Well. Here's chapter 2. I can tell its rather disappointing, but it might be my negativity for all I know.
Thats why I hope you guys would be so kind as to review it for me.
Its still rather boring. All things action-ish come later, perhaps.
Sorry for the lengths and everything. Each chapter is about 3000+ words long.
Not much, but still quite lengthy.
Once again, thanks for your support and help, to those who read this.
Much much appreciated
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“Here we go again…” I groaned internally.
As the sister, whose name was Sister Matilda, ushered me into a room where lunch to be served, several nuns filed in a neat line, according to age, I supposed. As I observed the faces of nuns gracefully gliding in, I noticed that as they progressed, their faces became less wrinkled and sagged, but rather more youthful. I had already retold my story over a dozen times to groups of nuns passing by on the way to lunch, who would gush over my adorability and shake their heads, looking at me with concern when they insisted on hearing my story. Once everyone was seated, Sister Matilda introduced me and asked for my permission to tell my story. I all too eagerly obliged, for once, being spared of having to recount my lie. And again, the nuns fussed over me and cooed on about how charming and adorable I was.
I never thought that I could pass off as cute, considering my age. I shrugged the thought out of my head, and forced myself to focus on the explosion babbles that erupted as the nuns listened to my “sad little tale”, as they called it..
Abruptly, an elderly nun stood up and held her withered hand for silence. Hush immediately descended in the room and all heads including mine, turned to her, listening intently. She turned her head to me, as if it took a great deal of effort. She was ancient of course, equivocally the oldest, with her unmistakable features of aging and long life.
“What is your purpose for seeking us, young one?” She spoke in a clear resonant voice that rang with authority in every syllable, in stark contrast to her physical features, eyeing me carefully.
Her voiced momentarily stunned me, but I recovered quickly enough and stammered “W-well, I have no h-home.”
“Indeed, as Sister Matilda has already informed us. But there is something else you want?” She trailed off suggestively, raising a white eyebrow.
“Yes, Ma’am,”
“You may refer to me as Sister Maria, child.” The old nun interjected.
“Yes, Sister Maria,” I corrected myself, smiling apologetically, and she coaxed me to continue, “I wish to receive an education and be more enlightened about the world, please. And I heard that I could come here for help.” There. That sounded like a good reason.
Sister Maria seemed satisfied with my answer. “And we shall not begrudge you that opportunity, dear Josephine. I should think Sister Anna would be suitable for you. Sister Anna?”
“Here, Sister Maria!” A perky young lady leapt from her seat, her blues eyes sparkling excitedly.
“Are you willing to be responsible for this charming young lady’s education?”
“Oh yes, yes indeed! We’re going to have so much fun, Josephine! We can-”
Sister Anna started, turning to face me, bobbing up and down like a little child who was just offered a lollipop.
“I think, that we shall continue this conversation after lunch, shall we, Sister Anna?” Sister Maria stopped her chatter.
Sister Anna then sat down, clearly abashed, but then grinned at me, thumbs up. I had a feeling that I was going to like her. She seemed very sociable, approachable.
Lunch was a simple spread, but filled my empty stomach all the same; Chicken stew with a side serving of garlic bread. It was surprisingly scrumptious, and I devoured every last bit, but not daring to ask for more. As the rest of the nuns parted upon finishing their portion of food, I was left alone with Sister Anna, after Sister Matilda bade me goodbye. She turned to face me and clapped her hands together.
“Well! Now that we’re alone, shall we introduce ourselves to each other? Personally, I think bowing and curtseying is too formal. Hugging would be more affectionate, wouldn’t it? Oh I’m sorry, I got carried away again. Your name is Josephine, isn’t it? You know, there’s a nun called Josephine; Sister Joesphine, a very rude lady. She says that I talk too much sometimes. But I don’t, do I? I am always so quiet, goodness, who could possibly think I’m-“
“Yes, my name is Josephine. How do you do?” I cut in, interrupting her rambling.
