"Grandma! grandma!"
In the hall of Guryon Manor, Leonardo was shouting. Jennifer saw Leonardo who was running towards her. She got up and picked him up in her arms. "Yes sweety!" Jennifer narrowed her eyes at Leonardo when she saw chocolate marks around his lips, "You ate chocolate again?"
"Ack!", Leonardo who was full of vigor gawked at his grandmother.
Jennifer frowned, "Didn't I warn you! No more chocolates without my permission!"
Leonardo lowered his head and confessed with his cute voice, "I am sorry grandma! I shall not do it again." Jennifer put him down on the floor gently and helped him wearing his shirt and didn't answer to his confession. Leonardo was staring at her intently and asked, "Grandma! Are you still mad at me?"
Jennifer held the tea cup in her hands and replied, "Yes I am!"
"But—but why?", Leonardo asked innocently.
Jennifer stole a glance at him and pretended to be angry. "Because you promised me last time that you shall not eat chocolate without my permission—but now you ate chocolate without my permission and broke my trust and thus your promise. Therefore, I am mad at you!"
Jennifer sipped the tea from her cup and didn't glance at him. Leonardo was confused, he tried to make an eye contact with Jennifer so that he could apologize to her but the latter kept changing her direction.
When Leonardo realized that he couldn't make an eye contact with Jennifer he went to Rebecca and asked worriedly, "Granny Rebecca what should I do?"
Rebecca raised her brows in amazement. She crouched down on her knees and looked at the boy who was on the verge of shedding tears. She pitied the boy and patted his head gently.
"What does young master think we should do?", Rebecca asked to know what the young lad was thinking, even though she knew what was the right thing to do.
"How about we give grandma another cup of tea?", Leonardo replied.
"Your grandma is already drinking the tea?", Rebecca shook her head.
"Umm—h-how about the cake!", Leonardo suggested brightly.
"I already gave it to her", Rebecca smiled at the honesty of the child but she rejected the idea.
"You already gave it to grandma?", Leonardo asked while his expressions which became bright a moment ago dulled by the latter's sudden answer. He glanced at Jennifer behind him.
"Hmph!", Jennifer moved her gaze to another side and began drinking her tea again while watching the two from the distance.
Leonardo looked at Rebecca in a worry when Jennifer ignored his gaze.
"Granny Rebecca! What should I do? Please, tell me!"
Rebecca chuckled inwardly and whispered something in his ear. She looked into Leonardo's eyes, "Got it?" Leonardo pondered for a moment and nodded like chick pecking grains.
In the meantime, when Jennifer saw Leonardo coming towards her. She ceased her actions and waited patiently in her seat for the latter.
Jennifer had this stern look on her face. Leonardo climbed the couch and quickly hugged her tightly with small arms.
Jennifer wasn't surprised in the slightest but she often enjoyed moments like; being cuddled by a child. She giggled due to sudden move of Leonardo.
However, Leonardo apologized to Jennifer in sweetest way possible like a child should.
"I am sorry! I am sorry! I am sorry! I am sorry! I am really sorry grandma! Please forgive me! I shall not eat chocolate without your permission again. I am sorry!"
Jennifer peeked at Rebecca, who was grinning gleefully at the duo. Jennifer patted Leonardo's back and asked, "Do you promise?"
"I promise!", Leonardo looked into Jennifer's eyes.
"Good! ––But you still need to receive your punishment!"
"But I apologize—"
Jennifer began tickling him on his ribs.
Before Leonardo could finish the sentence, he broke out in a loud laughter while struggling to stop Jennifer's hands. She tickled him until Leonardo laid down on the couch while trying to stop his grandmother. The laughter didn't stop for a while. The maids who were working around the hall, had this smile on their faces when they heard this sweet and enchanting cackle with laughter resounding in the hall.
Jennifer stopped moving her fingers after a moment. She had this big smile on her face. She picked up Leonardo from the couch and placed him on her lap. She leaned back, held his small hand and asked, "So, why was my pumpkin looking for me before?"
"Before?", the boy mumbled. "Oh, yes!", Leonardo cried out after pondering for a bit. "Grandma, I wanted to tell you that I made a friend!", Leonardo said excitedly. "Really?", Jennifer raised her brows as she gazed at the boy who was nodding delightfully. As she recalled there was no one of his age present in the manor who could become his friend.
"—alright! then can I see your new friend?", requested Jennifer.
