PENELOPE PLIGHT: CHAPTER ONE

Author’s Pov
“Don’t tell me I would have to eat this for dinner” Penny screamed with
a horrible scowl on her round face.
“You have to make do with that” Margaret her mother answered.
“I won’t eat this; I can’t eat this” Penny said pushing the plate aside and
dragging her chair nosily as she stood up.
Madeleine her elder sister with two year and Miranda her younger sister
stared at her in awe.
“Penny, be quiet” Maddy warned. I cautioned
“I won’t be” Pennyshouted “mother is the cause of all this” She faced
her mother. “Mum, you know very well, that if you haven’t allowed Ava
to marry that wretched fellow, she wouldn’t have to beg for our food, if
she begs, why do you have to give her and Dad…...”
“That’s enough” her dad peter cut her short “if you won’t eat, then go
to your room”
“Fine, I will” Penny said, her eye watery already.
Penny
“Fine, I will” I said and made my way to my room which I shared with
Mira, I slammed the door, and slumped on my bed and tears came
gushing down. Why do I have to suffer for Ava mistake, why do Ava
marrying that wretched Matthew have to affect me this way, it was
horrible, really and Dad….
The door creaked opened
I cleaned my tears. It was Maddy, Mira usually stayed away whenever I
was angry, she gets really scared.
“Penny, you don’t have to be like this” Maddy said sitting on my bed.
“I simply can’t eat that wretched meal”“That’s isn’t it, Penny, I know very well, that you’re mad, because Ava
married Matthew, this isn’t the first time, we have to eat something
small”
“Well, isn’t that a reason to be mad, tell me Maddy, Ava knew how poor
we are, why does she have to make things worst by marrying someone
poorer, isn’t it crazy, love or whatever she calls it”
“it’s love, Penny, when love is concerned money doesn’t count”
“Really, Maddy, are you also planning to marry someone as poor as
Matthew”
“Whoever I fall in love with, whether rich or poor, it doesn’t matter,
because I hope to be independent”
“Is that why you took up dressmaking”
“Yes, you can do also Penny, so you don’t have to depend on any man”
“Thank you for the advice Maddy” I said with a fake smile not really
agreeing with what she said, whether I was independent or not I would
have nothing to do with a poor fellow”
“Goodnight” Maddy said.
“Goodnight” I replied.
I slept off with a rumbling stomach not knowing when Mira came into
the room.
Author’s Pov
It was a shiny afternoon in the Truscott home. Penny was outside doing
some knitting, mother and father had gone to the farm. Maddy has
gone to her tiny shop which she shared with someone, while Mira was
in the Fielding’s house playing with her friend, Mark.
Penny
I sat outside in the balcony, as I knitted a woolen cap for myself, Maddy
have given me some wool earlier. I saw a tall figure coming towards our
cottage, I couldn’t be so sure but as he got nearer, sun bleached hair,
brown eye, tall slim with an easy disposition who else could it be other
than CHRISTIAN FIELDING.“What are you doing here” I wanted to scream.
“Hi Penny” he said when he came closer and he sat down on the chair
opposite mine and dropped the bundle he was holding on the table.
“Christian” I drawled like he just told me his name.
“I was less busy and I thought I should come see you”
“Really” I said eyeing him “And what’s this?” I asking pointing at the
bundle.
“Oh, it’s my lunch” he answered “I thought we could share this, while
we”
The thought of lunch made my stomach rumble, remembering I had
rejected breakfast also in other to spite mum. But why was Christian
offering me lunch, then l remember Mira was in their home.
“Did Mira tell you anything” I asked.
“Mira”
“She’s in your home”
“Oh, that’s right, Mira, she didn’t tell me anything, why?”
“Then, why the hell are you offering me food”
“Does Mira have anything to do with it” he said trying to keep a smile
despite my huge frown, and I stared at his face to decipher whether he
was lying.
