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1967
Jan 30, 2005 23:05:48 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 23:05:48 GMT -5
"Cause that was all Da had. 'Specilly after Mummy died. It was that, or the water, but the water was brown." She said all this casually. She was used to it. She took another bite of the pasta "It's really good, you're a good cook."
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 23:23:46 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 30, 2005 23:23:46 GMT -5
Louisa smiled despite of what Dani had just told her. How could a five-year old girl drink only beer?
“You really like it?” she asked. It hadn’t been her the one to cook the pasta, but it had been her the one to teach the cook how to do so.
Dani nodded, her mouth was full.
“Well, I didn’t cook it, but someday I can cook you a meal and then you’ll be able to tell me what you think of my cooking,” Louisa laughed, trying to cheer Dani up, and herself as well.
Dani only looked at her.
“And darlling, who is Jenny, what do you mean she starved herself?” Louisa inquired changing her tone to a serious one.
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1967
Jan 30, 2005 23:30:28 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 30, 2005 23:30:28 GMT -5
Dani hadn't understood the joke. Oh well. “And darling, who is Jenny, what do you mean she starved herself?” Dani finished the plate and got up for more pasta and refilled her plate and sat back down before she said "Jenny lived on our street when we were with Da. She thought she was too fat and went on a starvation diet and it killed her. She's buried in the cemetery." Seeing her aunts horrified look, she said "Ah, that ain't nothing. Mary Patrick went to foster homes cause her mum and da drunk themselves to the grave. Mary killed herself a month later."
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1967
Jan 31, 2005 15:16:56 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 31, 2005 15:16:56 GMT -5
"Jenny lived on our street when we were with Da. She thought she was too fat and went on a starvation diet and it killed her. She's buried in the cemetery."
When Louisa heard that, she, once more, couldn’t hide the fact that she was horrified. Even though, despite that, seeing Dani eat with gusto made her long lost apettite return.
“This food seems really good. I’ve never seen anyone eat with such gusto,” Louisa said, getting up from her chair. She fetched a plate and filled it with pasta.
“Let me taste it and see if the cook learnt what I taught her,” Louisa smiled and put her plate on the table. “Oh, I forgot something to drink. I’ll prepare an orange juice for me. Do you want one too, Dani, or you prefer more milk?”
The girl wanted more milk, so Louisa filled her glass again and made herself the orange juice. While she squeezed the oranges, she became thoughtful again. Dani and Ellie’s lives must have been really miserable, judging for what Dani had been telling her. Louisa thought it would be better not to keep asking Dani about her past, because, no matter what the girl told her, there would always be something to tell, something she knew wouldn’t be nice to hear. Her mind went to the document the Officer had brought earlier, and now she could perfectly imagine what was written there, and also understand why those things were there.
She didn’t blame Danielle nor Michelle for the miserable lives they had lived so far. Louisa’s grief increased even more when she thought about Gretl. She remembered the first time her sister had brought that man to the Lodge. He seemed totally different when they were introduced. No wonder why Gretl had fallen for him. Everybody was enchanted with him, and they would have never been able to tell he would became such a disgusting person. This thought made Louisa sick. How could someone change so much, or worse, has two personalities so different from each other?
Louisa told herself that from now one Dani and Ellie’s lives would change. They would protect them and provide them with everything they needed, specially love. But the girls had to be careful too, Dani couldn’t leave the house the way she had done some hours ago. Louisa would talk to her about that. She also had to explain why she would be moved to another room. Since she knew the girl wouldn’t like to be very far from her sister, she would move Ellie to the room next doors. Now, though, she wouldn’t say nothing, she would let Danielle rest.
“There I go,” Louisa said placing te glass on the table and sitting on the chair. “You don’t have to hurry, Dani, there’s still plent of pasta for you to eat,” she said when she noticed Dani was eating as if this was the last plate of food in the world.
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1967
Feb 1, 2005 13:12:41 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Feb 1, 2005 13:12:41 GMT -5
Dani frowned, not realizing she had been eating fast. A habit, since in the last few months, Da took to taking away their food just when they relaxed.
"Y'ain't taking at away?" She asked, she moved on to her next questions "Did Da get killed? Is he in jail? Do I gotta go to school tomorrow?" She took a sip of milk, thirsty.
