The market is always exciting for me n' Tobey. Cus here we can run n' yell and laugh. There's not nobody like Sir Championt there to tell us "shush". After the bags get so heavy my arms can't barely lift "em, I say to him, “I think we"re almost done”.
“Yep, “ He agrees, “you g' see if you can find the rest whilst I goes n' gets ur present in the store "cross the street.”
“But Tobey, you aint got no gold!” I yell, but he was already cross the street.
“I been saving” he yells, and then goes in.
I walk down the hill to the bread stand, and I"m lookin' at what kinda bread I should get when there's a big bang and the ground shakes. It's real hot and I can't see. There's red in my eye and it's gooey. Kinda smells like blood. It's hot. I aint never been so hot. I can't hear nothing "cept a ringin noise in my ears and it hurts to roll over. When I do get turned over and wipe the blood out of my eyes, I wish I never. The store Tobey went in ain't there no more, just a big black mark. All the buildings beside are on fire and people are burning. Then I can"t see no more cus the blood's back in my eyes.
Chapter 1
I was awoken by the sound of screaming. It was dreadfully loud, and somewhat eerie. It was a hollow, hopeless noise. It took me a moment to realize that I was the one screaming. I was shaking violently and each breath was a desperate gasp for air. One thought was impossible to shake. It was entirely my fault. The guilt ate away at my insides. Tears were forming and becoming trapped by my closed eyelids. I could hear Miss Molly and a new servant talking.
“Why's she screaming?”
“A nightmare that's all too real I'm afraid.”
“Should we wake her?”
“She is awake”
“You talk as if she does this all the time.”
“Every morning”
“What could have been so terrible?”
“ Six years ago her best friend died, it was her 10th birthday. Poor thing adored him. Probably even loved him. She's never really got over it.”
What Miss Molly said was true. I suppose I never really did get over what happened that day. Tobey's memory haunted all my dreams and I constantly had his image in the back of my mind. I "d wager that I could draw a flawless portrait of him with my eyes closed. Our moms were sold when we were babies, so like most of the servants "round, we were raised by Miss Marian (the head cook), Miss Molly (the head maid), Mr. Heckle (the gardener) and even a little by Tobias (the chief of the guards). Tobey thought Tobias must have been his dad since they had the same name. I think he might have been right because they had the same eyes.
Anyway, me and Tobey worked together for a long time. Tobey was always thinking of games that would make the work not so bad. When we mopped, we made pictures on the floor with the water. Sometimes we'd race n' see who could collect the most eggs fastest without breaking none. Tobey always won, but I had fun just playing. But please don't misunderstand. It's not like I spent six years crying in bed. Life went on, though mornings were always hard.
I was running late again. It had become a habit. One that Sir Championt did not appreciate. I normally managed to catch up fairly well. That day I brushed my hair as I swept, and ate breakfast while I mopped. By the time I was ready the cold and cracked marble floor was spotless. I was working with Amelia, her and her sister Amy Leigh were the only female servants my age working in the manor at the time. We had just begun to wash the windows in the south wing, when we heard shouts from outside. As I recall it was more like a chant than shouting. Anyhow, Amelia and I were intrigued. After a quick glance at each other we dashed out onto the balcony.
There was a mob of middle-aged women and very young children gathered outside the gate. Some of the women held big pieces of parchment, but I was unable to make out their messages. “What's all this?” Amelia wondered out loud.
