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New Story! The
New Story! The baseline of the story is about a rich girl, Emily, and a poor girl, Chloe, who meet at a boarding school. Although forbidden, Emily and Chloe meet and become friends. This story will be a RR and you can either write from Emily's point of view or Chloe's.
Emily:
Our family's white limo pulled up to the place where I'd be living for the next four years while my parents traveled around the world. I can't believe that they are just leaving me. Sometimes I feel as if they don't love me, they didn't even come with me to drop me off. Instead, they are at home setting up for a party for their friends.
The school, Lincoln Academy, was beautiful. The grass was lush and freshly trimmed. Apple blossom trees and weeping willows lined the dark road leading to the red stucco brick school. The school itself was four stories with white balconies on each level.
My driver, Henry, slowed to a stop in front of the double doors. After he opened my door, he went around to the trunk and pulled out my thirteen bags of luggage. "Are you ready?" he asked. I swallowed and bravely nodded as we walked torwards the doors.
Chloe:
I sat still as my mom brushed and braided my hair into two french braids. "Are you ready, Chloe? You don't have to do this", my mom whispered. I nodded.
Actually, I didn't have a choice. After my father died and my mother became ill, my family's income dwindled to nothing. My two brothers of 2, and 5 and four sisters of 1, 4, 7, and 8 and I were starving. As the oldest, I had to find work to feed my family. I went from business to business in search of a job, but was turned away each time. Finally, I found work as a maid at a prestigious boarding school known as Lincoln Academy.
I walked to the front door of the boarding school, ready for my first day. That was a big mistake. The mistress of the school, Mrs. Green, opened the door and saw me. "Who are you?" she asked, obviously disgusted. "Chloe. I'm the new maid", I said meekly, not daring to look into her stony blue eyes. "Why did you come to the front door? The door for your betters", she said. "I-I don't know. I'm sorry", I said. "Fine, but don't do it again. It looks makes our reputation look bad", she said as she led me to the kitchen.
submitted by Teresa, age 14, Michigan
(June 4, 2013 - 11:05 am)
(June 4, 2013 - 11:05 am)
Ooh! I like this! It kinda reminds me of A Little Princess, after he father dies and she's forced to work as a maid. Though, mind you, I myself, will probably write more as Chloe. I just can't put myself in Emily's shoes easily.
Chloe ~
I stopped short in the doorway of the kitchen, staring. I was used to hustle and bustle, but this place was huge, and filled with people in white clothes and aprons hurrying back and forth, carrying large dishes. All the appliances were stainless steel. Three ovens stood stacked on one another, two large refridgerators stood side by side. Several sinks were lined against one wall, filled to the brim with dishes to be washed, and in the center of the room, several tables stood lined together, covered in an assortment of foods, bowls, and various cooking articles. I couldn't do much more than gape for a moment.
"Well, come along!" Mrs. Green snapped impatiently. I scurried forward, all the while watching everything, making mental notes. Something I had learned early on in life was if you watch, you're bound to notice things no one else does. And growing up in a house with several siblings, that can be EXTREMELY useful, so I figured the same rule applied here.
"You're shift will be from nine in the morning, till seven at night," Mrs. Green was saying, leading me briskly through the room, her heels clicking with every step. "Your assignments will consist of everything from cleaning the girl's dorm rooms, to serving food during meals, to washing dishes." She spun around to look at me. I stood at attention, drawing up to my full five feet, and stared her square in the eye, which evidently mildly impressed her.
"Well," she said, straightening. "You'd best get started," she said handing me an apron. And my first day at Lincoln Academy began.
(June 6, 2013 - 4:48 pm)
Yeah, it does sort of sound like A Little Princess. I like that book, I think it was one of the first classics I read. I also agree, Emily will be hard to write for, but that is what imagination and creativity are for!
Emily~
Henry politely rang the doorbell as I straightened my hair - I couldn't look a mess on my first day.