“Me? I’m fine, thank you. Fit as a fiddle! Though I think Sister Maria is not doing as well. Her health has been steadily deteriorating lately. You should recognise her. She is the wrinkled nun who stood up at lunch to address us. Goodness, is she wrinkly! I wonder why all old people look like dried up fruit and-“
“Umm, when shall my lessons begin, Sister? I’m rather eager to start.” I smiled politely.
Oh dear, this lady is more talkative than Joseph, if that were even possible. That boy brags all day long…
“Well, I think you ought to settle some things first. Let me show you to your room, so that you may unpack your things. We can begin our lessons tomorrow.”
“That would be splendid!” I quickly replied, before she could open her mouth to say more.
Her eyebrows knotted together, a change from her perpetually jubilant face, and she abruptly stopped walking. It was then that I took notice of the Convent’s grandeur. Rarely straying from the Fairwell Residence, many things fascinated me at that point in time, as I was not exposed to the outside world. The Convent compromised of several buildings, and the main hall was presumably the biggest building. The structures were built with either red or brown bricks. The centre of the Convent’s compound was the pond, and an addition I had not noticed earlier on. A pure white statue of The Virgin Mary stood next to the pond, and at her feet laid a bed of deep red roses. Some had velvety looking petals which I yearned to feel, others were beginning to wither, the edges browning. It was truly a breathtaking sight. She was so beautiful.
I was suddenly very aware of Sister Anna’s presence, as she cleared her throat pointedly beside me, signaling her need to capture my attention. I swiveled my head around and as soon as she caught my gaze, she unhappily informed me, “My dear Josephine, in the Convent, we are instructed to say please and thank you at the appropriate moments. Basic courtesy is essential for a girl to blossom into a refined young lady.”
“I humbly beg your pardon. I would be most grateful if you would show me the way to my… the place where I shall reside for the time being, please.” I corrected myself, as the blood rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment at my ‘offence’.
We then commenced our walk again.
“Thank you.” I mumbled.
Sister Anna’s features softened and she went back to her usual chirpy self. “You’re very welcome, darling. Tell me, how old are you?”
“I’m fifteen, as of last month, on the thirteenth.”
“Why, isn’t that a coincidence? I’m a September child too! Except, my birthday falls on the fifth, and I am twenty-two this year.”
“Wow. You’re not much older than me…” I commented, now skeptical of her ability to educate me, and the extensiveness of her knowledge.
She could read the apprehension and hesitation, clearly displayed upon my face. “I assure you, my friend, that I am fully qualified to teach you. I shall teach you poetry and literature, and you shall study Lord Byron, other great works and writers, and write with the same capability as they do. I shall teach you visual arts and music, and you shall draw and paint like Da Vinci, play the pianoforte like Mozart. I shall teach you a comprehensive study of general world, and you shall go out to the world, bursting at the seams with intelligence. I promise you that in the course of the next few years, I will transform you into a skilled and accomplished young woman, though men shall still frown upon your gender.”
The sincerity in her countenance and tone was unmistakable and consequently removed all traces of doubt I had.
We ascended up a flight of stairs and the stairwell was not lit, making it difficult to see and I had to take extra care not to miss a step. We stopped in front of the first door of the second level, and Sister Anna gestured for me to open the door. Not knowing what to expect, I turned the rusty brass doorknob and gently swung the door open.
The first thing that registered in my mind as I strolled in, was what looked like a brand new poster of Jesus Christ, his hands clasped together in a prayer, a picture of perfect contentment and ease. In contrast to the poster, everything else looked positively medieval. There was a medium sized circular window beside the poster, which gave an excellent view of the pond below, though the glass was fairly dusty and in need of some wiping to restore its clarity. It was evident that the room had been vacant for a considerable period of time. There was a wooden table and chair to the left of the room, old and chipped at places. The chair legs were uneven and rocked when I sat on it. To the right, was the bed, a simple mattress with a single pillow and a frayed light pink blanket. So, this was to be my home for the next few years. I was too preoccupied with my ‘inspection’ to notice that Sister Anna had discreetly left the room, leaving me to unpack in privacy. I was quite grateful for the solitude; for I was sure my cheeks would burn in embarrassment when she witnessed how meagre an amount of things I possessed, though my lie had already covered up this detail. I realised that there was essentially nothing to unpack, as there was no cupboard or drawer to place my clothes. I settled myself on the bed, the mattress springs squeaking under my weight, and I wondered what I should do next. The door hinges creaked unexpectedly, and a bright blue eye was visible from the crack of the slightly opened door.