Leonardo gave some big nods over her question, "Okay I'll bring my new friend here right now."
He climbed down from the couch and ran towards the kitchen. After a moment he came back while holding on to a hand of a girl. The girl was wearing white coat and a hat over her head. When Leonardo reached the hall, the girl immediately hid behind Rebecca.
Leonardo came to Jennifer's side and pointed at the girl behind Rebecca, "Grandma! this is my new friend."
Jennifer who was leaning on the couch straightened herself; she faced Rebecca and requested, "Rebecca why don't you introduce your grand-daughter to us!" Leonardo stared blankly at Rebecca. "Huh! Is she your family granny Rebecca!", Leonardo inquired. Rebecca replied while she held on to the girl, "Yes, she is my grand-daughter."
Rebecca tried to bring her grand-daughter forward but the girl was holding on to the latter's dress tightly. Jennifer noticed the little girl was gazing at the floor due to shyness. Rebecca patted the girl's head lightly and said, "This is Angela Evergarden. She just turned ten a week ago." Rebecca peeked at Angela and stroked her head with warmth, "Angela dear! This is the Lady Jennifer I was talking about earlier, why don't you greet her."
The little girl was feeling nervous but Rebecca encouraged her, "Go on don't be nervous!" The girl took some small steps and stood in front of Jennifer and the boy beside her. Jennifer noticed that the girl was fidgeting.
Angela brought her hand in front and bowed her head a little. All this time the little girl's gaze was fixated at the floor, she didn't even look up. Jennifer gazed at her in admiration and asked politely, "Angela dear! Would you please come closer!"
Angela became more anxious; she turned to look back at Rebecca with a puzzle look. Whereas, Rebecca just nodded with a gentle smile. Angela turned her head and moved towards the lady in front with stiff shoulders and a bowed head. Jennifer leaned forward a bit and gently grabbed her sweaty little hands.
Jennifer smiled at the girl's reaction. "Please, raise your head dear!"
Sudden touch of Jennifer made Angela more nervous. She pursed her lips, tilted her head and glanced into the eyes of Jennifer with an uneasy expression. Jennifer noticed her face and kept staring.
"Ahem!", Rebecca broke the silence.
"I am sorry." Jennifer said in embarrassment.
"It's okay my lady", said Rebecca.
After hearing Rebecca, Jennifer recovered from the shock and complimented with a gleeful smile, "My goodness! What a beautiful girl she is!"
What Jennifer said was true because Angela had, fiery red hairs, slight rounded thin eyebrows, big protruding bottle-green eyes supported with big eyelashes, red cupid lips, ideal nose, rosy cheeks and milky fair complexion. All these features made her look like a princess or a fairy of a fantasy world.
Leonardo beside Jennifer had no idea what his grandmother was talking about.
Jennifer brought Angela closer to her. She took the latter's hat off and gently stroked her fiery-red hairs and caress her milky white cheeks. "Am I making you uncomfortable sweety?"
Angela shook her head in response and directed her gaze at the floor again.
Jennifer looked at Leonardo who still had no idea what was going on and grinned, "If my grand-son bullied you in anyway, you can tell me. I'll punish him for you." Angela looked at Jennifer with surprise after hearing her. Her nervousness subsided a little and she forced an awkward smile.
On the other side Leonardo became vigilant after hearing the word 'punishment' out of Jennifer's mouth. "I never bullied her grandma!", he complained.
Angela looked at Leonardo with her big green eyes and averted her gaze, when the latter's gaze met with hers. Jennifer noticed her reaction she tilted her head and understood the situation. "Angela dear! Why don't you befriend my grand-son and play when you have time?"
Angela was giving it a little thought but suddenly Leonardo appeared before her and stared at Angela intently with his deep blue eyes, "Really! Will you become my friend? Will you play with me?"
Seeing Leonardo curious gaze Angela face became a little despondent. She bowed to Jennifer. Whereas, Jennifer retracked her hands. Angela faced Rebecca and made some hand signs.
"She's saying that she can't talk."
Since Rebecca knew the sign language therefore, she translated it for the Jennifer and Leonardo.
Leonardo asked innocently, "Why can't she talk?"
"Because she is a mute." Jennifer answered before Rebecca. Leonardo was unfamiliar with the term 'mute' so he inquired, "What is a mute?"
"A mute is a special person, who communicates with the people in a special way or you can say in a special language." Jennifer briefed.