The door opened, revealing a stony lady in a crisp navy blue outfit and shiny black heels. Her cheeks were pink, as if she had just had a heated discussion with someone. I gulped and hoped with all my might that things will work smoothly for me. I swept into a curtsy. Whoa, where did that come from, Em? You've never curtsied in your life! I thought.
The lady smiled, "What a dear. You must be Emily. I'm Mrs. Green, the head of Lincoln Academy. Please come in, we are delighted to have you". Mrs. Green turned around and lead me through a grand white marble hall. Fascinated, I keep peering into the rooms as Mrs. Green talked about how I'll enjoy my stay at Lincoln. Halting at the staircase, Mrs. Green explained how the girl's quarters were on the third floor of the academy and the classrooms lay on the second. "First floor is for dining and dances, second floor for schoolwork, third floor dorms, and the fourth is reserved for the servants and maids".
"I'm sorry that I can't show you to your rooms, but Elise here will gladly do so," she continued. I nodded. Mrs. Green doesn't seem so bad, maybe she was just having a rough day, I thought. Elise bobbed her head and then started up the huge staircase, with me following close behind.
(June 6, 2013 - 8:16 pm)
Emily:
Elise opened the door of my quarters, and I stepped in, impressed at the exquisite canopy bed. The actual canopy was a slightly diluted teal, as were the sheets, bedspreads, and pillows, and the polished oak frame made the bed seem as if the queen-sized beauty should belong in some underwater palace. Poseidon's, maybe.
"Your luggage will be delivered shortly," Elise softly informed me. Ughhh. These people even have to talk like they're serving the president. "Okay," I replied, slightly annoyed at their constant formality.
When Elise leaves, I walk to my bed, and flop onto it, wishing that I had my laptop right now. Actually, I would, in a couple of minutes, as it was in the fourth of my white genuine leather suitcases.
I had always wondered what it would be like to be normal. I had always sort of envied the middle-class girls. Nobody noticed them, or treated them as if they were worth more than "the upper class". The rich ones. The millionaires. The people whose daughters you keep a constant eye on, because if anything happens to them, then apparently "Poof!" goes your current occupation. And maybe even more.
You see, the normal girls got away with things. They snuck around. They had fun. Emily, however, had been under nonstop supervision since the day of her birth. And now this. Now she was trapped in a cushy boarding school for the next four years. Pleasant.
(June 8, 2013 - 10:22 am)
Chloe ~
My first job was a simple one, mopping floors and dusting halls. But I didn't mind. It was a job that didn't require my full focus, so I could let my mind wander. I watched the students arrive. Some new, some were returning for another year of school. All being greeted by Mrs. Green. I nearly gagged hearing her false praise for each of the students.
After awhile, people stopped arriving with such regularity. One of the last ones to arrive was a girl who seemed slightly different from the others, aside from the fact she curtsied when Mrs. Green opened the door.
After dusting and mopping, I was assigned to help with the large dinner planned for that night, to welcome the students to the school. The kitchen was in a big to-do, so as soon as the main cook caught sight of me, she assigned me to work, so for the rest of the afternoon, I was peeling carrots and potatoes, stiring mixtures, and washing dishes. Then, that evening, I was assigned with some of the younger staff, to serve the table. I gingerly set down platters of food that Elise, another young maid, held on a tray. By seven o'clock, I was completely worn out. I absently untied my apron, laid it on its hook, and followed the other maids up the stairs. I pushed open the door to my mediocre living space. It was a small, white room, a bed on a metal frame, and a soft blueish gray bedspread. It had a desk against one wall, a hope chest, and a tiny closet. A single window stood against the left wall, with airy, white, tulle curtains, looking out to the backyard, and down toward the woods. In the distance, mountains rose majestically, framed against the night sky. I quickly placed my belongings in the closet and chest, changed into my nightgown, and knelt down on the hope chest to stare out the window. I had a feeling it was one of only a few things that would give me comfort while I was working here.
As I lay in bed, I thought about my family back home. I was only allowed to see them on my day off, Sunday, even though they were only a few miles away. But despite my homesickness, exhaustion took over, and I was soon asleep.
