It was on a very cold night at 20:19 pm in the town. Chilly breeze brushes against houses. One could be seen outside due to the dark and cold atmospheric condition as the trees moved haphazardly to and fro. Outside the outskirts of the community approaches an odd looking man, looks handsome, cold and dropping wet. He searches to find help. He knocks on the door of Mr Daniel ransbottom.
( knocks ) "Hello,anyone?" ( knocks on the door again )
Mr Daniel ransbottom stood up from his sofa to check who was on the door: "Who is the motherfucker on my door?", replied the weary old man.
The stranger at the door whom was soaking wet under the rain replied to the unknown individual at the other end replied with a shaky accent:
"I'm really sorry. I'm just looking for a crib to lay down, Sir", said the unknown voice at the door.
"Oh! and you think this is a place for donkeys, right?', asked the angry man.
"I don't mean to be rude sir. Just looking for help", replied the stranger.
"I'm sorry young man. This house is meant only for the ransbottom", answered Mr Ransbottom with a harsh tone.
The stranger scoffs: "Sir... can i spend the night in? The humidity out here is beyond hell".
"Then, spend the night in hell then", revollted Mr Ransbottom angrily.
"... Oh please honey! Let the poor man in!", replied another individual inside the house.
"Please woman!. Can't I have a little fun in my own house?", laughed Mr Ransbottom.
"Cut that out, please!. everything is always a joke to you ,Dan", replied the lady.
Daniel Ransbottom made a slow turn on the door handle, inviting the strange man into the house. Mrs Rose Ransbottom came out if her room to see the stranger of a man in their home.
"Woah. why is a man like you out in this stormy weather?" Asked mrs Rose anxiously as she came with a tray of dessert. "I was in the woods and... it's a long story madam", replied the unknown visitor.
"It's gonna be a long story for you this night if you can explain further,boy!", shouted Daniel from his room. Mrs Ransbottom replied instantly to her husband: "Enough with the sarcasm, Dan. I'm sorry dear (faces her guest) Dan can be a naughty man sometimes".
"It's all good madam. My name is Edward Carnon, Madam", said the stranger.
Mrs Ransbottom looked back with a friendly face."And I am Rose Ramsbottom. Hope u are up for some tea?", she asked. The stranger on the wooden chair rolled his tongue acknowledging her offer: "Oh,yeah... I could really need some right now"
"You can take the restroom on the left... let me show to you dear", said Mrs Ransbottom.
Mrs Ransbottom took her visitor to the upper room where they had an extra bedroom. The door opens as the rooms is lit up from the light of the lampcoIt was really gorgeous. The stranger laments in joy!. He looks towards Mrs Ransbottom appreciating her home;
"It's quite a mansion you have here, Mrs rose", said Edward.
"Yes, It's kind of inheritance from past ancestors. That's one of sweets that come to you when your family is a founding member", replied Mrs Ransbottom.
The young man couldnt have been more happier. He replied happily to Mrs Ransbottom; "Thanks for the room. You saved my life madam".
"Don't mention it. Sweet dream dear", said Mrs Ransbottom putting up a simle in her face.
"Yeah... I will", replied Edward as he slowly walked to the bed while Mrs Ransbottom closed the door then suddenly, there was a loud brawl from the other side of the building. Mrs Ransbottom starled at first and then smiled when she eventually got to know the origin of the noise...
It was her very own husband.
"WOMAN! CAN YOU PLEASE LET THAT RUNAWAY HAVE HIS NAP!", shouted Mr Ransbottom from his room. The old man was quite pissed from the outcome of the friendly conversation between his wife and the unknown young man in his guestroom.
The cold breeze drifted apart quite rapidly through the night as the time slowly clicked away to sunrise. There came the sun the next morning. The soil were still moist after the rain. Farmers prepared to go to the farm. Wives dishing out breakfast for their husbands. Drunkards sluggishly moving to the bar with their crazy ass friends whom were just like them-lazy and unhelpful.
