Lydia, Father, and Mary

     I never knew how rude people could be over something so small. I love all my siblings, but I could see how they would think I love Lucia more than them. I mean, maybe I do, she certainly is nicer to me than everyone else is. Don’t get me wrong, though, I love all of my siblings, just maybe Lucia a tad bit more.

                                                                                                   ~~~

     My children always have loved each other to the ends of the earth and have done the best to show it to each other. Ever since their mother died, there has been something off between Lydia and her older siblings. She and Lucia, however, they are the best of friends, inseparable. I feel that that might upset the older ones so maybe I should step in, but I don’t want to say the wrong thing and upset them more. I don’t know how to deal with teenagers very well, I enjoy small children, that’s why I agreed to have kids in the first place. But that is the pain of having children, they grow up.

     The children’s mother was better at handling kids than I ever will be. I wish she was still here and I know I’m not the only one. The children always look forlorn when Lucia does something that resembles her mother. She doesn’t know that she does it since she never met her mother. I know it, though, and so do all the other children.

     They never let it show that I am a bad father, but I know I am. They seemed to lose their energy when their mother died and have never gotten it back. I try to live up to her memory, but I just do not have the same vibe as a mother does. The children need a mother and I don’t know how to provide one for them. I am not going to remarry and make the kids have a step-mother, for I know how the fairy tales portray step-mothers. And Lucia would lose her mind if that happened, for she is so invested fairy tales and relies so heavily on them for her growing mind and for her tea party guests. She loves the princesses in the tales and longs to meet one or even be one. Maybe I could make the former happen.

                                                                                                   ~~~

     Mister Flynn has seemed off these past few days and I don’t know why.

     When his wife died, he was so shaken, but he had to appear calm for his children so they didn’t freak out too much. Once he was alone in his room though, he let it all loose. He made me leave every time I was there cleaning, and when I came back, the room was always a mess. Shattered glass, broken chairs, things I didn’t even hear happen. It was like there was a bubble around the room, shielding the outside from hearing what was happening on the inside. Maybe he has magic, too, like me.

     “Mary!” I hear someone call for me, snapping me out of my reminiscing and back to the real world where I was supposed to be helping Cook with dinner. “Mary come here!” I walk towards the voice so I do not seem too rushed. It is all about your appearance in this job. How you walk, talk, look, stand, everything. As long as you look and act the part, you’ll be fine.

     “What do you need?” I ask when I come around the corner of the hallway. The whole family stands there and they all look very scared.

     “Mary. I need you to take Lucia up to her room and do not come out until I come get you.” Mister Flynn tells me as I come to a stop in front of the crowd.

     “Alright. I can do that. Is there anything I should be concerned about?” I ask, ready to defend this family for all they have given me.

     “Nothing that should concern you or Lucia.”

     “Okay. Lucia let’s go upstairs, then.” I gesture for her to follow me up to her room.

     “But I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you!” Lucia protests, not letting go of Lydia’s hand. Lydia bends down to tell Lucia to come with me.

     “Oh, Lucia, you have to. It’s for your safety. Believe me, if I could go with you, I would. But I have to stay with everyone else.” Lydia explains. Lucia finally lets go and follows me up to her room. I lock the door and windows and hope that nothing happens to the family. I still don’t know what is happening or why I had to take Lucia up here, but here I am now, ready to go down swinging if I need to.