The Tale of Flue Faker

I gasped for air as the smoke came pouring into my lungs...how could this ever be a job meant for children? "Make sure you scrub extra hard on this one you old mites! This bloch's rich!" yelled Mr. Ginger. I pushed my brush as far as it went into the chimney, I noticed that a couple of turtle doves had landed on my rooftop. "Why, hello there." I said, the pure white doves only looked at me curiously. Seeing how clean and white they were reminded me of how dirty I was. I looked down at my soot covered body, My skin that was usually pale as a bone, but due to work; was black as an unlucky cat. I rubbed them a bit, I was freezing. It certainly was a harsh winter. I saw Blue Blooms, a friend of mine. He was on another roof close to mine. "Hey Blue!" I called out and waved. I saw him peek out of his chimney and signal for me to get down before I got caught. I laughed and sat by the doves, I really should have listened to him. "FLUE! GET DOWN HERE THIS SECOND!" My eye widened, oh no...no..not Mr. Ginger! I slid down the shackles and to the open window. As I slipped in, two beautiful women in fancy pink dresses stopped to look at me. "Is that one of the boys thats cleaning your chimney?" one whispered. "Yes, they call him Flue..." she whispered back. They both glared at me. "You better not get a spot of soot on the furniture you little rat! Do you hear me?" one scolded looking at my bare feet covered in soot. I nodded and bowed "Yes mam!" I then opened another window and hoped out. I ran over to Mr. Ginger. "Yes sir...you wanted to...see me?" I panted. He threw his cigar in the snow and crushed it. "Yeah, what is it with you and popping your little termite head out of those chimneys?" he said coldly. I flexed my cold black toes. "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again." I responded. He bursted with laughter, "That's what you said last time! And look where it got you!" He said pointing at my bandaged eye. I remembered the story quickly in my head. I was smaller than, about 7 or 8 and I was so foolish, I forgot to clean the chimney! I just started drawing with the soot. I ended up falling down and landing into the fireplace. There was so much soot when I landed, I had made a enormous mess in the customer's living room. So big in fact, that they didn't even pay for the cleaning. Mr. Ginger was so angry, he took me back home and carved out my right eye with a kitchen knife. Screaming at me to never mess up again. I closed my honey eye and looked back up at him. "I promise sir, it won't happen again." I said. He grabbed me by my blonde scruffy hair and put me under his arm, "If you ever mess up again...I'll do more then cut your eye out.." He whispered to me; his breath smelled of beer. He then jammed his thumb in my empty eye socket, I yelped in pain as he chuckled again. He threw my tired body onto the snowy concret. "ALRIGHT BOYS! YER DONE!" he yelled to the remaining chimney boys. They all cheered and started to climb down. Mr. Ginger grabbed my arm and tugged me to the door. He rang the bell and smiled to himself. A women in a decorative blue dress answered. "Yes? Is the job finished yet?" she asked. "Aw yeah, we took care of the job miss." Mr. Ginger said very pleased. The women eyed him, "Could I talk to you privately?" she asked. Mr. Ginger nodded and walked outside to a the lamppost with the women. I stayed at the open door. A girl about my age then came to the door, she wore a pastel pink dress and had long chestnut hair. She looked me up and down and snickered. "Hello, what's your name?" she asked. I was confused, why would a pretty girl like that want to talk to me? "M-my name? Flue Faker." I stuttered. She gave me a strange look. "Flue? That's your name, you don't look like a Flue." she responded. I smiled a bit, "What do I look like?" I asked. She giggled into her gloved hand and stepped closer to me. "You look like an...an Oliver." she whispered "yes...an Oliver.." as she said this she touched the side of my dirty face. I was stunned at this gentle touch, My face instantly turned red. "Fran! What on earth are you doing! He's nasty and covered with soot! Don't touch him! You'll get your new gloves soiled!" Her mother scolded and grabbed her hand. Mr. Ginger came up quickly, "Is there a problem here miss?" He asked. She glared at me with mean green eyes, "Yes! This boy is grabbing at my daughter and she's afraid!" she lied. Her daughter scowled at her mother. Mr. Ginger turned to