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1967
Feb 1, 2005 23:58:20 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Feb 1, 2005 23:58:20 GMT -5
Louisa smiled at Dani when the girl realized she had been eating fast and looked up at her, seeming sort of embarrassed.
“No, Dani, of course I won’t take your food away,” she replied quite amazed at the thought.
This question was the easiest one to answer to. And the only one she was sure about. Indeed, where was her Father? Liesl had told her he was in the hospital, but they didn’t know his state, if he was badly hurt, or even dead. And if he recovered, would him go to jail again? Louisa thought it was the obvious answer, but they never know.
“Don’t think about your Father now, darling. I’m sure they won’t let him go when he leaves the hospital,” she said, watching the girl eat. She didn’t want to mention she didn’t know how he was, and was glad the girl hadn’t asked about that.
What about school? Louisa had planned to sent Danielle and Michelle to school as soon as the oldest arrived there, but now things were different. She thought it would be reasonabale to talk to Sister Anne, the headmistress, and reinforce the warnings about the girls’ Father, not forgeting to explain everything that had happened to them so far, specially to Danielle. Louisa had already mentioned some facts to the woman, but now she felt she had to make her aware of every detail. As it was, she wouldn’t send the girls to school right then.
“No, Dani, you and Ellie won’t go to school this week,” Louisa said, noticing that Dani’s expression had become more relieved. “You don’t need to fear school, darling. It will be good for you to meet people of your age, and I’m sure you’ll make a lot of friends there,” she added, trying to believe in her own words, and wishing they would really be made true.
Louisa finished her meal and waited for Danielle to finish hers. When she did, Louisa brought their plates and glasses to the sink and led the girl to her room, telling her she could go to the playing room if she wanted. After the girl had entered her room Louisa locked the door from outside, using the key Anton kept with him all the time. After that Louisa headed downstairs; she was going to the kitchen to clean it up. When she reached the room she saw Liesl was already doing that.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 12:17:02 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Feb 2, 2005 12:17:02 GMT -5
Dani frowned at her aunt's reply to her question about her father. "Don't think about your Father now, darling. I'm sure they won't let him go when he leaves the hospital," That meant she didn't know. "He won't stop til he's dead, yknow." she told her aunt softly, her aunt moved on to the next question.
"No, Dani, you and Ellie won't go to school this week,"Dani smiled. She did NOT want to go to school. They'd all find out how dumb she was.
"You don't need to fear school, darling. It will be good for you to meet people of your age, and I'm sure you'll make a lot of friends there," Dani highly doubted that. She tried to think about something else as she finished her dinner and downed the last of her milk. Louisa put their plates and glasses in the sink and took her back upstairs to her room. "If you want, you can go the the playroom, the other children are there." Dani was surprised at being allowed to play. Since Ma had died, there had been no laughter, no fun. Only hurt and pain and abuse. Dani went inside her room and she heard the lock click shut from the outside. She frowned and shrugged. If she needed to escape, there were windows. She climbed onto her bed and curled up and went back to sleep.
One Week Later
Dani hurried downstairs wearing her uniform. Grandma had taken it in for her and now it fit perfectly. She wanted to tie her hair out of her face but could not get the ribbon right. Therefore, she was in search of one of the women to do it for her. As she jumped off the last step, she jumped right into her Grandmother, who had laughed and picked herself up and helped Dani up and brushed off her dress. "And where are you going in such a hurry?" "To find you. Could you do my ribbon, please?" She nodded and Dani handed her the hairibbon.
Maria studied the hair. It needed a good brushing first. She took her granddaughter up to her room and sat her down at the vanity. She picked up her hairbrush and her hair was soon nice and smooth and tied up with a ribbon. She headed to the room next door. "Ellie, are you up?" She called. No answer. She opened the door and she saw a lump in the bed. She pulled the bedcovers off and revealed a dog lying on the bed. She smiled, "Pickles, off." The dog, named for the food it always stole off their plates, jumped off the bed and wagged his tail. She pat his head and the dog licked her hand and bounded downstairs.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 16:43:10 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Feb 2, 2005 16:43:10 GMT -5
"Watch it Pickles!" A voice could be heard from downstairs. "Danielle, Ellie's down here, she's all ready." Liesl called up to her. Maria came down and went into the kitchen to get their lunches. "Are you ready yet Dani?" Liesl called again.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 16:47:23 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Feb 2, 2005 16:47:23 GMT -5
Dani came downstairs again "Ready as I'll ever be," she told them, petting the dog and taking Ellie's hand in hers.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 17:09:28 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Feb 2, 2005 17:09:28 GMT -5
"Oh good" Liesl sighed.