The eye at the door widened in surprise as I returned its stare. I had caught it peeping, which was customarily a rude gesture. The door then flung wide open, and Sister Anna stood there, looking very flustered, blushing bright crimson.
“I-I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to spy or intrude. I just wanted to inform you that dinner is ready and I am to escort you to the dining room.” She blurted out an explanation.
With a nod of my head, I followed Sister Anna back to the room where I was invited to dine for lunch. Food was already on the table and the nuns were all seated, their utensils untouched. Sister Maria acknowledged our entrance with a brief inclination of her head, as if that simple movement took her a lot of effort. Sister Anna and I placed ourselves at the only empty chairs in the room, on each side of Sister Maria, who was seated at the head of the table.
“Now that everyone is present, let us say our graces and proceed with dinner.” All our heads simultaneously bowed as we thanked the Lord for the meal.
Dinner was a modest spread. We had grilled chicken with rosemary and baked potato, with a side serving of mushroom soup. The chicken was a tad bland, and the mushroom soup more dilute than creamy. I had no complaints though, grateful enough that my stomach was filled, and that they had granted me free lodging, an education, food and other supplies.
By the time I returned to my quarters, night had just descended upon the Convent. I lit a candle provided by Sister Matilda, to provide myself a source of light as I changed into my night clothes. I crawled into bed, the mattress again squeaking, and blew out the candle. I briefly recalled how at this time I would still be attending to Joseph and would be doing so for the next few hours. Then with a satisfied smile, I closed my eyes and went to sleep early, for the first time in many years.
I woke up in a daze, recollecting the events of the previous day, hoping fervently that they were not a figure of my imagination, an elaborate dream. It wasn’t.
Fully energized from the night’s fitful sleep, I stretched and yawned, kicking the cover aside and hopping out of bed. I washed myself up and dressed for breakfast, making my way swiftly to the only other familiar place in the Convent besides my room. Knowing that I had plenty of time to explore the rest of the Convent sent a thrill up my spine. I was an independent lady, in no way reliant on my family, and my time could be spent as I pleased. However, I was still focused on my objective of seeking shelter here. I was here to receive an education, and show the men of the world just how competent women could be. On the way to breakfast, I paused to admire the beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary and the roses at her feet, glistening with the morning dew. Sister Anna was already situated at the door, prepared to greet me a ‘good morning’.
“Josephine!” She reaches out to embrace me in a sisterly hug. “Did you have a good first night in the Convent?”
“Oh, definitely. I cannot express enough gratitude towards the nuns for so kindly taking me in for nothing.”
“Think nothing of it dear! It has been quite some time since a girl in need of help has come knocking on our door. And I must say, the nuns admire you and your purpose very much. So little females have the courage to do anything about this unfairness, let alone even voice their resentment towards this matter. You are very spirited, and stand up firmly for what you believe in. In fact, you quite remind me of myself. I was always standing up for myself, for what I, not other people, believe in. I had quite an attitude, and the nuns always say-”
My stomach growled loudly, demanding it be filled, or be subjected to its furious complaining. Sister Anna noticed that. “Ah, I’m so sorry! I have such a tendency to get carried away with things sometimes. Come, you must be hungry.” She motioned for me to be seated wherever I pleased.
“Whatever gave her the idea she was quiet…” I thought silently, remembering how she’d commented on her quiet disposition. That was hardly the case, far from it being true.
The simple toast with butter did the trick. After not too many slices, my stomach was effectively muted. Sister Anna had finished her meal ahead of me, and was patiently observing me.