Edward woke up slightly tired after the rough ordeal he overcame last night. He went outside for some fresh air.He opened the front door and he mistakenly fell into someone's arms and fell to the ground, splashing the liquid content.
"Am so, very sorry madam", Edward quickly apologized from the floor.
Right next to the door, he took a dirty cloth which was hung on a nail. He rose his head and he couldn't fathom what he saw in front of his eyes. He was transfixed on the spot. He had seen the most unique lady he have never since in his entire life. He was short of words. At that moment,a lot of things kept his mind clouded like;
Who was she?
Where did this entity come from?
How can she be so pretty?
The maiden stood at the door,quiet to the fact that she had seen a stranger in front of her in her very house. She quickly went to her feet, dropping her bowl to the ground.
"Hello there! Are you ok?, said the maiden in a feminine accent.
"Ehmm...yeas, I guess", Edward stammered under his breath.
"I guess you are the RUNAWAY boy papa was talking about this morning", The lady replied.
"Haha.That's hilarious!. I'm was pretty sure your Dad must have debrief you our encounter last night", The happy young man talked to the lord of the house's daughter as she slowly stands up with the empty bowl and rags. She looks up to Edward, acknowledging him about his discovery.
"Why, Of course. My name is Natalie, Natalia ransbottom".
"Sorry for my stupidity. My name is Edward Carnon. Nice meeting you, Lady Natalia.", Edward greets to the maiden in the most formal way he could. He takes a bow as a sign I f respect but she wasn't bothered mlby that. She kept on speaking as she made her way past the door.
"Yep... Nice name for a runaway boy", replied Natalia.
"Courtesy to your Dad, Runaway has reformed my name. I wonder if he has mentioned that to the public", Edward jokingly replies to Natalia as she enters the kitchen but Edward's mind was lost by the sight of her beauty.
Gosh,She's Gorgeous!
Edward kept looking at her from that moment. He felt like the moon was really right in front of him. It was like the stars were shining so bright that he prayed to touch them.
Her blond hair would make Edward dance in delight. She had the most smoothest skin anyone would have killed for. Lavender fragrance from he body locomoted into Edward's nostrils which triggers all his nerves into action.
Natalia, a tall cute lady with a dazzling fair skin embedded with natural endowment. Her feminine voice alone made Edward's heart melt. She looked totally different,like an inhuman or an angel. She was bestowed upon beauty nevertheless, there was to be a sure disadvantage.
Edward realised that there was something off with her. He moves closer to the sink,talking under his breath as he dips his hand unto the dirty dishes.
"let me help you with your work, Miss Natalia", uttered Edward.
"No, you gotta be resting by now.you don't want to let my mother see you here. She's kind of ensuring the hospitality protocol within our visitors", Natalia debriefs her guest as she continues her work but Edward couldn't stare to take no for an answer. He continued, deliberating waiting on her to agree;
"I insist. Let me help you".
Finally on that spot, Edward got what he wanted from her; Attention.
"Ok if you say so." , Replied Natalia.
Their long debacle in the kitchen led into a long open conversation between the visitor and the Maiden. Edward finally got what he wanted for her as they moved round the house working and talking within each other. They went to the back of the farm land to get some milk. Natalia was getting used to him.she kept asking more questions:
"So, Master Carnon. How did you manage to move under the rain? where exactly are you from?", asked Natalia as they walked slowly.
"Well, I live not to far from here... just some miles ahead into the woods", replied Edward, stammering as he speaks.
"Okay then. I see.", Natalia completely acknowledged her visitor's words as they continue to milk the cows inside the barn.
It was time for breakfast. The simple family of Ransbottom were all on the dining table; Mr Daniel Ransbottom, his wife and his only and beautiful child, Natalia but whom also joined the trio on the table was Edward, Mr ransbottom's pile of joke who looks confused and moody and at that moment,his worst enemy noticed.
"Runaway, why the dull face?", asked Mr Ransbottom as he began to lavish the fried turkey on the table.
