Brooks' Euphoria

14 years ago

She ran up the stairs giggling delightfully, the cone ice cream in her hands was melting, but she wasn't paying attention.

"Daddy" she called the moment she sighted him standing by the rails, talking to people she didn't know.

He turned away towards the cherry voice of his little angel, smiling broadly.

" Bumpkin" he let out a delightful whoop! Sweeping her off her feet, she let out a laugh in her father's arms.

"Your ice cream is melting away," he said, grabbing it from her hands.

" Daddy it's yours, it won't stay still through the drive with Mommy, so I ran all the way here, so it won't vanish into nothing" she blurted out, looking at the ice cream, she gave a sad pout.

" Oh don't pout, darling, I do love it all defrosted" he said, licking the ice cream in a hurry.

She giggled and pinched his cheek.

" that's a lie, dad, you just want me to feel better"

" Huh!" He faked surprise. Causing them to laugh.

" Hi, baby girl," one of the men who were conversing with her father greeted, with a smile, she turned and smiled shyly, noticing that the men were watching her keenly while she was engrossed with her father.

" Hi, Mr -" she said, waving at the man. " Hi, everyone," she said to the other people in the room.

They all acknowledged her with a smile.

" Daddy, who are these men?" She whispered.

He put her down and brought her to sit at the center facing the men, he ruffled her hair and knelt before her, taking her hands , he said.

" These men, are the doctors who have been working on the medication, the finally have the right cure"

Her face beamed with joy

" He's going to finally get a cure?" She asked, joyfully. He nodded in response.

" Thank you, daddy" she hugged him " thank you, doctors"

" You are welcome, baby girl," one of the doctors said, sharing her joy.

"Dad, are we giving him right away? I haven't seen him for a whole week now. His nanny won't pick up the phone when I ask mom to call, I hope he is alright." she asked, curiously searching her father's face. The smile had disappeared from his face replacing sad and worried lines.

"Dad, is he alright?" She asked, almost scared.

" Yes, baby, he is," he said, forcing a smile. She heaved a sigh of relief.

" You will take the medication to him, but not immediately, but to do that, I'll have to hurt you, just a little" he explained with pain in his eye.

" Dad, don't be sad, everything will be fine, you won't hurt me much right?"

He nodded his head in affirmation, fearing to say a word lest he break down in tears.

He carried her into a room, and made her lay on a bed, pecking her on the forehead. He stepped aside, as one of the doctors approached.

" Don't worry much, Mr. Fell, it's just a cut, she'll be fine" a doctor by his side reassured him. He stared at the man, pain in his eye.

" It's my wife," he said...

The present

"Waneta!" Remi whined standing

behind the old lady, who was engrossed in decorating the panned sized cake on the little cupid cabinet.

"Do you think my valedictory speech is just good enough?" She asked for the umpteenth time, staring curiously at the side of the old lady's face.

"Remi, it's not like you are giving that speech in front of your entire school, it's just I, what are you being so worked up about?" the old lady said, polishing off her cake and looking softly at the lovely looking girl beside her.

"I know," she began, " what if I was opportune to attend the convocation like every other student? I want to know how perfect I would sound giving the speech" she said almost helplessly.

At that moment, she had the old lady's full attention, she reached up and cupped her face, causing her to bend slightly, Remi was considerably tall for a young girl.

"It's been amazing years, right from the first day you were brought in through that gate, so little, frightened and fragile, yet you managed to break a smile so pretty and pure while greeting people, I knew you were beyond special, I suddenly wanted to hold you up and shield you from the evil and torture you were about to receive, I haven't been able to do much..."the old lady's voice broke as she scans Remi's body although it's radiant and glow remain, she was still a little frail and had a visibly bruised wrist and a crack on her pulp, little pink lips.

Remi put her hands on the old lady's palms on her cheek and smiled sweetly at her.

"You have been strong all these years, sneaking off to attend school, then college. I wonder how you study through the piled up work and occasionally hitting you receive when I'm not around, but here you are, a well educated medical technician, graduated with outstanding grades. Why will I care about a goddamn speech" she added the last part with so much spite that got Remi chuckling.

"You know, my school chancellor granted me this honor to deliver the speech on this day, but I told him I have a sick grandmother to attend to at the countryside, because I knew I couldn't risk being to such a public event, the risk of being discovered by my owners that I took such pleasure to attend a school wasn't worth it... Remi said with a sad chuckle, she deep her finger in the pink icy bowl and licked it.

"I just want to make sure, the speech I put down, is good, just in case the situation was reversed" she added with a shrug

" Oh dear, you know you are great at all you put your mind to do" the old lady said waving her off

" Now would you do me the favor of putting that jug of mango juice and the cups on the table, let's have our little party" she added

Remi's eye shone at the mention of mango juice, she looked above her and took out two glasses, then picked the jug off the cabinet to a little table placed at the end of the kitchen, it was just enough for two to share on.

A knock on the door caused them to turn to the door and stare at each other curiously.

"Stay here" the old lady mentioned before going towards the door.

Remi tried to focus on the cake before her, but she dreaded the reason behind the sudden intrusion. Today was Saturday and the head of the house was out on vacation, it's was a perfect day to stay at her waneta's quarter, and celebrate in their little way, she practically shared it with her since she wasn't offered any accomodation in the maids quarters, not that she cared, she prefer being with the old lady, she made her feel loved amidst all the hates she received.

She looked up to see the old lady's worried face laced with a bit of happiness, she frowned.

"Mrs Alice is back not only her, Sage is in the mansion" she said, but Remi kept staring at her eagerly, knowing that was the bad part, she wanted her to spill the good part.

"If everything goes well today, you'll be free," she said, finally smiling broadly, while giving her a warm hug.

Remi couldn't help but giggle at her giddiness, she didn't fully understand what the old lady meant, but knew the reason she was here, and had hopes that one day she'd be free, maybe it's today.

"Now off you go" she ordered, practically pushing her towards the door, Remi went off, while turning to briefly glance at her before she hurried off.

The old lady heaved a sigh and went to the only room in the little apartment she shared with Remi and picked up her apron, she ran her finger over the name tag on the apron ELIZABETH FOX. She has been serving the Brooks for decades now, even after her husband's death, she still chose to stay, she was the oldest maid in the mansion, the head of all maids, she was in charge of recruiting new maids and overseeing the entire affair of the Brooks well being.

She heaved a sigh and put on her apron, sliding her feet inside a Crocs, she headed out, her steps light and fast, smiling. Hopefully, Remi could finally get her parents' debt settled and she'll be walking out free.