Maid To Be

My gaze stayed focused on the worn-out shoes worn on my feet, and I bit my lower lip firmly, sensing the anxiety that was seeping into every part of me.

As though something would suddenly appear from one corner, my gaze remained scanning the surroundings.

Standing before a mansion's gate for the last twenty minutes, I was unsure whether to press the bell or turn away.

While there was a part of me that wanted to turn around and take the circuitous route back to my house, the other part of me knew better. Either this or returning to my unending misery would be the alternative.

That's not what I wanted.

Before long, I saw the sinuous placard that read "HELP WANTED!" over the grand gate.

This sign had obviously been up for a very long period because the text had started to fade and it appeared sufficiently damaged.

Regardless of the situation, there was no going back now.

With trembling feet and fumbling fingers, I reached forward more slowly and cautiously and slapped the wall-mounted bell with my hands.

My eyes were roving the surroundings, and thoughts that were threatening to drive me insane had now found abode in my head.

I had been forced to leave home at the early hours of dawn, searching for someone to hire me. No matter what the job was, I was ready to take it up.

Instead of looking for whose floors to scrub or what restaurant to wait at, every single person I encountered turned me away, refusing me right away, stating I was too young and should be in school.

For the past three hours, it was yet the same response I received from each job opening I stumbled upon.

I was exhausted at this point. In fact, I would stop the hunt and give my hurting legs some rest if I had to deal with one more setback.

Suddenly, a voice boomed loudly into my ears, making my entire body tense up.

"who are you?" Bellowing from the microphone, was the voice.

Another significant thing that demotivated me was the way they sounded.

"I'm here for the job," Came my response.

"what job?" Uttered the voice.

"Huh?"

"I don't remember asking anyone to come here for a job." The voice yelled, sounding like a woman's.

"'Help wanted' is written on this sign out here. I immediately said, questioning whether I had rung the correct bell—which, of course, I had.

Then she followed with a yell, "Oh that!"

"Come on in then" The woman had eventually agreed, voice growing lower.

The gate growled at my form, its hinges squealing, as it slowly pulled open, making way for my figure.

It screeched so loud, and as if it had a mind of its own, it grumbled upon my entrance. Perhaps, this inanimate object was tired of life, and would rather be anywhere than giving way for people, and then shutting back to its position.

If it ever needed anyone talking to, I would in fact, give my ears up, listening to it tell me its sweet little tales, Cause I, in fact was just the perfect person to come close to any wee turmoil the weak gates had been through.

Ah, how wonderful my life is.

Excellent in every way.

My gaze was drawn to the splendour of the home as I pushed myself closer.

It was truly lovely, and that is an understatement of the highest kind.

To describe the specifics of the house that was positioned in front of me, the most suitable candidate would be someone with a gentle disposition and an aptitude for storytelling.

The home was very powerful, with intricate designs carved into it. The closer I got, the more power it imparted.

Who would dare possess such beauty?

I've never believed that individuals who are wealthy actually exist, at least not in my immediate vicinity, despite the fact that I hear enough stories of them every day.

Colourful flowers bordered the mansion, and a fountain in the middle of the spacious structure poured water over the white ducks that circled the miniature pond.

If this doesn't encapsulate luxury, I'm not sure what would.

My legs sprung up, and my eyes tore from the object of appreciation, as I saw the form of a chubby, hefty woman staring blankly at me from the wide doorway.

The woman, who I deduced to be in her older years of life, was holding a big wooden spoon in her hands while wearing an apron.

My feet kept moving forward, approaching her shape, but my eyes would not meet hers.

"Mrs. Williams will see you now," she uttered, while stepping aside to allow me proceed.

A mess I was, as I found myself lost on how to work the door. It made a lot of noise upon my entry, and as if that wasn't awkward enough, all the while the woman gaped at me with muddled eyes.

Once more, the moment I went in, the interiors of beauty were bestowed upon my eyes.