"Oh, nothing at all, Sir. it all ok", Edward quickly re-replied, acting like everything was ok. Mrs Ransbottom felt a feeling of insensitivity from her husband. She automatically revolted to him;
"Could you give this young man a break, Dan?".
"What!?. he looks like a burned pancake! Can't you see how he moves his head to the left" , Mr Ransbottom made a gesture, moving his head in a weird manner.
"Please, stop that!. He doesn't do that. He is fine just the way he is.you on the other hand look like a scarecrow rotating his head. Daniel, leave him be. Aint you fine,Edward?", Mrs Ransbottom moved her Attention towards her guest.
"Oh, yeah. Totally. I'm still alive, you know", Edward quickly nodded his head, accepting his saviour's request but still, lthat wasn't the reason Edward was all calm and moody. This was about something else.
Edward moved his head slightly towards the right hand side of the dinning room to have a clear look of what distracted him.
It was Natalia.
Edward kept looking at Natalia. He was dumbstruck. Poor Ed. Unexpected romance in someone else home. He keeps looking at her until Mr Daniel Ransbottom comes along with his arrow of kill-joy as he bombarded this question on his face.
"So what gonna happen to you now, Ed?", asked Mr Ransbottom as he have a sip of his liquor while paying attention for his guest's response. Edward at the other hand,was having a hard time bringing the information out his mouth. He began to stammer,uttering unreasonable words.
"Ehmm.."
"Ehhm..."
As this continued, The lord of the house was about to lose his core. He bangs the table which made his wife and child jerks back in fear. He made a glance to Edward.
"Aren't you gonna head home, Carnon!?", revolted Mr Ransbottom as he was on like a disranged bull. Edward rained mute for a while before he decided to address Mr Ransbottom.
"Well, Sir, I guess i'm not", replied Edward as he faces Mr Ransbottom whom now looks in shock.The old man in no time pressed on more questions.
"Why is that?"
"Because i love this town and it's looks cosy and quiet. A responsible town. I have really grown to love it", Edward replied, taking a spoonful of beans into his mouth.
"Great, but that's odd and that's not even an answer. How can one grow to love a place his foreign legs just stepped into for 24 hours? Now, young man. I ask again. Why do you want to stay here?", Mr Ransbottom asked his visitor angrily.
Edward knew he had to talk, Even though it was the only way to survive. The young man drops his spoon on the plate, speaking up to Mr Ransbottom but what he said shocked everyone.
"Because i can't go back home", Edward spoke up, taking the napkin on the table to wipe the oily residue on his lips.
On the onset of those baffling words,The Ransbottom family were caught into shock. The occupants on the table looked at Edward in shock and interest. They couldnt believe what their Runaway told them. Mr Ransbottom stops his meal as he continued to speak to Edward.
"So why can't you go back. Are you like a criminal? A rapist? A kleptomaniac? And you are in my house?! Young man, im sorry but your stay in my house has now being revoked. Natalia, get me my sword ", Mr Ransbottom snapped his hands immediately to signal Natalia to do the needful. For the other individual behind, Edward had no other option but to talk.
"No, no Sir. I am no culprit nor thief. I am just a man looking for greenr pastures. I will vividly explain it all but it's really complicated. Let's just say I have been captured by an Angel", Edward made a quick at Natalia, so quick that he prevented any eye contact between them but doubtfully, the spell was hard enough.
Edward made a long gaze at Natalia, locking eyes and making a wide smile. His charm may have worked for the young lady but not for everyone, especially Mr Daniel whom who continue to bestow question to his guest.
"Boy, you did'nt answers my question. Why are you running from home?", Mr Ransbottom stands up from his seat, looking towards Edward with angry eyes. Meanwhile,his guest was lost in his thought, drowning on speaking up the right word for his audience.
"Ehhm. ehhm", Edward looks round the room, looking at three souls waiting on his final verdict but he to stammer non-stop. Eventually, he decides to talk under his breath, praying that anything he says may make any sense;
"Ehhemm. Well... The point is..."
Edward was speechless, lost in words. what is he gonna say?