me and stuck my face. All my blood rushed to my cheek as the pain stung my flesh the action making me flinch. "That should take care of it," Mr. Ginger said as she handed him the money. After that was over Mr. Ginger and I walked around to the other houses, picked up the other boys. The other boys always ignored me, mostly because I was the smallest. I had one friend thought, his name was Blue Blooms, but today he didn't come. He opened the apartment door and let us all in. Mr. Ginger had bought most of the boys from their parents. I wasn't bought though. He told me he found me as a baby in an alleyway, and took me in. Giving me a home, food, and a job...why isn't it as nice as it sounds? He also gave me a name, Flue Faker. I never thought too much about my name until that charming girl had mentioned it. Flue, a flue was a duct of smoke; and a Faker is someone who act like something they're not. I pondered this as I ate my small portion, a crust of bread with a bit of cheese. After supper we all went to bed, except Mr. Ginger. He stayed up all night drinking beer and getting more job appointments. I curled up into ball to keep warm, and thought of the girl I met today... Fran. What a lovely name she had, it sounded so simple and sweet. I remembered how kind she had been too. Most people I would meet didn't think much of me, calling me disgusting and dangerous. She wasn't like them, I really hope we'll need to clean her chimney again soon. With this thought I closed my eye and fell asleep. I woke up to Mr. Ginger's boot to my head, I instantly stood up and started cleaning my cot. "You better wake up earlier then that! The other boys have gone already!" he yelled. I hurried into my clothes and to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. "Not today, Flue! You think late children get snacks!" he laughed. "Go to Gimzo lane, near the fountain. It's the big red one!" he called to me. I put on my cap and ran out the door. I continue running for a bit then stopped near a market to catch my breath again. The market was very busy today and there were all sorts of people walking this way and that. Before I began to run again, a woman stopped me. "Are you one of those chimney sweep boys?" she asked. She had a cop uniform and one golden curl going down her shoulder. "I am." I answered. At my remark her expression turned sad. "No wonder you're all bandaged up like a soldier back from war." she said as she shook her head. "Normal children shouldn't be doing that dangerous work." she continued. I looked over her shoulder and spotted the house. "Erm...ma'am? May I leave now?" I asked politely. Her blue eyes looked over to some playing children. "Do you see them?" she asked, I looked over to the children playing "ring around the rosie". "Yes ma'am," I answered. She looked back down to me, "You should be playing there! With the other children! You shouldn't be working at your age love!" She said. I couldn't talk to her much longer or I'd be even later then I already was! I quickly ran between her legs to the house. She swiftly turned around and blew her whistle. "Hey! I was talking to you!" she shouted. I rang the doorbell at least 5 times, before they answered. "Oh, yes? Are you the chimney sweep?" answered a old woman, She had on a quiet green dress with her silver hair tied back from her face. "Hello there, I'm Flue Faker and I'll be doing the job today for ya miss." I said. She frowned and looked around, "Where is the man I spoke too? Mr. erm...Mr. Ginger?" she asked. "Mr. Ginger just sent me today, he's dealing with some important matters right now and mustn't be disturbed." I answered. Even though he was probably at the pub, I hated how much we had to lie for the man. The old woman's eyes widened. "So he sends a scrawny little boy in nothing but shorts and a shirt to clean my chimney in the dead of winter!" she exclaimed. I gulped...no customer has ever reacted like that. She looked into my eye sadly. "Wait right here darling!" she said, and ran into her house. I peeked inside to see what she was doing but was spotted by what seemed to be a butler. She then rushed back to the with a blanket in hand. "Here you go honey," she said and wrapped me in the blanket. "Come on in honey, and I'll have Sebastian fix you something." she said with a wink. She pulled on my arm into the house, and I gasped. It was enormous! It was white, red, and gold, with pearl flooring and antique furniture, with glistening stairs to next floor. "Ma'am