Maria was holding Pickles by the collar, so he would calm down.
Louisa was buttoning Nina's jacket and told Ellie to come to her and she'd help to get her's on as well.
"Dom will walk you and Jan to school, if that's all right." Liesl said. Danielle nodded.
"Him and Jan are just waiting outside."
"I hope you have a wonderful first day sweetie. I'll see you at twelve." Maria said as she let go of the dog and gave Dani a hug. She dissapeared into the kitchen while the dog followed. You could hear her telling Pickles to stop following her.
Liesl walked Danielle to the door where Louisa and Ellie and Nina were. She inspected her, making sure she had everything. "Have a good day Danielle, I'll see you soon."
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 17:12:11 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Feb 2, 2005 17:12:11 GMT -5
"Bye Auntie Liesl" Dani said looked out the window, sub-conciously hoping for a tornado or a blizzard. Anything would be good, to put school off another day. She looked for her aunt Louisa. Time to say goodbye.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 17:50:19 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Feb 2, 2005 17:50:19 GMT -5
“Everybody here?” Louisa asked, lookink around to see if all the children were ready to go. She saw Dani was looking at her. These last few days the girl had turned to her a lot, seeking help or answers. Louisa felt Dani sort of trusted her. She smiled at the girl and said goodbye.
“Come here, Nina, Ellie,” she called. “We are going by car, otherwise you’ll be late.”
Louisa bent down and whispered in Jan’s ear, “Jan, behave yourself with Dom, and help Dani feel secure, she is very anxious.”
“Okay, Mami,” the boy nodded and took his bag from Louisa’s hands.
Louisa watched as the older children walked away, Dani going between Jan and Dominic. She prayed that everything would go fine in Dani’s first day at school. Louisa ahd already had a conversation with Sister Anne about her situation, and the woman had assured they would take care of the girl. Even so, Louisa felt worried.
“I’ll be right back, Liesl,” she said taking Nina and Ellie’s hands in hers. “Your Grandpa brought the car, come on.”
Georg was waiting for them in front of the gate, the car ready to go. When the group arrived he left the car and Louisa took his place. He helped put Nina and Ellie on the back seat, give each a kiss on the forehead and watched as Louisa drove away.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 18:16:53 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Feb 2, 2005 18:16:53 GMT -5
Dani wished she could at least have walked Ellie to school. But Ellie was taken care of, Dani had to deal with her own day. Ellie knew to call her school if something happened.
As the boys and Dani reached town, they were joined by their cousins, soon there were about ten children walking to the two different schools and chattering.
They reached the Elementry school all too soon for Dani. Jan took her into the office and she sat down in a chair while the secretary looked for her file, everything had been squared away last week.
The secretarty found it a few minutes after the bell rang, just as Sister Anne was going into the office. "Ah, all ready, Miss Delaney?" Dani nodded. "Come along, I'll take you." She glanced down at the room number and walked briskly down the hall and up a flight of stairs and down another hall.
Dani ran after her and when she finally stopped, she stood there catching her breath. Sister Anne knocked on the door and another nun opened the door "Oh, hello." she said. "You must be Danielle."
Dani nodded. "Well, come on in." she said and held the door open for her. Dani stepped in. She looked around the room and with a sinking heart, she realized none of her cousins were in her class. They all stared at her and she stared right back.
"Boys and girls, this is our new pupil, Miss Danielle Delaney. She moved her from New York City. Danielle, why don't you tell the class about yourself?"
"Well, everyone calls me Dani." She paused when she heard someone giggling. She frowned, not knowing why. She kept talking and they just laughed more and more. "And I have a little sister, Ellie and I live with my grandparents and my aunt Louisa and two of my cousins at the lodge." A haughty voice interrupted her "Why don't you live with your parents?" "Me Ma's dead. Dad's in jail." "What'd he do?" "If I told you, you wouldn't believe it, with your perfect world." Dani said, she didn't want them to know she had been hurt. "Thank you, Dani. Why don't you take a seat in front of Mary? Mary, raise your hand." The haughty girl did and she sat down in front of her.
Mary did everything she could to get her goat. She kept saying rude things about her accent, slurs, and mocking her accent.
