| I was born in the country, away from all the commotion I faced later in my life. I lived with my mother and father in a simple cottage flanked by fields. We even owned a horse, a 15 hand bay cob mix, aged 7, who we called Willow. Everything was good until the fates decided that Father's time was finally over. He had had a bad leg for months but it had got really too painful for him to carry on. We did not live near an apothecary, so father died on July 8th, the day after my 12th birthday. After days of consideration Mother decided to take Willow and Father's cart to the village of Stratford. |  |
| A woman called
Anne, one of Father's customers, had offered us jobs as
servants, and on July 26th we prepared for our journey.
We took food, water, clothes, various utensils and
father's tool box, I was only allowed to take 1 toy and I
chose Juliet, my rag doll, and then we set off. The journey would only have taken an hour or so normally, but Willow was in foal so it took twice as long. When we arrived at the
house a woman dressed in an apron and a bonnet came out
of the front door. I had been quite surprised as the
house was not grand or special at all. In fact it was not
much different from our dear cottage at home in the
country, perfectly normal. It was single-floored with the
usual timber-framed, white-washed walls and thatched roof
with a small chimney in one corner. In front was a wild
garden with no wall or fence to contain it. A path and a
set of stone steps led up to the front door. The room was not large. It had a single bed in one corner and in another there was a grubby full length mirror. Beside that was a chest of drawers with a wash basin on top. The floor was bare apart from a piece of sacking in the centre which acted as a mat. "There is only one bed," I said to mother. "Where am I to sleep?" "I shall have the bed, but you the bedclothes, 'tis a fair deal," she replied. We had about half an hour to unpack and then we had to go to the kitchen to find out about our jobs. In the kitchen was a very pretty lady in fine clothes. (I supposed she was the mistress, Anne.) She explained our duties in great detail and then started talking about our clothes. She gave us black and white cloth and white thread to make our garments with. "And I hope you can both sew," she finished, and she flounced out (I decided I didn't like Anne.) "I'll go get started on this dinner then," said Mother "You can go an' make a start on this 'apparel' then, go on, there's a good girl." (I don't think mum liked Anne either!) I went back to the the room and sat on the bed. The sheets were not clean. I was used to making my own clothes by now and the dress was very simple. Before long I had finished the dress and was making a start on the apron when the dinner bell rang. I was to go to the kitchen for my dinner. I was not allowed to dine with the family. Dinner was simple. Bread, apples and milk. I went to feed Willow and then to the room to finish my apron and bonnet. Once my uniform was ready I changed into it. When the time came I made my way to the children's room. There were three children there who introduced themselves. There was an older girl, Susanna and twins called Judith and Hamnet. I had to wash Hamnet's school clothes. The job took ages, so long that I had to rush to bed with no supper. Mother arrived only much later. I was worried as she was old and tired and, by the sound of her rapid breathing, ill. Life here was going to be hard and unpleasant. My prediction was right. I hated work in Stratford. The only good thing about life in the cottage was Susanna. Judith and Hamnet were shrewd and ungrateful, but Susanna was kind and understanding. During the day the girls went out to play while Hamnet went to school. I was not allowed to ride Willow round the village. One day Judith had gone with some companions to play with her hoop and stick and Suzanna was all alone, I rode around with her and even let her sit on Willow, and we did that every day. Susanna told me lots about her father. She said he was a playwright living in London. (that was where all his plays were held.) She told me a bit about the plays. They were mostly very romantic. One night at home I had finished my duties mother gave me some heartbreaking news. She was going to sell Willow. It was just too much. I rushed to Susanna to tell her my plans. Devastated as she was at the news, she swore to keep it secret and wished me luck. As I lay down on my floor-bed, fiddling with my handkerchief to stay awake, I told myself over and over because I just couldn't get the fact into my head. I was going to run away. To Be Continued... |
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