The living area was decorated in a stylish and uncomplicated manner, doing well complementing the space.

As soon as I heard the echo of heels and voices, I straightened my dress and ran my fingers through my hair in an attempt to appear more put together for whoever had come to visit.

A woman's profile emerged, and a man stood at her side, supporting her with his arms.

Her form waddleddown the endless steps while her white pumps clicked noisily.

She looked stunning in a white jacket that begged for compliments from the black, billowing trousers that engulfed her feet.

This woman was stunning, even though it didn't look like she was that old. Her beauty was quite breathtaking.

She was no more than forty, if my estimation of her age was accurate.

My eyes had quickly moved to the man's shape, his arms still encircling the woman's waist as she laughed at whatever he had said.

Her laughter stopped as soon as she saw my silhouette. Her eyes darted from the form of her husband to me, her face contorted in uncertainty as she stared blankly at me.

"And who's this, Tara?"

I quickly picked up on the accent in her flawlessly smooth speech. She spoke with such assurance that it made me shudder.

With her eyes aiming straight at me, she scrutinised my form, moving her focus from the top of my head to my feet.

"She's here for the job" The woman who had before led me inside the house answered right away.

"A job?...... How old are you?" Came the voice of the lady.

"Sixteen" Followed my response.

Staring blankly at my form, her words followed. "That's very young."

As for her previous companion, the man moved aside and began to pace about the living room, constantly looking at his wristwatch.

"We're gonna be late" I could hear him calling from across the room, attracting the woman's attention. She glanced at him for a little while before turning back to face me.

With a tone that suggested that this could be difficult for you to understand, Nevertheless, you would receive it, she emitted a sigh,

"Dear."

"I don't this job is for you" She said those words that, since the morning, I had come to hate.

"You're quite young," she said thereafter. "Now I wouldn't want the police banging at my gate accusing me of misusing a child"

She paused, moving her eyes through mine as if to see the hurt in my eyes.

"Pardon me, but I have to leave now"

My gaze trailed her as she moved away, hands reaching for the yellow luxury purse perched on the couch. Before I knew it, she had turned to face the other woman who was still in the room and was paying attention to everything that was being said.

Tara, please make sure everything is in order. Additionally, I believe we discussed having Kate start her weekly grocery shopping."

One could only presume she was the lady of the house based on the way she conducted herself and her passionate representation of Power. She has to be the 'Mrs Williams' mentioned before.

"Of course, ma'am" Tara immediately trailed behind, wiping her hands on the apron that was fastened around her big waist.

I was unaware that I had dropped on my knees until Mrs. Williams's warm-looking eyes looked down at my form.

"Madam! I must have this job. Anything you ask of me, I'll do. Whatever you want."

It wouldn't take long for me to start crying, as I could feel my own voice falter and become quiet.

I observed the man on the other end move towards me as his eyes shifted from his wife's shape to mine.

"Is everything alright here?" He asked.

Before long, Mrs. Williams had turned to face him, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Yes, my dear. I'll be there shortly to join you.

She quickly turned to face me.

"I can't let you work here." Those were the words I heard.

"I will require your parents' full consent to proceed if I am to even entertain that idea. I can't offer you the job without that."

"Besides, shouldn't you be in school now?"

"where are your parents?"

I averted my face, and tears quickly welled up in my eyes.

"Dad won't be in the picture, for as long as there is"

She quickly realised what I was hinting at, as I noticed her abrupt shift in demeanour.

"And Mom's in the hospital critically ill."

A prolonged silence ensued, during which her gaze remained fixed on mine.

"Oh, my! Get up," she'd yelled, her voice filling the room.

Her tone of compassion only made me lose the emotional war I was fighting with myself.

"You should be with your mother” I heard her remark, "She needs you."

Only if it were that simple.

It was not what anyone would want, being in that hospital ward, watching their own mother writhe in agony.

