Rachel Morgan
English 10A #4
Unexpected
The day was
clear with no clouds marring the perfect sky. I looked up at the fiery sun.
‘Maybe this might be a sign that my day will go well,’ I thought, gaining
courage to take my first step into town. Main street looked like any other typical street
with many two story red brick houses. Stores advertising every thing from
valentine hearts to men’s clothing were scattered amongst the many homes.
Occasionally you would see a church or two with their crisp white walls and the
shiny golden bells that break up the monotony.
I walked up to
the general store along the dusty road that was lined with horse drawn
carriages. The sign that proclaimed General Store did not enlighten me. I
opened the door. I heard a ringing sound. I looked up and saw the bell which
just announced my entrance. Before I walked up to the imposing wooden counter,
I wandered about the room looking at the vast amount of goods that were stored
in the shelves. On one side of the room were many fabrics and other items that women
desire. The middle of the room was full of food goods. At the counter a large
burley man was helping his last customer get her order to go. He saw me and
asked me gruffly, “What you want?” “Could you direct me to…” I pulled
out a small tattered paper from my trench coat, “the Zeilke
girls household?” I asked nervously about the thought of courting a girl. I
wanted to loosen my tie a bit because I felt like it was starting to choke me, but
I don’t because I may look foolish doing so.
“They’re the
last brick house to the left on Main Street, though you should want to wait 'til
tomorrow,” the store keeper replied jolting me out of a slight
reverie. “So do you know where I could say?” I query suspiciously. “I have rooms upstairs that you could use,” he answered. “What is the price of
the room?” I ask not wanting to get cheated. “It's the cheapest around. $.35 per night,” he replied proudly with his sun-hardened lighting up
“I’ll take it then,” I state unsure of what I am getting myself into. “The room
is the first door to the right when you get off the stairs,” the burley man stated
while he showed me where the rickety staircase was.
The next day
The Zeilke household
Eloise’s room
“Mademoiselle,
there is a man requesting your presence,” the butler announced timidly after I
let him into my waiting room for a very brief stay. “Do you know who he is?” I
asked my butler. “He calls himself Edward Andrews, my lady, and he is asking if
he can court you,” the butler replied. “Doesn’t he know that I already have
enough courtiers? I don’t need another one! Tell my sister that she can have
him,” I tell him aghast that some stranger would have the guts to ask to court
me. The occurrence where strangers appearing on my doorstep had better not be a
habit.
Louisa’s Room
‘I heard the
whole conversation that my sister had had with our poor butler,’ I thought. ‘My
sister wants to give me one of her supposed courtiers? I hope this time he is
not as bad as the last one. That one constantly called me Eloise like he didn’t
know the difference between us. My sister loves her cat, but I intensely
dislike cats, the last time her cat went into by bedroom it used my clean
linens like they were the liter box! If I could get away with being a
wallflower all my life, I would do so. Lastly, there is a mole on the left side
of my nose of all things! My sister and I are complete opposites!’ The butler
knocks on the door. I let him in and told him, “Tell him that I will be right
down, butler!” Looking into my vast closet I pulled out a freshly ironed cream
dress which made me look like I was ready to be prepared for a funeral. I hoped
to look as ugly as possible.
When I walked
down the staircase I caught a glimpse of his fiery red hair. ‘Oh great, what
did this guy do for Eloise not to want him to court her? She always had a
liking for carrot top boys,’ I thought sarcastically. I personally didn’t care
what they looked like, but once I got to the bottom of the stairs did I ever
wish I had taken the time to look my best!
“Hello, he
said, “are you either,” he looked at a piece of paper from his left pocket,
“Eloise or Louisa?” Then I realized Eloise had never seen this guy before! “I
am Louisa, you can tell by this freckle on the left side of my nose, I answered
showing him my mole.” “Would you like to show me around your gardens?” he asked.
Eagerly I replied, “That sounds like an excellent idea!”
Eloise’s room
"While
spying on my little sister to see what bumbles I could tease her about this
time, I spotted the boy I had dumped without seeing." ‘What right did
Louisa have to be courted by a man that looks better than mine? This is so
unfair! I will get revenge on her!’ I storm angrily in my mind. With my face
flushed and my mind feeling extremely heated I reach for my notepad and pencil.
The next too long hour or so I spent plotting against her. Then the thought
came, ‘I will make her life extremely miserable, so where do I start?’
I see Juan, my
cat then grin. Taking Juan I lock him into Louisa’s closet while I proceed to
rip up her curtains. Then I take a pair of my sewing scissors and continue by
shredding up her mattress. After about an hour or so I finally released Juan
from his prison in Louisa’s closet. Next, I ensue to dismantle her dresser. By
the time I am done, her room is in shambles.
I then head
off to the kitchen. I put on my sweetest smile and ask the cook, “Would you
mind if I made breakfast tomorrow morning?” The cook, not wanting to get in
trouble stated back, “I don’t know, have your parents given you permission to
do so?” I don’t want to try to hurry off and ask mom and dad so I fibbed, “I
already asked them, they said that I could.” The cook took a good look at me
and said, “Ok.” Now, my plans are perfect. I look around the kitchen making
sure that my plans are ready and locate the items needed. My first step is to
find the milk and leave it out in a place that the cook would not be able to
find it. After that I stick the bread into the freezer. By the time I take it
out it would be as soggy as swamp moss. I know how to get eggs burnt to ashes
so I don’t need to worry about it until the morning. Afterwards, I head out of
the kitchen back to my bedroom to plot even more.
* * * * *
I had a lovely
walk with Edward and the rest of the beautiful day went well until I entered my
room. I almost fainted at the horrible smell that was had started to reek. When
I saw the sight, I could barely take it in. Almost everything was in a mess,
the mattress cut to pieces, my wardrobe was scattered on the floor with cat
messes all over them, but the worst occurrence was that every piece of my
wardrobe is torn to pieces! There could be only one culprit, my sister Eloise. I
had just hit the wall with such force that my ears were still ringing when I
realized, would this do any good? I would win a lot faster if she tried to
discourage me and was unsuccessful.
The next
morning I got the most unpleasant breakfast. My eggs were burnt so far that
they were ashes, the milk was so sharp I gagged on the first sip, and the bread
limp and soggy. Every item that I had requested for breakfast was bad. It
caused me to not eating breakfast, which would probably cause me to regret
later. I came back downstairs from managing the servants who had worked on cleaning
my wrecked room for the previous twelve hours to search for a room that would
be vacant for me to sleep in.
Two months later
I found my sister and Edward apparently waiting for me. “Louisa,
we have been waiting for you,” Eloise looked furious to find that her scheme
was thwarted. Apparently, no matter how hard she tried to make me miserable she
was not successful. Promptly I sat down next to Eloise where there was only one
seat left and asked what he had been waiting for. “Louisa, my last name really
is not Andrews, it is de Norton. I am Earl Edward de Norton from