"So~ Angela talks in a special language?" Leonardo asked Jennifer with a puzzle look on his face.
Jennifer nodded in response.
Leonardo looked at Angela and pondered for a moment.
On the other hand, Angela was getting flustered because she already knew what would be the result. Besides, this type of introduction had happened a lot in her past where the outcome was really disturbing for her.
In school she got bullied most of the times because of her disability, her classmates address her with different names. Therefore, she hid behind Rebecca, closed her eyes because another humiliation was awaiting her from the boy in front.
Rebecca who was watching all this; she became tensed because just like her grand-daughter she had also faced degrading and discomforting criticisms from many children and even from adults. But she expected a very tiny ray of hope from Leonardo because his upbringing was definitely different from other children and adults she met so far. Therefore, Rebecca waited for the boy to say something.
"WOW! That's so cool!", Leonardo said in excitement.
Angela who assumed that Leonardo might make fun for her by calling her 'weirdo' or 'freak' said something really unexpected.
"Grandma! Can I also learn that special language, please!", the boy asked with gleaming eyes.
Jennifer didn't think of this but now it had happened hence she directed the conversation in safest way possible and replied, "I think you should ask Granny Rebecca because I don't know that special language."
Leonardo's gaze shifted to Rebecca. However, Rebecca was flabbergasted for a moment; she never dreamed of it in the slightest. The old lady regained her composure; she cleared her throat and said, "I am too busy in taking care of your grandmother young master. But—why don't you ask Angela here." Rebecca grabbed Angela by he shoulders and moved her forcefully in front, "Maybe she can teach you in my stead", and winked at Angela.
"Really!", Leonardo exclaimed. He stood before Angela and questioned in excitement, "Will you really teach me your language?"
As for Angela, she couldn't refuse such an offer from someone like him. She looked past the boy where Jennifer was sitting and watching them with interest.
Jennifer felt her gaze upon her and understood the meaning of it hence, she asked, "Are you sure you want to learn the language?"
"Yes!"
"Very well!", Jennifer praised. She glanced at Angela, "So what does our little miss Angela says? Are you willing to teach him?"
Angela accepted without any hesitation.
"Yay!", Leonardo yelled joyfully.
Jennifer grinned, "Good girl! –Off you go then. Come back to his room later when you're finished with your work."
"Let me help! Let me help!", Leonardo was hopping on the floor with happiness.
"She'll be fine master Leonardo. Don't you worry!", said Rebecca. Leonardo stopped in his movements and said quizzically, "But I was the one who brought her here."
Noticing his innocent gaze Angela giggled. She faced Rebecca and made some hand signs to her. Rebecca grinned and asked Jennifer, "What do you say My Lady?"
"Sure." Jennifer agreed in helplessness to Leonardo. "Go on Leonardo, escort our little miss Angela to her place like commander Mehmet escorted princess back to her palace in the story which I told you last night!"
When Leonardo heard Jennifer, he ceased jumping and agreed, "Yes Grandma!"
Leonardo faced Angela with this humble expression on his face. He slightly bowed his head, placed his hand on his chest and requested with utmost respect, "Your Majesty! please follow me! I will show you the way to your palace!"
Angela looked at the boy in daze by sudden turn of events, she turned to Rebecca with a surprising look on her face and made some hand signs. Rebecca chuckled, "Ho~ Ho~ Just do what our young master wishes."
Angela grabbed her hat and quietly followed behind Leonardo and went back in the kitchen while Jennifer and Rebecca were laughing at the duo.
"Such a nice boy he is my lady. He really took after lady Jasmine", Rebecca praised. "It's a good thing that she made a friend as soon as she arrived here. I thought that her days would be lonely or will pass by working in the kitchen alone. But I never thought, the first one to befriend her would be none other than our charming young master himself. Ho~ Ho~ she has such a good luck!" commented Rebecca.
"It's indeed a good thing that Leonardo can spend more time with the kid around his age." Jennifer approved.
Rebecca was about to leave when Jennifer stopped her and asked, "What did Angela tell you before leaving?"
"When my lady?", Rebecca was confused. "The moment when Leonardo stood before her." Jennifer reminded. "Oh~ that~ well that was nothing My Lady!", Rebecca answered vaguely. "Come on Rebecca! Tell me!" Jennifer demanded. "Well—she said that she finds young master rather cute!"