I had prayed every night in the hopes that a miracle would occur. Anything at all! just something to make me happy again. But I was exhausted already at this time. That loud voice was screaming inside of me, telling me to get going so my mother could see the next Christmas.

"Please, ma'am! I implore you. Please don't turn me away. My only chance is this." I was crying uncontrollably as I looked up at the woman who represented the last shred of hope I had for my job search.

"I'm so sorry, I can't." And she had it destroyed in a split second.

I briefly believed that I would collapse onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, and then pass out from sheer fatigue, but the man's few remarks in the room gave me the boost I needed to resurrect my energy quickly.

"Oh dear, let her have the job!" He said.

I had never really paid attention to him until this point. He had an accent, just like Lady Williams, except his was thicker.

"She's too young to work here." trailed the Lady's voice, eyes becoming wide at what she would have thought to be a ridiculous choice.

It's okay, my dear. I'll have things all worked out. Can we just go now?"

"Oh, Sir” I jumped to my feet, turning to face him. “I’m beyond grateful"

Before I knew it, I had managed to get a tick from Mrs Williams's intense stare.

To say that I was happy wouldn't do the immense joy that surrounded me at this justice.

This served as my last chance, my save.

I could repay all the outstanding expenses from the hospital, obtain a second job to go along with this one. Unless the Williams were prepared to give me tens of thousands of dollars for a task that I had just started.

I had no idea how much money I would get paid for my employment here. All I could hope was that it met my standards.

"Honey, I have a bad feeling about this" Lady Williams's quiet voice emerged as her hands gripped her husband's.

"Helping a girl in need is not a terrible thing at all. We will now be late if we don't hurry." He answered.

At his words, she let out a sigh and turned to face me.

"Tarawill give you instructions. She is in charge of the kitchen, so you should make sure you treat her with the utmost respect. Just to be clear, at the end of each month, I will be giving her your paycheck.

I grinned as I nodded, responding to every word she said.

I emphasised "Thank you so much" for the nth time, my voice trailing behind her figure.

"Tara, we're heading out immediately. Verify that everything is in order, then inform”

She halted, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face me.

"what's the name?"

"Nia," I called right away, my eyes brightening at her picture.

"All right. Educate Nia here on what to do" She hardly had time to complete her words before her figure started to move away.

"Yes ma'am!"

Mr. Williams's figure moved closer to the door and pulled it open for his wife to emerge, his own figure trailing behind.

Tara cried out to them as soon as their shapes passed the entrance, "Come with me."

She bounded off, bum swaying from side to side, and all of a sudden there was stillness between us.

I trailed closely behind her, keeping my hands clasped together and my gaze turned away from her body so as not to draw attention to her little show.

After a few minutes of meandering around hallways, we eventually came to a very large room, which I recognised as the kitchen after noticing the various objects strewn all over the space.

Individuals dispersed in various directions, with rumours circulating nearby.

Every one of them was a woman.

Each and every figure was wearing an apron tied around their waist, their fingers caressing something.

At the entry of Tara and I, they quickly turned around, staring at me for a considerable amount of time as if they were trying to figure out who this girl was who had the audacity to interrupt their intense routine.

"This is Nia, she recently joined us," Ms. Tara said to the individuals occupying the space.

I could feel their eyes scouring every inch of me. With each scrutiny shifting between them, I was desperate to know what was going through their minds.

“Mary over there is the cook” She poured. “She assists me in the kitchen over here."

I instantly turned to look at the woman who Ms. Tara was pointing at.

Her hands busied themselves kneading a dough, her entire body covered in flour. She clawed at the batter smudge on her apron with her index finger.

"That's Abigail, Suzy, Kate, and that's Denna."

"You and Denna will work together on cleaning tasks. "Now, grab an apron and get to work right away," she said sharply.

With her hands tugging at an apron and then tossing it over to me, I observed the one named Denna

She moved towards a rack at the far end of the kitchen, eyes all the while laden on me.

“Turn this on. I'll show you where to begin”