In the last half-hour before lunch, her teacher said "Dani, please read aloud, starting from page fifty-six." Dani studied the page. "The F-F-Fi...what's that word?" "First. Didn't you learn that at your old school?" "No. The first Th-thank-whats that one?" "Thanksgiving. Dani, when was the last time you went to school?" "1964." "That was three years ago." "Yes ma'am." "Are you telling me you haven't been to school in three years?" "Yes ma'am." "I shall be having a chat with Sister Anne about your placement in this class." Dani's heart sank and Marie took her place reading. She did not make one mistake. The bell rang and all the children ran outside. Marie taunted "Well, if it isn't the dunce." "Shut up! Leave me alone!" "Make me!" Dani swung her hand back and punched the snob right in the nose. It started to bleed and Marie wailed. Dani ran off to behind the stairs and sat down on the ground, sobbing.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 19:40:13 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Feb 2, 2005 19:40:13 GMT -5
Dominic decided to leave his last class a little early, that way he'd be early to pick Dani and Jan up.
When he arrived at their school he noticed all the children outside. He said hello to his cousins and fooled around a bit before they went home for lunch. He then found little Jan.
"Jan over here!" he called. The boy came to him. "Where's Dani? It's been a good twenty minutes since you got let out." The boy said he hadn't seen her, which was unusual since all the children went out the same door.
"Jan, start walking back to the lodge ok?" Jan nodded and started down the road. Dom knew he'd be alright. Jan mostly walked back to the lodge alone since sometimes Dom had to stay after school sometimes.
As soon as he saw Jan turn the corner down the road, Dom ran into the school.
He went to the office. "I'm looking for Dani Delaney, have you seen her?" he was out of breath. "Is everything alright dear?" the secretary asked. "I hope so."
The lady gave him her room number and he went down the hallway to go find her.
"Second floor?! Where are the steps?" Dom was in a panic, he found himself down the samehall way many times, till he found a couple of doors that led to the stairs. He walked up them.
Dominic stopped in the middle of the staircase when he heard something. He stepped down. It sounded like crying.
"Dani?" he peeked his head around the back of the steps. He found his cousin holding her legs and sobbing into them quietly. "What happened?" He went and knealed down to her. He then put his hand on her shoulder. "You ok?"
He listened as the girl told him all about Marie and what she had said. "you don't have to listen to people like that.." She then told him how she punched her in the nose and all.
Dominic laughed and Danielle looked up at him confused. "Well that was more than I would've done. But, good job. Just next time ignore her or let your teacher know."
Danielle nodded but Dominic didn't think she would listen to him.
"Let's go home-" He lifted her up off the ground.
Along the walk home he tried to make her laugh by making faces at other kids and pretending he was a spy that was pretecting her, he hid in the bushes and things like that. Sometimes, he could hear faint laughs coming from her.
When they arrived home, Louisa was the first to ask what happened since, her son walked home alone and Danielle's eyes were red from tears.
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1967
Feb 2, 2005 20:18:23 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Feb 2, 2005 20:18:23 GMT -5
Louisa got worried when she arrived with Nina and Ellie and saw the other childrem weren’t home. They were late. Soon after Jan arrived alone, but didn’t help clear things out, because he didn’t know anything himself. He only told his Mother that Danielle had been missing and that Dom had asked him to go home alone.
“Danielle is missing?” Louisa fell into despair. The girl couldn’t have run away, not now things seemed to be adjusting themselves. She was going to look for Liesl, but she remembered her sister had gone shopping with Maria and Georg.
“Mom, is everything alright?” Jan asked scared.
“Jan, go upstairs and see what Nina and Ellie are doing. Stay with them,” Louisa demanded, and the boy obeyed.
When Louisa was about to call Anton, she heard a knock on the door, and rushed to see who was there. She felt relieved when Dominic entered with Danielle, for she had feared it could be a policeman bringing bad news or something like that. Even though, she was still concerned, because it was clear something wasn’t right.
“Dom, Dani!” Louisa exclaimed and hugged both children. Then she looked at Dominic with an inquiring expression and bent down to face Dani. “What happened, darling?” she asked, wipping off her tears. The gilr didn’t reply, she seemed scared. “Dani, don’t you want to go wash yourself? After you are done we can all have lunch,” she said, standing straight again.
She watched Dani go. Dominic was going to follow her, but his aunt called him. “Dom?”
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