Penelope Parker's Life P2
Chapter 2
May and her new husband had married a week before, now Penny was packing up her life into boxes, leaving behind her childhood home, the only place that her memories with Ben were clear as day, to live in some huge mansion that was only made to show off wealth. Penny would have been happy to stay and live alone in the cottage, she had learnt to take care of herself at a young age, but May had been so upset when Penny asked she never even thought about it with May around.
Penny was saying her goodbyes to the animals when she heard the sound of a carriage pulling up to her home.
"Penny darling it's time to leave!" May shouted from the back door. Penny sighed and, with an aching heart, ran back through the house for the last time.
The carriage ride to their new house was quiet, excluding May and her husbands whispers, but Penny was still subject to her step-sister's death glares and occasional kicks.
They stopped on the front steps and everyone clambered out. Her step-sisters rushed through the doors whispering and giggling while May and Norman made their way towards the garden.
"Oh Penny, would you be a dear and take everyone's bags inside?" Norman asked, his smile sharp and dangerous. But Penny just smiled and nodded moving towards the trunk.
After she put the bags away Penny decided to take a look around her new 'home', she was sure she would never feel at home here but the least she could do was know her way around. She was in the upstairs corridor when she heard a thump behind her. Penny turned around just in time to see her step-sisters right behind her, carrying a bag. She was just about to ask what they were doing when Anastasia threw the contents of the bag at her face. She coughed and tried to shield her face from more damage, she was covered head to toe in cinder. Her step-sisters cackled and started chanting 'Cindy' in her face before Penny ran to find a bathroom and a change of clothes.
The next few months carried on the same, Penny completing most of the chores and her step-sisters tormenting her when May wasn't looking. But Penny still smiled and laughed when she could, always helped people in the village and took care of all the animals. She was tired most of the time, physically and emotionally drained, but May was always there, always helping with her smile and laugh, reminding Penny what she was doing this for. But, like everyone else in her life, May left and never came back. Penny was never told what happened, just that it was quick and painless and she called for Penny until her last breath.
But this time Penny wasn't given time to grieve, her step-family pushed her into work. She cleaned the house, did the washing, cooked the meals, did the laundry, fed the animals and did the shopping. But she carried on without complaint as she believed that, in time after they had mourned, the others would start to help. But weeks turned into months and Penny was still the only one with chores, so she brought it up with Norman one night before dinner.
"HOW DARE YOU! WE GIVE YOU FOOD TO EAT, CLOTHES TO WEAR AND A HOUSE TO LIVE IN! AND YOU WANT MORE! I DIDNT EVEN HAVE TO TAKE YOU IN, I COULD HAVE LEFT YOU TO THE STREETS! THIS IS THE LEAST YOU CAN DO YOU UNGRATEFUL ANIMAL! YOU WILL HAVE NO DINNER TONIGHT! GET OUT MY SIGHT! GO! "
And Penny understood, she agreed, so that night she prayed for forgiveness, from May and all her family and she vowed that she would never be ungrateful again.
For May.