Orphanage on Main Street

"Oh, excuse me. Din forbid anybody in this house have an attitude, cause as you can tell, were much peppier than little Miss Doom and Gloom over here." she nodded to Alice.

"Rules." she said, unfolding her napkin in her lap,"Dinners going to be at about this time every day. Lunch at noon. Breakfast when you wake up, which I should hope would be before nine o'clock."

"You'll make sure your rooms are tidy as well, and if you dirty someplace else in the house, make sure you clean it up. I'm not your maid. Don't expect me to pick up after you all the time."

"Thats basically it. If I think of anything else that needs attention, I'll let you know. Other than that, make yourselves at home." she gave a small smile.

Alice nodded, "Understood."

Allison gave no indication of even hearing Gabriella speak.
"So," she said, "What time are we to go to bed?"

"What time were you to be in bed in the orphanage?" she asked, taking a sip of her soup.

"Eight." Alice informed her.

Gabriella nodded.
"Around eight sounds good to me."

"Anything else you'd like to know?"

Allison looked at the clock.

7:10.

"Are we allowed baths?"

"Of course. The bathroom is down that small hallway." she point to a corrdor beside the staircase and folded her napkin, finishing her stew.

Allison nodded, grabbed the oversized, steaming clothes-washing pot, and waved Alice over.

Together, they hauled the pot down the corridor.

"You go first, Allison." Alice told her.

Seven minutes later, Allison emerged, wrapped in a towel, and Alice left to take her bath.

Allison was alone in the room, dressing, and wringing out her hair.

7:30...

Gabriella took their bowls and washed them out, setting them back in the small cupboard.

She walked upstairs and entered her room, turning down the bed for later.

At 7:45, Alice was dressed and seated at the window sill.


"Fifteen more minutes until bed." Alice reminded her cousin.


"I can tell time."

"...Right...sorry..." Alice apologized. "I was just--"

"Don't"

Alice sighed, turning back to the window. It was dark out...as if someone had spread a black velvet cloak over the world.

Gabriella lknocked and peeked her head in.
"I'll take your towels if you're finished."

Alice dutifully brought them to her.

"We'll just be going to bed." Alice told Gabriella.

Allison merely nodded, turning the sheets down and climbing in.

Gabriella nodded.
"Goodnight, sleep well." she said, taking the towels and headed downstairs.

Alice shivered, walking to the fireplace, her feet pattering on the floor.

"Don't." Allison said, her voice commanding.

"But, Allison! We've got wet heads! We'll catch out death of cold."

"I don't care. If you light that, I'll sleep outside."

Alice sighed, laid the matches upon the mantle, and climbed into bed. "Goodnight, Allison."

She got no reply.

Gabby put the towels in a boiling pot of water, let them set for about ten minutes, then hung them to dry.

She headed upstairs and dressed into her nightgown, before slipping into her bed.

The cousins drifted off quickly...it had been an eventful day...

But sometime around three in the morning, Alice was awakened by a sound of soft crying.

Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she sat up.
"...Allison?" she said groggily. "Did you have the draam again?"

A whimper was her reply.

"...Shh, shh...it's okay, Allison," she said, wrapping her arms around her cousin, rocking her back and forth, "It was only a dream."

Alice stroked the girl's hair until the sobs ceased, then laid back down. "Goodnight, Allison."

And this time, she got a response.

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Morning
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Gabriella was the first to wake.

She quickly changed clothes and headed downstairs to fix their breakfast.

[See aftermath post]