Silent Observations E-Book

Brandy Noelle Souza

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

The following is a collective work of short fiction & poetry written in ebook form. The short stories & some of the poetry I publish within these pages can be found within the first volume, however, for those of you who were daring enough to purchase this edition, I have added new content that hopefully you will enjoy reading. Happy reading everyone!

Leseprobe

Brandy Noelle Souza

Silent Observations

Volume II

To all of my fans, old & new...you know who you are & I am forever grateful to have each & every one of you. My ego thanks you.BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Author's Note

Thank you, dear reader, for purchasing this e-book. I am forever grateful to you for giving me the chance to touch your life & fuel your imagination with my stories and poetry. Since I was very young I have dreamed of a day that my works of fiction would be shared with the world & you are making my dreams come true. I hope you enjoy its contents & spread the word so that it can touch other lives as well. I do not have any children to carry on my legacy which is a choice I have made for myself...so this is it. My words poured onto these pages are my legacy & I am sharing them with you. May they live on forever in the hearts and minds of the masses.

Gaila's Gala

Gaila looked down from her balcony and realized as she saw the portly animal run down the crowded, city streets that her celebration dinner was ruined.  She had spent many hours preparing a menu for her feast.  Everything was supposed to be perfect.  It had to be; her reputation as the best caterer in the city depended on it.  Many important guests were expected to arrive later that evening, and Gaila was at a loss as to how to explain to them the reason they were not having stuffed ham was because the suicidal porker had jumped off the balcony, not to die, but to flee for its life.  She shrugged her shoulders and went back into the kitchen to survey the damage done.

            The small, yet spacious, room smelled of lilacs and cinnamon, and the entire structure seemed more like a kitchen one would have at home rather than in the workplace.  In fact, that’s exactly how Gaila had wanted it. She sat on one of the hard, wooden chairs and went over the exquisitely printed out menu in her hands.  Everything revolved around the main course, everything!  She had planned out the flavors, textures, and colors precisely so they would compliment one another and leave the guest’s eyes wide and mouths watering.  The main entrée was a stuffed, glazed ham with cilantro, thick, buttered mashed potatoes with chives, and creamy, rich gravy made from the ham drippings.  Her dessert came from a recipe handed down through the generations in her family, and she had taken extra pains to make sure everything about it was perfect, having prepared it ahead of time.  The fresh, strawberry-rhubarb pie sat atop the counter, and its tart smell wafted through the kitchen.  She’d even tossed in her own recipe for what she called, “Moody Monday Margaritas.”  She couldn’t change the menu because she didn’t have time to print out more copies before the guests arrived.

            Gaila wrung her hands together, anxious about the outcome of the night.  Tonight wasn’t just any night; tonight was her mother-in-law’s 50th wedding anniversary.  She also didn’t have just any mother-in-law.  Her mother-in-law was the mayor’s wife, and this party, to Gaila, was a chance to prove that she had finally become a success.  Although she had been in business for a year on her own, and she was well known amongst the locals as “The best caterer in those parts,” Gaila had not proven to herself that she was truly a success.  This party would have the crème de la crème in attendance: the mayor’s supporting political party, the police chief and his entire department, their husbands and wives, and, most important to Gaila, the mayor’s wife, her mother-in-law, who, in her eyes, would be the biggest critic of them all.

            The counter lay bare before her, and Gaila sighed deeply.  In her mind the party had already begun, and she was making her way from guest to guest explaining to each of them what had happened.  The police chief stood in the far corner, sipping his margarita and grinning as Gaila cordially explained to him the situation. “I’m sorry, Phillip. I simply could not have predicted that aliens would come into my kitchen during daylight hours and request the use of my swine for their experimental purposes.”  She walked casually over to another officer who was sitting with her husband and picking at her potatoes.  “Mrs. Daily, it’s so nice to have you here.  Yes, I realize it is an inconvenience, but becoming a vegetarian has absolutely changed my life.  I never realized how much fat one ounce of ham contains.”  Next she faced the mayor, “No, sir.  I swear to my dying day I am telling you the truth.  The dog ate my porker.  Yes, I know it sounds like a high school student’s excuse.  Again, I truly apologize.”  She turned to watch her mother-in-law walking up to her with a huge frown on her face, then her imagination bubble burst and she was left staring at an empty kitchen counter again.

