I leaned lazily over the edge of the boat letting my hand
make little wakes behind each finger. The small wooden canoe I was sunbathing in
leaned lazily to the side making the boat tilt towards shore.
“Elizabeth!”
the voice echoed around the lake. Sighing I adjusted my parasol back over my
head for shade and grabbed the ores. I paddled slowly to the dock at the north
edge of the lake where my mother waited for me. I took my time wobbling out of
the boat, not quite ready to face my mother. “How many times have I told you,
going out on the lake alone is dangerous. You make my fret ever so much.” She
waved a white lace handkerchief as if to fan herself. I sighed again pulling
the black umbrella lover over my face so she couldn’t see I hadn’t regretted it
at all.
“Yes
mother” I curtsied as I said it. I tried to edge around her towards the main
house but she stopped me wish a quick pinch on the edge of my parasol.
“Liza, I
know today will be hard for you, but you must be strong okay? For me?” She
pulled my parasol up to see my face. I looked up at her, annoyed but not daring
to show it. What she was asking wasn’t a question, it was a warning. Be good or
else you’ll regret it. She smiled at me but didn’t let go of the parasol
“Yes
mother” I replied dutifully. She let out a triumphant sigh and relinquished her
grip on my parasol. I turned to look longingly back at my little wooden boat.
Someday I would get away; someday I would take one of those new steam ships and
get away from this place. I wouldn’t have to suffer through any more family
reunions like the one I was about to face today. I trudged after her towards
the house making sure to trail behind as long as I dared.
The Gelson
Manner was obscenely large in my opinion; four stories of gaudy upholstery and
crisp linens. The house was kept spotless thanks to our four housewives that I
swear were more to entertain my mother than anything else. We had a book room,
sitting room, drawing room, and all manner of rooms that you could think of any
number of useless activities to do in them.
The grounds around the manner were just as lavish. We lived on a small
lake with a little island in the middle that I could see from my third floor
bedroom. There was a large, wild forest encompassing the house on three sides
with a large entranceway road looping around the house. We had stables, and a
barn with a number of animals as well as an archery range. My mother was quite
fond of archery of all things and would spend countless hours in the yard
practicing. Another fine activity my mother loves to indulge in is photography.
My mother and her giggling maids would dress her horrible little Pomeranian dog
Freckles in human clothes and hold it in ridiculous poses then take pictures. Who names a dog Freckles anyway.
I marched
up the bank towards the large house grinding my heels into the sundried grass.
Today was going to be horrible and I could feel it. The gooseflesh rose on my
arms as I followed my mother toward the back entryway. I closed my parasol and
tossed it against the far wall making a loud thump. The sound was much louder
than I had anticipated and I cringed as I caught sight of three women standing
in a perfect row facing the fireplace. Each figure was slender and wore a pale
blue gown. They were the same height, same build, and they all had wavy black
hair that brushed the floor as the turned in unison to peer at what had made
the sound.
“Hello
Elizabeth” they droned in harmony, their monotone voices making my heart race.
“Hello Aunt
Bailey, Aunt Kailey, Aunt Hailey” I half nodded half curtsied to each one. They
turned their attention back to the fire place, which I thought very strange as
there was the middle of summer, and no fire roaring in the hearth. Then again,
the rest of my family was rather unusual.
STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
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