“What could Mira have told me” He asked
“Never mind, I was only joking, I don’t mind you offering me food” I said
with a fake smile “In fact, I hadn’t had anything since yesternight and
am starving” I wanted to add.
Christian stared at me, he wanted to say something but decided against
it.
He opened the bundle and offered me one of the plates and went
inside to get some spoons. We ate in silence or I wasn’t just hearing.
“Penny” Christian screamed
“What…” I looked up.
“Never mind” he said
I raised a brow.
“You can have mine too” he said pushing his plate to me.Oh my Gosh, I badly wanted to decline but my stomach declared
otherwise. I accepted and finished the two plates in a jiffy and I drank
some water.
“Let’s go for walk”
What a smart idiot, he just offered me an olive branch, because I had
been doing a great work of avoiding him, ever since Ava got married to
Matthew, who was unfortunately Christian brother.
“Alright” I accepted going inside for a minute to drop the cap, I was
knitting. We went for a walk.
“It’s your day off from the factory”
“You still remember I work at a factory” he said sarcastically
“Of course, I do, why won’t I”
“We haven’t talked for a month”
“C’mon Christian, it’s just two weeks”
“It seems like a month to me”
“It’s a surprise, you haven’t asked me the reason I was avoiding you”
“Thank goodness, you know you’re been avoiding me Penny” he said
facing me “I decided against asking you why, I wanted to give you some
breathing space, try and understand you, but it seems that wasn’t
working”
“Well, thank you for trying to understand me, Christian”
“Not, I’ll help you understand me” he said with a frown.
“Oh, c’mon Christian that’s ridiculous” I laughed “You see, even at
home, no one understand me, even my mum, only Maddy can
sometimes.
“There’s nothing ridiculous about it, Penny, and it’s good to see you
laugh”
“Anyone, who hears you, would think, I have never laughed”
“I could say that”
“Anyways, there’s really nothing to laugh about nowadays” I said folding
my arm.
“Changing the subject” Christian said“I’ve been thinking about it Penny, why don’t you come work at the
factory, you seem to be alone at home, in the afternoons.
“Oh, that’s a good idea, but I would be working at madame Emeraude”
“Not bad” Christian said “I would walk you back home.
* * *
Dinner was rather pleasant that night, mum apologized and gave pile of
food. We had Spaghetti and meatballs.
“Be good at madame Emeraude, don’t get… I mean don’t let anyone
there get at you” mum said at the table.
“I won’t I replied.
“If you need any help I would be there” Maddy said.
“Thank you Maddy” I replied.
Dad gave me three pence.
“You would get every day, if you keep up a good behavior” he said.
“I will Dad”
We retired to our rooms.
“Come here” I dragged Mira.
She was shocked. Eleven-year-old Mira. Chestnut hair in two pony tails,
green eye.
“You spent the day at the fielding right”
She nodded.
“You spoke to Christian”
“I did”
“Just what did you tell him”
Being caught red-handed. She told the truth.
“He asked about you”
“I told him you were alright, then he said he wanted to come visit, then
I told him, he shouldn’t you weren’t in a good mood”
“Is that all”
“Well, he asked me what happened and…”
“And you told him, I didn’t have dinner and breakfast, did you, just
when would you stop being a blabbermouth Mira”
“Am sorry Penny, he was really concerned”“Of course, he was” I said sarcastically
Mira became teary.
I became contrite.
“Do you know Christian gave me food”
“Really” she cleaned her tears.
“Yes, he did, you see, you helped me in a way, I didn’t have to go
hungry”
“I did help you Penny” she said laughing already.
“But next time don’t be a blabbermouth, if Christian or anybody ask you
about me, don’t go into details”
“I won’t”
“That’s good” I released her “Go to bed alright”
She climbed into her bed, which was beside mine meanwhile I laid
awake for some time, my mind went to Christian. He was really
handsome, I never denied that but he was poor and make it worse
Matthew’s brother. I really don’t know what to do. I rolled in bed. I need
to keep Christian at a distance.