            Gaila went back out to her balcony and looked for the pig among the crowd of people who were already beginning to gather in front of her doors.  The party was to begin in only an hour, dinner in three, and the toast and gifts to follow.  She knew she had wasted too much time mourning the loss of her main course, and Gaila turned one last time towards the empty kitchen with the intention of owning up to her mistake.  She began to stir the mashed potatoes and pulled out her mother’s meatloaf recipe from the cupboard.  It may not be glazed ham, but it would definitely be delicious.  She smiled as she thought of what she would tell the guests at the party as they stared at her in confusion about the change in menu.  Truth may be stranger than fiction, she knew, but it would make for charming dinner conversation.

~Fin~

Gohna - 1690-1692

Elizabeth had lived in Gohna all her life, tending to her uncle's horses and sheep.  Her mother died when she was only five, and her father was often too busy with his ministry to bother with her. 

 “Being a priest takes a lot of time, sweet Eliza.  The people need me to help them save their weary souls.  You should thank God every day that there is food on our table and a warm bed to sleep in, rather than worry the small things.”  He once said, explaining why he was often gone.

  Her father, she knew, was distressed because she had no lady to model from, and even at 15, Elizabeth was quite the tomboy.  She kept her hair as short as all the boys in the village, and the only dress she owned was just for church.  Her small hands were calloused, not only from daily farm chores, but also from climbing trees, and wrestling with the other boys.

    Most of the girls were jealous of her, because despite of the short hair and rough hands, Elizabeth was becoming what her father feared most; a beautiful woman.  Elizabeth herself also noticed the changes, and was displeased.  Her limbs began growing longer at an alarming rate, especially her legs, making it quite awkward to climb trees as quickly.  Her once flat chest was now beginning to blossom, leaving most boys shying away from her.  Most of them kept to themselves now, discussing more popular topics such as girls and their future apprenticeships outside of the village.

    Elizabeth also noticed the other girls in the village more than before, and was curious as to why boys would be interested in such vain creatures.  The girls all hated her, jealous of her friendship with the most well-bred boy in the village.  Joshua and Elizabeth had grown up together, and despite their different upbringings, she could be herself around him.  Even when she became self-conscious about her changes, Joshua stood by her; when the other boys stopped hanging out with her, Joshua stayed and talked her through those lonely nights.  She cherished what little time she had left with him.  Soon he would be seventeen, and would leave to make it on his own.  The thought of losing her one true companion brought pain inside her, causing her to turn away from her untouched breakfast.  Her father saw this rejection, and a puzzled look crossed his face.

       “My child, why do you not eat this beautiful morning?” His words left her no comfort.  To Elizabeth, every day was becoming more dark then the next.

       “Father, am I ugly?” Father Mathews feared this day would come.  He was often happy Elizabeth had never been vain, much like her mother, and had never worried about what she looked like.  He may have not liked her choice to be so boyish in lifestyle, but the fact that she did not have the fake, painted on beauty that he had seen most women strive for, made him proud.  He knew that she was anything but ugly, in fact, she was the loveliest girl in the village. To hear her say she was ugly caused him to chuckle: her brow creased. “Why do you mock me, father?” confusion flashed in her eyes.

           “I do not mock you child,” he said with a smile. “I only laugh because you are more humble then even I, for you are very beautiful.” Her frown deepened, and she began to think.

          The night before, Elizabeth had been sitting near a tree she was about to climb when Mary Smith and Charity Farmer walked by her on the road.  Their cotton dresses flowed only slightly above the dirty ground.  To match their long dresses, both had long, golden locks, always kept neat and clean.  It was as if all their spare time was spent primping.  Elizabeth stared in awe of that hair, which she had never thought of growing before.  “Did my mother have hair like that?” She began to wonder.  When she arrived home, she looked at herself in the mirror and was very displeased with what she saw.  Her hair, unlike the others, was short and unkempt, and very, very boyish.  Her father's warm hug jolted Elizabeth out of the unwanted memory.

