“What did HE have to say?” asked Jim in a concerned and serious tone. He stood tall beside me as we watched the ball from the sidelines. Henry had gone off somewhere after our dance, I didn’t know or care where he was. I recalled our conversation and tried to think of how to put it.
“Alice?” I suddenly snapped out of my empty stare and looked back at Jim. His hands were shaking, he knew that Henry could hurt any chance of a future together. “ He is intending to propose… tonight” my stomach churned at the thought. I tried to ease his mind, “ but I warned him against it, seeing that I would refuse.” “ But you’re parents love him, they won’t let you have a say in the arrangement” “ I always have a choice”
An uncomfortable pause in the conversation stopped any attempts of continuing it. The silence filled the room although there was music and laughing in the same hall. The music stopped and the ladies applauded the music vivaciously. Moments later a slow orchestral song began and ladies scrambled to secure a partner.
A hand reached out, I looked up to see Jim with a glimmer of hope in his ocean blue eyes. I readily accepted and we walked into the room together. From the side, I saw a row of father figures, to both me and Jim, Uncle Trelawney, Dr. Phelps, and Captain Beckett gleaming with pride from the sideline. They knew that this was long overdue. Besides the trouble with Henry, this was the first opportunity we’ve had to be together without mortal danger being hung over our heads.
It felt safe to dance with him, something natural. We danced for three songs. We would have danced longer if the musicians hadn’t taken a break. When the music went off, we both shyly smiled. He bowed, I curtsied and we walked off in opposite directions.
Although I tried not to reveal the amount of happiness I felt, I could not shake the grin that spread across my face. As I walked into a side room, I found my parents having expressions filled with anxiety, staring straight at me. The grin went away. “My dear,” said my mother trying to soften her tone. “I hope you’re enjoying the music, but I do wonder why you spent three whole dances with that sailor you travelled to France with. I understand given the circumstances, that you owed the gentleman one dance, but I thought it improper to focus your attentions on him. Especially since dear Henry was able to come, you only danced with him once.” “Especially seeing that Mr. Alcott will be proposing tonight.” Added my father. This statement rattled me. “You knew he was intending to propose, but you didn’t think to tell me?” I said in a low growl. “Of course, you know this has been planned ever since the two of you were little.” “But I have expressed my disinterest in Mr. Alcott before.” “Yes and you remember our arrangement. The time is up and I do not believe you have-“ “-I have.” My mother then recollected the dancing, “What, that sailor? Honey, I do not believe he has the respectable position or income that you are looking for in a husband.” “He has enough money, he went on that expedition with Uncle Trelawney and has a very becoming amount, he simply enjoys being at sea.” I pointed out. “We simply cannot approve such an endeavor, especially when someone like Mr. Alcott has expressed interest. If he asks tonight, despite your actions today, I strongly advise you say yes.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I left and went onto a balcony outside of the main hall. “Alice?”, Jim’s voice startled me. I explained to him what my parents said, he listened attentively. “You know I lost my parents at a very young age,” He couldn’t hide the shaking in his voice. “Who knows what your parents would do if you went against their will. I can’t be the reason your relationship with them is ruined.” “Please,” “You know I will always care for you but… it might be for the best that we remain-“ “-friends? You’re kidding, I’m not marrying Henry either way, we can simply take it slower than-“ “I would wait forever if it meant I could be with you, but I don’t see how they would change their minds.“ He held my hand one last time, “Goodbye Alice”.
Thoughts filled with him pass by the hours Whether he will be the last to keep her hoping would solely be proven by time
Should the feelings pass The reminder will be remembered with laughs Most thoughts completely forgotten
But maybe-just maybe He could be the first - the last, sincere guy to hold her hand while walking down sandy beaches staring past the sunset towards her gaze To fill her with wonder, with bright new dreams for shared futures
Let’s not hope like that quite yet They have just discovered their future could be within reach Without knowing whether he feels the same, she can hardly be presumed to fall for him so quickly But she struggles day to day to keep from those thoughts that make time fly Whether time will prove her hopes valid Can be left to speculation
Of course, the worst punishment possible and my parents had found it. If I would have known it would lead to THIS, I never would have spray painted my name on my neighbor’s car. Not only did they make me wash the artwork deserving to be in the Louvre, off but I also had to spend a whole week of my summer with my old, decrepit neighbor, Mrs Hannah. That Monday came and before I could even knock, she was opening the door with a warm and inviting smile that spread across her face.
Her house smelled of cinnamon, coffee, and freshly baked pastries, which were out on an old vintage coffee table. She greeted me with a kind ‘good morning’ and let me in. I was immediately drawn to the pastries and ate a whole scone. “How did it taste?” I heard her say from the kitchen.
“It was okay” I said, although I knew that it was far better than anything my mother had baked. She carefully walked out of the kitchen with two cups of apple cider in her hands. Although her face showed many lines from age, she had the agility and grace of someone much younger. This made me question how old she actually was, but I decided not to ask and not to care.
I sat there and let her bring me the cider and held it in my hands a while before I took a sip. “Well I think today, we should go in the garden and you can help me pull out some weeds. Then we’ll bake some more treats for the rest of the week, how about that?”
“ I don’t think so. Look, I’m just here cause my parents are making me. I’m not going to waste my summer pulling weeds.”
“Ah” her face turned more serious, without giving the impression of having any anger. “ well here are the facts Tommy, your parents are going to be asking for an update on your behavior at the end of the day. You can decide if it is going to be good or bad.” She said taking a chair and sitting down to sip her cider.
I rolled my eyes and mumbled , “whatever”.
“We don’t have to do all of that today, but could you at least read to me a little, my eyes are bad and I have trouble reading on my own. Then we can have some more cider.”
I looked at her and contemplated the offer, this might be the best of both worlds. She might fall asleep before too long and surely I wouldn’t have to read that much, and then I’d be free to do whatever I’d like for the rest of the day. “Deal”
She led me to her little library and took out a big, brown, leather book. It felt ancient and still had indents where the title used to be. She never told me the title, but simply told me to start at page 10, in order to skip the introduction.
It didn’t take me long to realize it was a fantasy, but the characters and the struggles felt real. After reading five chapters and halfway through the sixth, she told me that we could stop there. I looked at her, puzzled. why would we stop in the middle of a chapter, in the middle of a sentence?
She got me some more cider and we sat there in the quiet. I couldn’t think of anything to say, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Instead I steadily tapped my foot on the floor with anxious glances back and forth. Mrs. Hannah gazed at me as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. “ would you like to keep on reading?” She asked with a grin.
“Only if you want to,” I replied, but I already had the book opened to the page and the next second I was reading again. I continued reading for a while and then suddenly there was a knock on the door. I got up and asked her if she was expecting any visitors and I opened the creaky door. It was my parents and immediately I asked what time it was because surely it had not been an entire day. But the Sun proved me wrong, I quietly told Mrs Hannah ‘goodbye and see you tomorrow’ and I was off. For some reason I wasn’t glad to go, but I couldn’t quite figure out why.
