Little Orphan Emmi ~Part 8~

(Please click this link to view all of the Little Orphan Emmi parts to read them if you haven’t already! Thank you! Remember this is set in the early 1900’s, but past the Victorian era. Think Samantha Parkington.)

Later that night, crying as I packed my things to go back to the orphanage, I heard Maid Fredoka smoothing out my humungous bed. “I don’t believe my mom is really dead,” I said sadly.

“Shall I pack your things, Miss Emmi?” Fredoka asked me.

She stood up on my bed.

“Yeah, I guess,” I answered sadly.

Then I blurted, “DOESN’T ANYBODY KNOW WHERE MY MOM IS IF SHE’S NOT DEAD?!!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“If I may be of service, Miss Emmi, I’d be mighty obliged to tell you.” Fredoka offered. “OF COURSE!” I cried.“Your mother was my aunt,” she stated firmly, folding my clothes and putting them into my bag.

“Meaning I am your cousin.”

“Aunt Mary (Mary was your mother’s name) took care of me when my own mother, her sister, died of the same sickness your father died of. My father died of it too. Then when I turned fourteen, I got a job working here for Mrs. Bunch. It’s been two years since then, meaning I am sixteen.”

“You were too little to remember any of that, and then your mother became very poor as you obviously know and henceforth ended up at the orphanage.”

“I didn’t know about that until you and Naomi came here.”

“Your mother was living in the house you remember until it burned down, which you know. She escaped in the nick of time and managed to get a job as a businesswoman – the best in this whole state.”

“Everyone was soon after her for business reason’s and everyone flooded her with invitations to teas, chats, ‘business propositions’ and all. Finally she locked herself in a hotel around here and she works from there.”

“No one is allowed in. She doesn’t come out. Everyone has tried searching every hotel, but the one she is at will not tell them if she lives there or not. End of story.”

I was shocked, hearing all this. Fredoka was my cousin? Hurrah! I still had family left besides my mother! “But, why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” I demanded angrily. How rude of Fredoka, knowing I was her cousin, to never tell me this!

“It never came up,” she answered truthfully. “As a maid, it is rude to speak out of turn, so I couldn’t speak up and tell you without being scolded – or punished – by Mrs. Bunch.” She added.

I couldn’t imagine sweet Mrs. Bunch scolding anyone, but I guess it was different for maids.

“Thanks for telling me this, cousin,” I smiled.

WAIT! I thought. IF MY MOTHER IS STILL ALIVE AND THE BEST BUSINESSWOMAN IN THE STATE THEN I DON’T HAVE TO GO TO THE ORPHANAGE.

“Mrs. Annigan! Mrs. Annigan!” I cried, running down the stairs, through the hall, and into the parlor.

“Emmi where on earth is your bag? It’s time to leave for the orphanage,” she scolded me. “No, my mother is alive!” I interrupted rudely. “You mind your manners young lady, and I’ll have you know your mother died in a fire!” She snapped.

“No, if you would just listen to me,” I begged.

She threw me off of her. “Get away from me, you filthy rodent! All your family is dead leaving you in my hands, and because you are the rudest child on the face of the earth when we get to the orphanage, you had better pray to Jesus to save your soul because your behind is mine.” She told me cruelly. Now if only I could report her for child abuse if I could run away from the orphanage. She’d probably whip me at least fifty times.

Then Mrs. Bunch came in and shook Mrs. Annigan’s hand. “It was lovely meeting you, Mrs. Annigan,” she smiled politely. “If we can visit our Emmi, let us know.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Mrs. Annigan said hastily. “Well we really must be going.”

“Ta-ta now Mrs. Bunch, thank you for taking such good care of Emmi,” she said with faked politeness. “Now, uh, where is my hat?”

“Yooohooooo! Lookin’ for this?” I asked, smiling mischievously. “You give that back!” Mrs. Annigan shrieked.

“You want it? COME GET IT.”

With that, I ran out the door faster than a cheetah with its tail on fire and into the street in the dead of night.

TO BE CONTINUED.