Chapter Nine
( Three Years later)
The Master's Arrival>>>>>>>>
Gwen brought in a glass of water and Mrs Francesca's pill.It had been hard having to serve as Mrs Carnegie's personal maid. She had to clean up Mrs Carnegie who could no longer go to toilet by herself but does it right there on the bed which Gwen would have to also clean up.Gwen's fingers were swollen from constantly having to wash blankets everyday. She would bath Mrs Carnegie,feed her and read the papers to her every evening. Gwen loved reading the papers to her as it helps her know what happening outside the big walls. Despite the fact Mrs carnegie always acted so difficult,Gwen never mind but kept on taking care of Mrs Carnegie.
While reading the magazine one day to Mrs Carnegie,she had seen a part where her brother and coach Greene's name appeared.Her brother's team had won against Sunnyvale high school boys. Gwen had cut out that part of the newspaper and kept it beside her bed making sure she reads it every night before going to bed. It gave her hope knowing she wasn't suffering for nothing and that one day,he will take her out of here.
Roy would take her out of this dungeon of sorrow and hard labor.He would take her out of this dungeon of loneliness where she had spent two years of her life crying and dreaming of how life would be on the outside. Would she still know how to bake? Is the shop still running? Is her father a changed man now? Is Gilbert even missing her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the loud bell ringing through the house. She knew the sound of that bell by heart. It meant one thing;that all workers are to converge at the workers quarters immediately.
Mrs Francesca groaned in annoyance as she heard the loud sound of the bell.
"Here is your pills, ma'am." Gwen said going on her knees beside Mrs Carnegie bed. She remembered the first time she came and had no idea that as a worker here,they were meant to kneel,Mr Carnegie had ordered that she should be beaten to stupor by his able bodied men. That night, Mr Carnegie had made it clear that Gwen,just like every other worker here,were either relatives of those who stole from him and those who owe him a lot of money and he would address them as his slaves and nothing more.
"As slaves,you should go down on your knees whenever you see your master!!!"Mr Carnegie has once said instilling fear in Gwen. ' Slaves' that is the exact words Mr Carnegie used in addressing them and in a way, he is right. None of the workers here get paid except the housekeeper and the gate keeper.They are just people who are treated like rags,who attends to every his household needs as the voice of Mr Carnegie alone makes them shudder fearfully.
Mrs Francesca took her drugs before lying down back on the bed and slowly drifting off to sleep. Gwen sighed as she stood up,her legs shaking from exhaustion. She kept the drugs back in the cabinet before going down to the kitchen to keep the tumbler.
"Gwen?" The house keeper, Mrs Enid,called softly.
Gwen turned quickly as the tumbler fell of her hand shattering on the floor. Gwen gasped in horror as she stared at the broken tumbler.
"I...I am sorry. I did not mean to...I just wanted to keep the tumbler up..and it fell .I am sorry". Gwen said as tears slipped down her eyes. It tore her to watch herself tremble like this in front of the housekeeper. She was a strong lady,a lady who would stand for whatever she wanted and pursue it with all her mind. She was a lady who was usually careful in the kitchen and in her shop but the Carnegie's have broken and ripped her of every strength in her to the extent she now tremble at the slightest sound.
"It's okay,Gwen.Just clean this place up and join us at the servant's quarters. There is an important message to be passed across."
" Yes...ma." Gwen said bowing slightly as the housekeeper walked out of the kitchen. Well, Mr Carnegie had also told them that whenever the housekeeper or gate keeper talks,they should bow their heads as they are debtors and not workers like them while they are meant to kneel in front of him or his wife.
Gwen quickly cleaned up the kitchen and putting away the broken pieces into the trash can. She rinsed her hand and ran off to the servant's quarters. The other workers were there in their uniform as usual. Since the death of Mr Carnegie which was about five days ago,the servant's were able to walk around and talk freely without feeling Mr Carnegie's boys were watching them from a distance ready to give them the cruelest punishment.
"Look who is late." One of the worker's, Ivy , said . According to what Mrs Enid told her, Ivy was the who was meant to be Mrs Francesca's personal maid but from the very day she was given the position,Francesca refused eating and taking her medications. The doctor who usually comes to check up on her every two weeks told Mr Carnegie that he had to change whoever was taking care of her and it had been the same with every other worker except Gwen. And though the rest of the workers wondered what was so special about her but Ivy hated Gwen more. If only they knew how hard it is to be Mrs Carnegie's personal maid,they would wish for something better.
Gwen totally ignored her and went to sit on one of the empty chairs.
"So now everyone is here,I will like to star straight away. We have been taking care of the house since the passing of Mr Carnegie's about five days ago in anticipation of his son,Mr Curtis Carnegie,who had been away from home for about three years now.Like I said,Mr Curtis Carnegie has been away from home for a while which means he won't be used to many of us except for those who were working here before he left,"So I want us to be in our very best behaviors and act nicely as visitors will start coming in. Each and everyone present here will be appointed to different places in the house to clean and take care of", Mrs Enid's gaze fell on Gwen," Gwen,you are to make sure,all of Mrs bedsheet and clothes are properly and to clean her up every thirty minutes before the arrival of Mr Carnegie,is that clear?"
" Yes ma'am."
Mrs Enid kept on dishing out orders to the other workers but Gwen was no longer paying attention. A particular question kept on ringing in her head.Mr curtis Carnegie would be coming home. Would she have to face another two years of hardship and torment???
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