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So, something I realized hadn't been established, is this a girls only, or coed school?
(June 8, 2013 - 4:40 pm)
top top tippety top tippety tippety tippety top
(June 10, 2013 - 8:52 am)
Umm...how about an all girl school.
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I was awoken the next morning by Elise, who violently shook me. "Hurry, get up before the mistress gets mad at us! Breakfast and chores must be done!" Elise whispered as she quickly finished tying her apron around her neck. I groggily sat up and looked out my precious window. Soft moonlight and shimmering stars gazed in. I slowly crawled out of bed and dressed myself in the expected uniform. Elise braided my thick hair so that it wouldn't be in my way as I worked.
I followed Elise down the dim wooden hallway and steps to the kitchen. The cooks and other servants were already occupied with washing fruit, flipping pancakes and squeezing freshly made orange juice. The person organizing the activity caught sight of us and marched torward us. "You are late. That results in no breakfast for either of you. Now get to work!" she reprimanded. Elise and I scurried away. "Now, our job is to set the table, put the food out and do whatever else we are told," Elise explained as she gathered napkins, silverware, placemats, and dishes.
After setting the table, all the privileged girls came downstairs, giggling and smiling. "Good morning, girls!" Mrs. Green called in a singsong voice. "Good morning, Mrs. Green," the girls replied simultaneously. Then, Mrs. Green nodded at the us, the young servants, giving us the okay to start serving the girls. I served the two long tables in the back of the dining hall. Politely asking each girl what she cared to drink and eat was the basis of this task -- nothing too hard. The girl with curly brown hair wanted orange juice, the girl with the straight blonde hair asked for apple juice. Pouring the juice into cups on my cart, I carefully brought each girl her order.
On my last trip from the cart to the table, I brought someone a cup of grape juice. Just before reaching the table, a girl purposely stuck out her leg and tripped me. Surprised, the glass of juice slipped out of my hands and landed on a girl with a white dress while I fell flat on my face.
In an instant, all the girls laughed at me, as my face flushed red. The unfortunate girl who had the juice spilled on her jumped up and screamed. The girl who tripped me smirked and pointed at me. The young maids tried to conceal their laughter and proceeded with their business. The cooks, who heard the commotion, peeked in. Mrs. Green flew out of her seat and stomped torward me. I moaned, knowing that there was trouble coming my way.
(June 10, 2013 - 2:11 pm)
Works for me! I think I shall try writing as Emily.
Emily ~
I awoke to a servant girl opening the drapes, allowing soft sunlight to shine in. I climbed out of bed, and quickly dressed in a simple pair of jeans, and soft purple t-shirt. I then brushed out my hair, pinning it on top of my head in a bun. I then slipped on black flats, and walked out to join the throng of girls heading downstairs.
I sat at the second to last table at the back of the dining hall, along with all the other first years. A snobbish-looking girl and a girl in a white dress sat across from me. They whispered and giggled with each other. A servant girl was walking down the rows, pouring drinks. I watched as the snobbish girl discreetly stuck her foot out as the servant girl was passing, tripping her, sending grape juice flying into the lap of the girl in the white dress. She screamed and jumped up, attempting to dry the stain out of her clothes. The servant girl stood up, looking red. Everyone was laughing. Everyone but me. I glared at the snobbish girl, who was smirking in a very self-satisfied way. Mrs. Green marched over to the servant girl, scolding her terribly. I wanted to say something, but I feared I would only make it worse. Mrs. Green shooed the girl back into the kitchen, then turned to getting the stain out of the still screeching girl's white dress. The snobbish girl looked toward me and smirked. Instantly, I already knew, I may not have friends here yet, but I did have enemies.
(June 10, 2013 - 7:28 pm)
Emily~
"Wasn't that hilarious?" the snobbish girl asked me.
I gulped.
"I'm Millie Peterson," she said. "You're new, aren't you?"
I nodded, not sayng a word.
"Being new is hard," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Now wasn't that hilarious?"