After I was done, “Josephine, shall we rest by the pond for a while, then begin our lessons for the day? I should like very much to be better acquainted with you. You are a most interesting creature indeed.”
I snorted, but did so delicately. Creature. Peculiar choice of word. Sister Anna looked absolutely scandalised. “Josephine! A lady never snorts. At the very least, not in public.”
I muttered an apology then asked what she would be teaching me.
“Well, firstly, it seems I have to work on your manners, darling. Then we shall move on to art. I shall teach you to use watercolours, paint and pencils to sketch. Then perhaps, we shall move on to music. We must get you familiarised with scales and arpeggios, then move on to playing proper pieces. If you show some aptitude in the pianoforte, I would be most happy to oblige and teach you to compose music pieces. Literature would be last, as it is the hardest to master. You must grasp a good command in English and learn to appreciate books if you have not already done so. We would of course, venture into writing your own compositions. I will also fill you brain with some general knowledge, it may come I handy at times. Historical facts and such. I hope your brain can take the capacity, not meaning to imply anything negative of your intelligence though. I estimate it shall take us approximately three years, from my experience.”
“Three years.” I echoed. That seemed an eternity away. “From experience, Sister Anna? Have you taught anyone before me?”
“Yes, I have. Her name was Philippa. A charming young lady, but sadly not too bright. She finished her education here in the end, but after five years. My other two students before her, Ophelia and Rachael took about two and a half to three and a half years to complete their studies. I expect you’re as brilliant as they are, if not more. You seem like a talented young lady.”
“You’re too kind. I believe we set out to get better acquainted and not discuss academics, shall we switch our conversation topic?”
“Right. So tell me more about yourself. Your strengths and weaknesses.”
I could only stare at her blankly. “M-me? I-I don’t think I have any strengths.” Replying quietly, I fidgeted about took a sudden great interest in my feet.
“Come now, you are such a clever looking girl. Surely you must be good at something. Think carefully.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Sister Anna.”
“Do not attempt to change the subject Josephine.”
“Well… does babysitting count as a talent?”
She sighed deeply, “My dear, you need not be modest, you know. Are you certain that that is all you can think of?” I nodded my head, ashamed at my lack of talent.
“Then, your interests?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Sister Anna’s eyes widened in shock, “Nothing?” Her hands rested on my shoulders, shaking me gently. “Dearest Josephine, what exactly, have you been doing before you came to the Convent? To have no strengths is possible, but to have no interests? It seems implausible. Forgive me for being so rude, but it sounds as if you had no life outside of the Convent!”
“I do not have any interests because I hardly consider babysitting to be fun.”
“Do you mean to imply that all you’ve ever done in your life, was babysitting. Quite preposterous! Tell me, how was life in your household before you were orphaned?” Sister Anna’s eyes surveyed me carefully, overflowing with worry for my welfare. I was truly touched.
I smiled bleakly at her attempts of reassurance. “Thank you for your concern towards me. I very much appreciate it.” I paused, taking a deep breath as she coaxed me to continue, “I spent seven years of my life taking care of my younger brother, Joseph. I have barely any memories of my younger days, only those in my later days. My parents did not care for my sisters and I. It seemed as if our existence was solely for the purpose of serving my brother. He-” I had stopped. A strange choked sound was coming from somewhere; I realized it was sourcing from me. Tears that had accumulated in my eyes had spilt over. This was the first time I had expressed my despondency from being treated miserably. Something about Sister Anna made me let down my guard, the indignant and furious front I would put on that shielded my grief.
I was enveloped in a tight embrace that made it hard to breathe. Upon releasing me, I dabbed at my moist eyes with the handkerchief Sister Anna had so kindly offered.
“You poor, poor soul! Surprising as it seems, I can fully comprehend your predicament. All of my previous students had voiced their despair on similar matters; the male superiority notion that is going about. All the more reason you should work harder and prove your worth!”
So I was not the only one with this problem. I guessed I would have had to put my miserable past behind me, and strive to excel, to prove my worth. After all, who could make life better for you, but yourself?
