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The Lone Girl (Chapter: 5)
A DIVINE NIGHT
I looked outside and it was just as I had expected - a rainstorm. Things couldn’t get worse. The children smelled of fresh mud and Ms. Clarette started to give the kids a piece of her mind. “Who told you all to go out and play at this hour of the day.” LOOK AT THE TIME” She ordered in a stern voice.
The kids looked at the massive timepiece that hung just above their heads near the front door. They were tensed and their legs started to tremble. I could say that Ms. Clarette loved the children and at the same time she was strict with them when things started to get a little out of control.
One of the kids, a boy of about eight, came forward. “Oh ma’am. We are very sorry for everything.” Saying this, the children rushed upstairs. Ms. Clarette was now backing to her normal self. She turned to me and giggled, “These kids, so silly, oh my.” She noticed that I looked quite worried. “What is it dear? What is bothering you?” I told her that it was kind of difficult to go home when it was raining cats and dogs. She put her hand on my shoulders. “Don’t worry Jessie. You can stay here for the night” she spoke in an assuring voice. I was surprised to hear that. I hesitated at first. But when I agreed to stay, she looked rather cheerful. “Jessie, I will make your stay here a very comfortable one. We have neat bedrooms and the washrooms are all hygienic. Have a magnificent night.”
Saying so, she left the room. And after two seconds she came back, “Jessie, dinner will be ready soon. It’s already a quarter to seven. Let’s not waste time.”
As she was saying this, a young lady in her early twenties, peered from behind and entered into the hall. She was simple-looking in her long red frock. She had curly hair that looked a bit messy and a slightly freckled face. She seemed like a damsel in distress. There was something about her that made her look beautiful. She had revealing dimples on either side of her rosy cheeks and a gracious smile.
Just then Ms. Clarette smiled at her, “Well Jessie meet Mrs. Agnes. And Agnes meet our visitor Jessie.” Agnes smiled and greeted me politely, “Welcome to Primewood. I am the nanny of the 150 kids here. I will show you to your room.” Instincts told me she never deserved to be in such a state. In about ten minute’s time, I went to the room, washed up as fast as I could.
As I rushed down the stairway I got a whiff of the appeasing aroma. I was shown to the huge diner and I was completely taken by surprise. There were chairs covered in fine silk and a name engraved on each of those chairs. I sat on the chair furthest down the diner, “Well, well” I began to say and Agnes called out, “Here comes the delicious DUCK PIE with chili sauce and some fine berries from our Primewood gardens.”
All the children exclaimed in joy. Agnes pleasantly looked at me, “Our chef, Martha, is the one who makes the meals for the kids. And I get to keep this place tidy and take care of these lovely children.” She seemed fun-loving and merry. No wonder the kids loved her. I looked at Martha who was standing in the far end of the dining room, looking rather busy. She was short and slightly stout like Agnes. She seemed to be in a pleasant mood.
I decided to get in a conversation with her,” So, does the menu for the meals differ every day?” She replied eagerly, “Yes of course. Most of the time, I make a wide variety of dishes and a lot of effort goes into it. I am like a mom here you know.” So I knew that I had to be polite and appreciate her hard work no matter what. I took a bite of the pie and it was absolutely divine: moist in texture, appealing in presentation and done with the utmost care and affection.
I showed the thumbs-up sign to her, “Master Chef of the year. You deserve a well-deserved break. Please take a bite of the MARTHA PIE.” She grinned, “No dear. You continue eating. Fill the brim.” I had few bites and I was full, “With a few it’s done.” I told her and got up but Martha said indignantly, “You have to eat more Jessie. It’ll make me happy.” But I looked at her pleading eyes, “Lady, DO NOT give me the puppy-eyed look. One more bite and I’ll bloat like a balloon and gravity can’t hold me down.”
Everyone in the hall choked with laughter. I put on a sad and cross face but she replied in a firm tone, “Now I wouldn’t take that as an excuse dear fussball.” Even though I tried telling her I was full, I covertly admired the richness of her generosity and kindness. We resumed eating our meal in peace as the rain pattered heavily against the windows.
