Knocking on Faerie Door
Part 21
Sleep did not come
easily this night. My thoughts kept retracing every word those hideous creatures
had spewed out onto my poor unwitting parents. My parents were good people
albeit a tad too socially pre-occupied. They were good, kind people who wanted
to be like and respected by all, which made them sitting ducks for the trolls’
onslaught of lies.
The time passes slowly;
I hear the chirping of the dawn chorus. Thinking to myself what a pity it is
that so many people miss this melodic welcoming in of the new day, as they
slumber.
My mind still not
quietened by the roar of last night’s conversation, I rise and head towards the
window from which BB led me all those days ago. My chest feels tight and I need
to open the window for fresh air. The window seems stiff tonight, but I realise
that it’s my fatigue preventing strength from coming to my limbs.
I decide to press my
face against the cool window pane. It feels refreshing. As my eyes close and
reopen there is movement down below that catches my eye. Placing both hands on
the window pane, I try my best to get a look at the goings on down below.
Trolls!!! This time in
their natural form, all huddled in a group and very clearly discussing
something of major importance. This is evident from their serious expressions
and animated movements. They may even be having a quarrel.
Again I try and open
the window pane, but to no avail. If I were allowed to curse, now would be the
time to do it. “Oh bother!” I blurt out aloud. Suddenly below me is a flurry of
activity and then nothing. Had I not known better; I would have guessed it to be
a whirlwind playing with the leaves that had fallen from the trees.
My bedroom door opens
and my heart nearly stops! Swirling around I see Nanny enter my room. Nanny is
holding a special box, the type in which very expensive and usually very pretty
dresses are delivered. Wide awake I rush at Nanny. Nanny smiles and steps aside,
so that I cannot run into her.
“Sorry Nanny” I say yet
clearly I don’t mean it. Nanny can see the excitement etched on my face. Nanny
smiles and says “Who is the luckiest girl I know then?”
“Me!!” I
exclaim excitedly. Nanny holds that beautiful box aloft, as I try and jump to reach it. After
of teasing for a few minutes, Nanny finally lowers the box onto my bed. I
scramble over to the bed, and more importantly the box!
Nanny holds up her had
as to halt my progress. It works.
“What is it Nanny?” I
enquire, “Do you not wish for me to have a lovely new dress from father?” My excitement was somewhat quashed.
“The dress, my dear
girl is not a gift from your father.” Nanny’s tone is cold. I am confused.
“Who else would buy me
a dress then, Nanny?” “It must be
mother!” I exclaim.
Nanny simply looks
downcast and shakes her head.
“Please tell me Nanny,
I can’t bear waiting.” Nanny says one
name “Mrs Lawly”
Oh no!! I can’t
possibly accept anything from troll-woman, what was I to do? Thinking out loud I
say “Well I don’t want anything from
that woman/troll.”
Nanny places her hands
upon her ample lap, looks sternly at me and says “You have to accept this dress
Winifred, it would be considered very rude and impolite to turn it down and
your parents would be mortified and socially disgraced”
Never having recalled
Nanny ever using a string of such important words all at once, the severity of
such a decision dawned on me like a yolk about my neck.
“There is more,” says
Nanny “She has written a poem for you to read at the breakfast gathering this
very morning.” Nanny continued “You will find it in the box with your new dress.”
I did not like the
sound of this, no, not one little bit! Gingerly I move forward that box is no
longer a prize but a poison. It comes not from my loving father, but from my nemesis!
My feet feel like lead and my heart the same. How am I to show gratitude for
something I do not wish to have nor wear?
Nanny urges me on “Go
on Winifred, open the box and see what the dress looks like, I’m sure it will
be beautiful” her voice still cold is not convincing me at all. Yet to satisfy
her I reach out and open the box.
The dress is simply
fantastic! It has embroidery of scarlet roses all along the hemline and the
puffy cuffs. The embroidery must’ve taken absolute ages, its exquisite! The
dress is snow white and pure silk, with a huge sash bow to fit around my waist.
I secretly love the dress.
“Nanny, I suppose I
have to wear this to save face.” I say not very convincingly yet I’m sure Nanny
understands.
I sit down on my bed
next to Nanny; I turn to look at her. “I need to tell you what I heard last
night Nanny” and go on to tell her all I’d overheard whilst hiding behind the
oak door. I also tell her what had happened before she strode through the
doorway, this morning.
Nanny looks very
worried. Our thoughts together turn to the poem I’m meant to read at breakfast.
My stomach does flips and I’m feeling positively ill. I am turning pale. Nanny
sees this and brings over a glass of water.
Nanny puts her hand in
the box and removes the embellished paper, with the most ornate handwriting
either of us has ever seen. There are a lot of curls and loops and swoops in
this handwriting and it takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the text.
NO!! NO!! NO!! I simply
cannot and will not read this poem! I burst into tears and cling to Nanny in
sheer desperation.” Nanny they want me to read aloud. They want me to say those words!!! What am I to do??? Please
help me Nanny!”
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