"No," I said softly. "I didn't find it funny at all."
Mille's eyes narrowed even more, before she smirked and turned back to her breakfest.
Mille Peterson was ploting something terrible, I just didn't know what.
(June 11, 2013 - 10:50 am)
Emily~
Breakfast concluded without further incident, to my relief. I felt horrible for the servant girl, it wasn't her fault, yet she was still publicly punished.
As we all exited the dining hall, Mrs. Green passed out our schedules for the year. Mine read...
7:00-8:00 Get up and Dressed
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-10:00 Literary Analysis and Composition I
10:00-11:00 Modern World Studies
11:00-12:00 Algebra I
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Biology
2:00-3:00 Anthropology
3:00-4:00 Intro to Marketing I
4:00-6:00 Free Time/Homework Time
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-9:00 Free Time
9:00- 10:00 Lights Out
Talk about tough and even a bit boring. I inwardly groaned and set off in search of the 'Literary Analysis and Composition I' room.
(June 11, 2013 - 10:36 am)
Chloe ~
I felt awful after the scolding Mrs. Green gave me. Not for the prissy girl who started screaming, or for breaking the glass, but for my family, since Mrs. Green took money out of this week's wages to pay for the cleaning of the girl's dress. I sighed and trudged back to work. The cook and staff laughed at my expense over the incident. Only Elise gave me a pitying look, then continued with her work. Anger quickly replaced my shame. I'll show them what I can do. I then set to work with a vengence.
My afternoon task was to dust the girls' rooms, making sure everything was orderly. The girls were still in class when I started, so it gave me opportunity to look around. Designer clothes hung in the closet. Porcelain knick-knacks sat on the dresssers. Laptops sat humming quietly on desks along with smartphones and Ipods. Each girl had decorated their room according to their individual style, making no room quite the same. Many had posters of famous singers (some of which made me want to vomit), actors, and actresses. There were also pictures of what I guessed were friends and family. From these portraits I could tell some of these girls had come a long way. Sometimes I would see a scene that struck me, and I would start imagining myself there.
In one of the last rooms I was in, I had taken a short break, and was kneeling by the hearth, in the middle of one of my imaginings, when the door swung open...
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(June 11, 2013 - 3:39 pm)
Chloe~
Mrs. Green stopped right in front of me as I hurriedly fumbled to stand up straight. Scolding me until my eyes brimmed with tears, she sent me back to the kitchen after telling me to report to her office after my day's work. Nodding, I rushed back away form the mocking eyes and giggling mouths, thinking that it was going to be much kinder in the kitchen. Boy, was I ever wrong! When I burst into the room, everyone looked up at me and quickly looked back at their work. Even Elise, who I thought was a true friend, ignored me. It hurt.
The cook, instead of telling me what my job was, just pointed to a menacing stack of dishes. I rolled up my sleeves and started the menial task as hot tears fell from my eyes. I didn't like it here, not one bit. I had no one to lean upon or to tell of my hardships. I was alone. I felt small and vulnerable, like a shrimp in a sea of sharks.
(June 11, 2013 - 1:21 pm)
I changed my mind, after reading BHR's segment for Chloe. Elise is still friends with Chloe,.
(June 11, 2013 - 5:31 pm)
Woops! Sorry Teresa, your post hadn't shown up yet! Maybe we could mix the two. But yeah, I kinda like Elise still being friends with Chloe too!
(June 13, 2013 - 9:05 pm)
That's fine. We could mix the two or just use yours, because I like it better.
(June 14, 2013 - 3:37 pm)
Since this has sadly died, I shall go ahead and write the next piece.
Emily:
I trudged up the stairs, head still pounding from my geometry lesson. I could hear Millie's obnoxious high -pitched laughing behind me. I'd been hearing it all day, and believe me, after the ninth time of hearing that, it starts to grate. I headed toward my room, and pushed open the door to discover a girl about my age kneeling by the hearth. She was staring off into space, but jumped up, looking startled.
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So, this is all I can write now.
(June 24, 2013 - 6:08 pm)