She opened her eyes with astonishment wide enough for one chicken egg to fit in! Braulia explained “That portrait is my grandfather’s grandfather.” “Mine too!” Jim broke in. Kelly said “Then, he’ll be mine as well…as we are cousins.” Braulia continued “He was a soldier in the army. He looks stern, doesn’t he? But granny used to say that he was a charming person. He gave everything he had to the poor and needy. His heart melted like butter in the sun when he saw a person in poverty…she used to say. Now, there is something special about his portrait. There is a black box in his hand, right? The box is a mystery. He always carried the box with him and would not allow anyone to open it. He had a key to it but always hid it from others. No one knows what is inside. When he died, he gave it to his grandson and told it to keep it in remembrance of him. His grandson, my grandfather could not find the key and when he died, gave it to his grandson, Jim. Now we don’t know where the key is, but we suppose it’s a mystery. “The case of the mysterious box”. How does that sound? We have lived in this old house ever since, it was this great great grandfather who built this house and he lived in the room next to yours which is always locked. We need to find that room’s key and then the key to the box and only then can we open the box, but it had seemed impossible ever since. When we asked Madam about the key to the room, she said that there are two keys to the room; one is inside the room itself and one is buried in the ground. Madam is not interested in all such things…so she doesn’t allow Jim and me to dig the whole place. Our only hope is that we find the keys and the box! Maybe there is something he used…or something his grandad gave him…or some photo... I really wanna know what is inside. We can treasure it and have it as a valuable possession. We are told that everything inside his old room will be antique and fragile. Maybe there is something worth possessing…It is a mystery. Don’t bother about it anyway…It would never be possible to search for a key from under the ground.”

Soon they left the room. Kelly’s mind was troubled. She was interested in solving mysteries…but she tried to forget it but ended up in dismay. So, she began thinking about other things. She went upstairs to her room. Before entering she saw the room next to hers and peeped in through the key hole. All she saw was a fireplace and an old table with lots of papers and a painting of a man with small children sitting on his lap. There was something ghostly about that room. She was a bit scared and so, slipped back into her room. She sat on the bed and thought about her day. It wasn’t so bad after all. She liked this place better.

Kelly was comfortable now. She had two friends on whom she could count and a sensible aunt whom she couldn’t call ‘Aunt’. But, she did not mind that because she understood the pain of Braulia. She couldn’t even call her ‘mom’.