            “Thank you, father, but I am not beautiful.” Changing the subject, she held out her hand. “Have I earned my keep this week? It is Saturday.” Again a smile shone on his face as he searched his pocket for a silver dollar.

            “Yes, my child, as always.  Run along now, and remember to say your commandments tonight when you come home.” He patted her shoulder as she left the room, a plan forming in her mind.

            The village store was only ten minutes’ walk from her house, and she ran the entire way there. Elizabeth had been planning for this the last two months, and finally she had earned enough.  So far she had saved up five dollars, and she knew just what she wanted to buy.  She was running so fast she didn't see Joshua in front of her until it was too late, and bumped into him so hard he had to keep her from falling.

            “Whoa, slow down there Lizzy. Why are you in such a hurry?” She blushed slightly as he raised her from the ground.  Strangely, though she'd never minded before, she didn't want him to see her like this.  Now she could barely find the words to speak.

            “I...well...I was just going to the store. I...wanted to get something.” She noticed the smile on his face, and thought of how she'd never really seen how handsome he was before.  His blond hair was naturally wavy, and his eyes, oh, his gorgeous eyes, were so blue.  She felt the muscles beneath the shirt she had been clinging to, and suddenly stepped back, silently saying her commandments.

            Elizabeth knew better then to be thinking lustful thoughts, after all, she was the village priest's daughter.  She decided to leave before she did anything her father would consider sinful...like kissing Joshua's full, beautiful lips.  Her face felt hot as she quickly dismissed herself from his presence.

            “I'm sorry, Joshua. I have to go now. We can um...talk later.” He seemed confused as Elizabeth began to walk quickly towards the store.

            “Lizzy...C'mon Lizzy!” She didn't turn around, but if she had she would have seen the curious grin he shot her way, with a glimpse of a little more than friendship in his eyes.

            Joshua began to wonder how long it would take him to win the heart of his best friend.  He knew almost every girl in the village wanted him to be their beau, but he only had eyes for Elizabeth.  She, it seemed, was only interested in his friendship.  He wanted to tell her, but recently, every time he tried she found some excuse to leave and his hopes slowly fizzled.  When he looked at her big green eyes, short blond hair, and her perfect, dainty mouth, he felt lost and yet completely in love.  She was anything BUT a boy, and he wanted her to know that.

            Even when he tried to be alone with her, another girl would rush up and ask him to carry her books for school.  Being the gentleman that he was, Joshua couldn't say no, and reluctantly left Elizabeth alone.  He wanted HER to be the one asking, but he knew she had too much pride to ask anyone for help.  That's what he liked about her.

            Elizabeth was not selfish, or vain, and she never asked for anything.  One day, he dreamed, he was going to win her over and settle down.  Though for now, that's all it was; a dream.  Slowly he turned and walked back home, with a dream in his eyes, and love in his heart.

            As Elizabeth neared the window of the store, they caught her eye again.  There sat a lovely pair of pearl earrings and a pearl pendant on a silver chain.  She had seen other girls with adornments like these, and though she didn't particularly like the thought of holes in her ears, she wondered if these would make her pretty.  As she walked in the door, Mary and Charity began to whisper amongst themselves.

            “Do you see her? She's so dirty! I'm surprised SHE is the daughter of a priest, with the way she carries herself and all.” Charity nodded in agreement and added her own tidbit of gossip.

            “I heard she was a witch, and that the only reason Joshua hangs around her is because she cast a spell on him.” Both girls fell silent as the clerk brought Elizabeth into the back room; the piercing room.  Eyes open wide, the quietly crept over to the door and peeked in, watching closely as Elizabeth sat in the chair to get her ears pierced.  Her loud scream startled them, and both fell through the door.  Scrambling to their feet, Mary and Charity rushed out of the store, embarrassed.

            Elizabeth was sure they would spread rumors and the whole town would soon know of her new adornments.  Tears ran down her cheeks and she bit her lip as he pierced the second ear.  A few moments later, two tiny pearls shown on her ears, and the third fell across her neck, hanging slightly above her bosom.  She quickly handed the old clerk the five dollars and left the store.  As soon as she arrived home, Elizabeth went to the mirror.  She was still ugly, just not as repulsive as before.  Impatiently, she went to the washing room, took off her necklace, and washed herself, careful not to get her tiny pearls too wet as she scrubbed her hair and face. 