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I looked outside and it was just as I had expected - a rainstorm. Things couldn’t get worse. The children smelled of fresh mud and Ms. Clarette started to give the kids a piece of her mind. “Who told you all to go out and play at this hour of the day.” LOOK AT THE TIME” She ordered in a stern voice.
The kids looked at the massive timepiece that hung just above their heads near the front door. They were tensed and their legs started to tremble. I could say that Ms. Clarette loved the children and at the same time she was strict with them when things started to get a little out of control.
One of the kids, a boy of about eight, came forward. “Oh ma’am. We are very sorry for everything.” Saying this, the children rushed upstairs. Ms. Clarette was now backing to her normal self. She turned to me and giggled, “These kids, so silly, oh my.” She noticed that I looked quite worried. “What is it dear? What is bothering you?” I told her that it was kind of difficult to go home when it was raining cats and dogs. She put her hand on my shoulders. “Don’t worry Jessie. You can stay here for the night” she spoke in an assuring voice. I was surprised to hear that. I hesitated at first. But when I agreed to stay, she looked rather cheerful. “Jessie, I will make your stay here a very comfortable one. We have neat bedrooms and the washrooms are all hygienic. Have a magnificent night.”
Saying so, she left the room. And after two seconds she came back, “Jessie, dinner will be ready soon. It’s already a quarter to seven. Let’s not waste time.”
As she was saying this, a young lady in her early twenties, peered from behind and entered into the hall. She was simple-looking in her long red frock. She had curly hair that looked a bit messy and a slightly freckled face. She seemed like a damsel in distress. There was something about her that made her look beautiful. She had revealing dimples on either side of her rosy cheeks and a gracious smile.
Just then Ms. Clarette smiled at her, “Well Jessie meet Mrs. Agnes. And Agnes meet our visitor Jessie.” Agnes smiled and greeted me politely, “Welcome to Primewood. I am the nanny of the 150 kids here. I will show you to your room.” Instincts told me she never deserved to be in such a state. In about ten minute’s time, I went to the room, washed up as fast as I could.
As I rushed down the stairway I got a whiff of the appeasing aroma. I was shown to the huge diner and I was completely taken by surprise. There were chairs covered in fine silk and a name engraved on each of those chairs. I sat on the chair furthest down the diner, “Well, well” I began to say and Agnes called out, “Here comes the delicious DUCK PIE with chili sauce and some fine berries from our Primewood gardens.”
All the children exclaimed in joy. Agnes pleasantly looked at me, “Our chef, Martha, is the one who makes the meals for the kids. And I get to keep this place tidy and take care of these lovely children.” She seemed fun-loving and merry. No wonder the kids loved her. I looked at Martha who was standing in the far end of the dining room, looking rather busy. She was short and slightly stout like Agnes. She seemed to be in a pleasant mood.
I decided to get in a conversation with her,” So, does the menu for the meals differ every day?” She replied eagerly, “Yes of course. Most of the time, I make a wide variety of dishes and a lot of effort goes into it. I am like a mom here you know.” So I knew that I had to be polite and appreciate her hard work no matter what. I took a bite of the pie and it was absolutely divine: moist in texture, appealing in presentation and done with the utmost care and affection.
I showed the thumbs-up sign to her, “Master Chef of the year. You deserve a well-deserved break. Please take a bite of the MARTHA PIE.” She grinned, “No dear. You continue eating. Fill the brim.” I had few bites and I was full, “With a few it’s done.” I told her and got up but Martha said indignantly, “You have to eat more Jessie. It’ll make me happy.” But I looked at her pleading eyes, “Lady, DO NOT give me the puppy-eyed look. One more bite and I’ll bloat like a balloon and gravity can’t hold me down.”
Everyone in the hall choked with laughter. I put on a sad and cross face but she replied in a firm tone, “Now I wouldn’t take that as an excuse dear fussball.” Even though I tried telling her I was full, I covertly admired the richness of her generosity and kindness. We resumed eating our meal in peace as the rain pattered heavily against the windows.
© All Rights Reserved
