| Mary lived in a small flat in London
above a tailor's shop that her father owned, and her
mother helped make clothes and some costumes, because
Mary's dad also helped at the tiring house in the Globe
theatre. So some costumes went to the tiring house.
Sometimes also, but only sometimes, Mary's dad would take
her to the tiring house if he needed to drop something
off. She loved going there and looking at all the
beautiful costumes. Mary was helping her mother with some sewing for a rich lady's dress; the dress was the only business the shop had, had all week. Actually Mary had to miss supper one night this week because they just didn't have enough money to buy any supper. |
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| Later on Edward, Mary's
father came home from work. He hadn't had a good day at
the tiring house; the King's Men acting group were coming
tomorrow. So all their costumes had to be found and the
whole place tidied up, which took ages because the house
was so messy with costumes everywhere. Then one of the
costumes went missing and everyone had to look for it.
Until someone remembered that someone had taken it home,
to sew up the pocket. So Mary told to go and make the beds up then empty the toilet pot. She didn't want to: the toilet pot always smelt disgusting and if you ever accidentally on purpose dropped the contents on someone's head, they always turned out to be a customer to the shop, a work-mate or an actor at the Globe Theatre! That night as Mary lay in bed, hoped that next week would turn out better and the shop would get lots more customers. Mary woke up the next morning, got up, then got the breakfast ready. Today Mary's dad worked at the tailor's shop; perhaps he would attract more people. Later on that day there was a knock on the shop front door. Edward (Mary's dad) called, "Come in." A tall man with long brown hair walked in. Mary gasped as she realised it was William Shakespeare, the play wrighter for the King's Men. Then accidentally Mary stuck the needle into her finger and was told to clean it elsewhere. After she had cleaned her finger up she sat at the top of the uncomfortable, wooden stair and listened to what they were saying. Shakespeare was telling Edward how he had seen the costumes that had been made by the shop, and he was wondering whether it would be possible for Edward to make some costumes for his next play? Mary didn't hear the rest because her mum started making loud noises from the kitchen, but she ran up to her parents' bedroom, looked out the window and saw her father and Shakespeare shaking hands. Mary sat down on her parents' hard bed: this meant that her father had business and, by the sounds of it, lots. Next morning Mary woke: she had obviously fallen asleep on her mum and dad's bed. She then got up, got breakfast ready and polished her father's shoes. At twelve o'clock, Edward came home from work and changed into his best outfit. Half an hour later Shakespeare arrived and they went and sat in the tailor's shop. Edward got out some sketches of costumes. They talked for a while then started changing things on the sketches, making them more and more interesting. Soon after Shakespeare shook hands again then left. A few weeks later Shakespeare came back to collect the costumes. Mary was sewing a kitchen cloth together. Anne, Mary's mother rushed out the room to get Edward. It was just Mary and Shakespeare left in the shop together. He came over and asked what she was doing. "I'm making a new kitchen cloth: the old ones tattered and torn," replied Mary. "I can't sew to save my life!" laughed Shakespeare. "Do you sew a lot?" "Sometimes, mostly I help with all the housework, Mr Shakespeare, sir," stuttered Mary. "Please, you may call me William." "Right, I really like your stories, once I heard parts of one of your plays as I was walking back from the market." "Was it, did it sound good?" "Oh yes, very, if I was a boy I would love to join your acting group," sighed Mary. "I suppose I'll never have a good job: my dad will just get me married off and then forget about me." " Your father is such a gentleman, he would never forget about you, just as I will never forget about any of my children even if, well, something terrible happened to them. You see my son, he, he is very ill. I just don't know what to do," trembled Shakespeare brushing hair out of his face. Just then Edward walked in. "Mary, I have business!" Mary saw this as her cue to leave. "Goodbye, William Shakespeare!" smiled Mary. She turned around and left. Later on that night, Mary's parents came up to her bedroom and said, "Mary, we need to talk" Mary nodded. "You know Mr Shakespeare came round earlier, well, he may not have mentioned that, that, well, his." "Son is very ill," finished Mary's father. "We don't know how long he's got to live so William, Mr Shakespeare, asked whether it was possible for you to go to Stratford and help look after his son and the other girls." Mary looked at the floor. "I heard he was ill; it must be dreadful, the whole family needs help and I have been asked to help, so I must; Shakespeare is a kind man and was very friendly to me. When did they want me to go?" breathed Mary. "Probably as soon as possible," answered Anne. Mary lay in bed that night thinking everything over. Shakespeare was coming over tomorrow to speak to her mother and father. Mary had been told to be out of the house so she decided to go to the market. Next morning Mary got dressed, did her morning chores and waited for her mother to tell her to leave. When she did Mary walked to the market. She couldn't buy anything but she enjoyed looking round anyway. When Mary got home Shakespeare had left, and it had been decided that she would leave on Monday, that was four days away. The four days seemed to drag on for what seemed like four weeks! But when the day came, Mary had a small bag packed with everything she needed. Mary would travel by horse; to Stratford upon Avon. She was looking forward to travelling by horse she had never even sat on one before. |
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| At
ten in the morning Shakespeare came round and thanked
Mary. Then the horse arrived. Mary said goodbye to everyone and Mary's mother started to cry. Mary didn't cry, but there were tears in her eyes. Then Mary of the journey took a lot longer than expected. But when Mary finally arrived, she was welcomed warmly. Mary settled in well. But unfortunately Hamnet (Shakespeare's son) died. Mary stayed on as a nanny and was paid well. She kept in touch with her family, but never returned to London. |
 By I M Hunt |