            Her father was out attending to Old Widow Morris, who was on her death bed.  He would go there quite often, so Elizabeth knew he would be gone for a while.  She carefully stepped out of the now cold water, and dried herself with a towel.  Fully dressed in her nightgown, she went to her room and fell into bed, drifting into a dreamless slumber, completely forgetting the pearl necklace she had left in the washroom.

            Late that night, Father Mathews arrived home.  He was careful not to disturb his sleeping angel as he passed through the loudly creaking house.  'Nothing seems to disturb that child's sleep,' he thought.  As he entered the wash room, he noticed a small pearl hanging on a silver chain from the nail peeking out of the boards in the wall.  Gently, Father Mathew's clasped it in his hand and thought of Faith.  He had loved her more than life itself, and when she passed on, leaving him, a lonely man, with Elizabeth to care for, he had gone against God, and cursed her.  He hated her for leaving him with a child he did not know how to raise.  His anger, though, did not last long. Soon after he repented his ways, and took back all his curses that had died with his anger.  The pain still lived though, burning inside him like embers on a fire he could not put out.  His memory of her was as vivid as if it were yesterday that she died, and not ten years ago.  The pearl necklace only enticed it more.

          Faith was a natural beauty, much like Elizabeth was becoming.  Her long, straight blond hair flowed to her middle back, and her vivid green eyes could see into his soul.  She was the only one, other than Elizabeth, who he loved as much as he loved God.  She never painted her face, though beauty radiated through it like the sun on her hair, and she was anything but plain.  The only jewelry she would wear, if any, were two pearl earrings and a single pearl on a silver chain.  He had never told Elizabeth about this secret love for pearls, and he was sure this necklace was hers. Elizabeth was becoming more like her mother every day, and this frightened him, though he would never breathe a word of it to her.

            The pearl, though small, felt heavy, as if he carried it with all of his memories of faith.  He placed it into his pocket, deciding to wait until morning to speak with his daughter.  The bed was comfortable, and the lonely priest welcomed the sleep that rushed over him like a waterfall, drowning him in a dream.

            Her long hair was covered, as well as her lovely face, with a silk veil.  Her white dress was a spectacular site, it didn't matter that it was plain; on her, nothing looked plain.  As she walked down the aisle on her father's arm, sweat beaded on his forehead.  He had never been this scared before, or this happy.  Soon their hands entwined, and everything blacked out.  He heard a woman's scream, and a newborn's cry.  Rushing into the room, he first met his daughter.  She would be named Elizabeth, after her grandmother.

            Suddenly, a sound broke through the silence of the night, and Father Mathew's awoke in a cold sweat.  'Only a horse,' he thought, relieved.  Still, he lay awake the remainder of the night, unable and unwilling to face his past again.

            Dawn broke with rays of sunshine over the hills, and the rooster's crow was heard across the village.  Yawning and stretching her arms, Elizabeth sat up and reached happily to her ears: the pearls felt smooth under her fingers.  Reaching for the necklace her eyes shot open when she realized it was missing.  Quickly, she put on her Sunday dress and shoes, and ran into the wash room to search for her lost treasure.  When she couldn't find it, she quietly slipped back into her room to fuss with her hair.

            Today she wanted to look nice, so she combed her hair differently, giving herself tiny bangs to look more feminine then boyish.  When her ears stuck out beside her hair she threw the brush down with disgust.

            “It's hopeless,” she whispered through her tears, and threw herself on the bed once more. “I'll never look like them.” Quietly but firmly her father knocked on the door. “Come in” Elizabeth tried to hide her tears, she didn't like him to see her cry.  His hands were clasped behind his back, holding a secret surprise.  Sitting down on the bed beside her, he placed the necklace in her hands, dried the remainder of her tears from her face, and followed up to her ears which now contained pearls like the one on the necklace.  A look of fear crossed through her eyes as she tried to explain.