your house is brilliant!" I said in astonishment. She giggled and pulled me to a large armchair with a lit fireplace." The heat felt amazing on my numb skin, I closed my eye and smiled. She sat next to me and grinned, "My name is Beatrice Willow, what's your name darling? And what age are you?" she asked. I slowly opened my eye, "My names Flue Faker, and I'm 12 years old." I answered. She gasped. "12 years old!". "Your so young! Doing such dangerous work!" she said. "And Flue Faker? What type of name is that! I want to meet the one who gave you such a name!" she continued. "Here the tea you asked for Lady Beatrice." said the butler, he wore a black satin suit and had jet black hair, his eyes seemed to be a shade of...red. "Thank you Sebastian," she said and took the cup. She handed the small cup to me. I was dazed by her words...I have never met a person who thought so strongly about this. "I've just gotten used to it I guess..." I said and took a small sip of the tea. She put her hand on mine and looked at me with sad blue eyes. "You remind me so much of my son. He went off in the war and passed away in battle. He looked so much like you, and had the same feeling about many things. Always brushing it off." she said. I heard about the war many times, how family members would die and many families became sad and destroyed; it frightened me. She pulled back her hand and exsamented the soot I had left, She sighed. "Darling, I've made up my mind! Instead of you cleaning my chimney, I'm going to freshen you up!" She said with excitement. I nearly choked on the tea. "I beg your pardon ma'am?" I said. She winked at me and called to Sebastian, "Sabby! Could you please get the tub going with some hot water?" she asked. "Yes Ma'am," he replied and bowed. I realized what was happening, if Mr. Ginger finds out about this I would be as good as dead. "Ma'am, you've done so much for me already. Thank you so much for being so kind, but you see..." she then interrupted. "Pish! Everyone deserves days off, especially in this case!" she answered. "The tub is ready ma'am." Sebastian announced. She sat up and took my hand, "This way," she said. I followed up the gleaming stairs to the waterhouse room. It was steamy and moist. "Now undress, and get in the tub." she directed and left the room. I sighed and unbuttoned my shirt and slid of my pants and drawers. I put one foot in the hot tub, and melted...It felt amazing! So warm and light. The more skin I put in the water the warmer and better I felt, I finally sat down and waited. She rushed back in holding a small cloth and a towel. "Alright time to get you clean," she said and sat on the edge of the tub. "Arm please," she said. I held out my arm as she rubbed the wet rag all over it, she then stopped quickly. "What in the world are all these bandages on you?" she asked. I gulped, "Just small cuts and sores, nothing bad." I answered, trying not to scare her. She shook her head. "You don't mind if I replace these with clean ones do you?" she asked. I shook my head. "Good." she replied and started unwrapping the bandages. After she unraveled, she place it under the warm water. I yelped in pain as it was starting to sting and burn. "Shh, dear...Its ok" she whispered. I shut my eye tight and bit my bottom lip...I could feel the pain travel through my body...up and down over and over. She finally brought my wound back up to the air and softly blew on it. I could feel it calm and cool as the air danced on it as she wrapped it in a new bandage. She continued this to my other body wounds without saying a word, finaling it came to the one wound I didn't want to show her. "Alright, time for that one." she said pointing at my eye. My heart skipped a beat, "If you don't mind ma'am, I would like to keep this one private." I responded. She looked confused, "Well, I do mind and I say off with it." she said firmly. I slowly brought my hands to the bandage and started unraveling, as it slipped off...she gasped. "Oh my..." she said in horror..."what on earth happened sweetie? I looked down at the water ashamed...seeing my own reflection only made it worse. I hated it...it looked awful...like a empty bloody hole...that was only half healed...I felt her hand lifted my face up to see her, she had tears in her eyes as she swiftly embraced me, it lasted for a while until she let go and held my face in both hands. She looked deep into my eye and planted a kiss in my cheek. "Don't you worry honey, I'll make sure nothing like this will ever happen to you again...I mean it!" she whispered. A single tear fell down my cheek...I wish she could...I wish I really could escape and be with her...But realistically that would never happen...Mr.Ginger always finds us somehow. She turned around and scooped up some brown goo from a jar. "This is...going to hurt a bit...so if you need to, hold on to my hand." she said, I nodded. I could feel the goo being spread on in thick layers, I winced. My wound was ablaze...I closed my eye and I held breath. I squeezed her hand, until she blew again...the light breath on the wound making the pain stop...it was like witchcraft. I opened my eye and sighed, "feels better, doesn't it dear?" she said, I smiled and nodded, as she wrapped it with a new bandage. "Well, let's finish this wash shall we!" she exclaimed and dumped some water and soap on my head. She scrubbed and scrubbed for ages, saying things like "Your hair's so thick!" and "Such pale skin..." and "Just like my sons" After the bath, she helped me out and dryed me with a towel. Once I was dry, she laid out some clothes and told me to be changed by the the time she got back. I looked at the different patterns, they all seemed to be sleepwear for some reason. I decided on the yellow bird nightgown, I looked in the mirror and couldn't recognize myself! There was no soot on my face or body! I blinked to see if maybe I was dreaming...but no! My skin was clear and white not a speck of dirt; my hair too, was clean and shiny. It felt amazing. I changed, and stepped out and saw her in a bedroom. "Erm, Miss...I'm changed." I said. She looked up and grinned, "I just knew it would fit, come on over here." she answered kindly. I walked over as she grabbed a brush and started to brush my hair. "So, I was going to ask how you felt about sleeping over? It's already 6:30 you know." she said. My eye widened, "6:30! I was supposed to be back hours ago! "Ma'am, I'm really late! And I have to get home! If I don't, Mr. Ginger will be very cross! Please!" I said. She grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me in the eye, "Don't you understand Flue... You are home... I want you here... I want you here with me." she said and threw her arms around me. I was shocked...no one has ever told me something like that. "Just stay one night...and I promise I'll take you home tomorrow..." she begged through tears. I embraced her back, "yes ma'am." I answered. I could hear her chuckle through tears, "Call me mother." she replied. I could feel my eye watering up...mother...I haven't had a mother before...and if this is what it feels like to have one...then I wish I had have one a long time ago. We went to bed sooner that night, she had wanted me to sleep with her. She was certainly very talkative at night, (mainly because she said I was a good listener) talking all about her son, and husband, and town gossip; it was quite entertaining. She also always wanted to be stroking me in someway. Like rubbing my back or playing with my hair, it was quite soothing knowing and feeling someone was there. She countued chattering and and wrapped me up in her blankets, I felt so warm and safe...I wish it could never end. "Ma'm...oh..um mother?" I asked. She immediately stopped talking and answered "yes? Do you need anything? Warm milk?" I shook my head. "I wanted to ask if you could call me Oliver instead of Flue." I asked. She held me tighter, "Of course my dear." she replied. I smiled to myself , "Goodnight mother," I whispered. She gave a yawn, "Goodnight Oliver," she whispered back. With this last word I closed my eye and fell asleep in her arms. I awoke to a gentle voice calling to me, "Ollie, wake up dear." It whispered tenderly, "Aw wake up dear, I have something special planned." it said. I felt a soft kiss on my forehead as my eye opened to see the morning light. "Good morning dear. I just reapplied new bandages, so moving might sting a bit." mother said. I lifted myself up, I felt strange...I have never been allowed to sleep this long or really stretch out my legs when sleeping in a ball. "Good morning mother," I replied. She rubbed my head, "Sebastian washed your clothes last night, so please get dressed in bit. I'll be down stairs for breakfast." with that, she left the room. I sluggishly got off the bed and to my clothes. I looked at them...and was impressed! How in the world was he able to get those soot stains out? With this in mind and put on my clothes and wandered to the staircase.