Alberta Chp. 4

Alberta yawned. The day had began. Her once smiling face, gave a weary expression. She looked at the picture of her dear, long past mother. The beautiful, Miss Albury.

Alberta. Nineteen. So much time had past, since the unexpected death of her mother. Now, she was orphaned. Orphaned and rich, though. But as time went by, they began to owe money. And a lot of it. Elizabeth, twenty four years old, was now having a full-time job. And in those days, when a lady had a full-time job, it showed that, one—they were poor and the husband couldn’t provide enough, two—they were drowning in taxes, or three—there was no husband.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Alberta got up and went to her window. She saw a lovely view of the busy, bustling, London City. People everywhere, scurried around, some trying to get someplace, maybe they were late for work, and then some just advertising and trying to get customers to buy their food and products.

There were signs, wagons, mailmen on bikes—Alberta felt jealous sometimes. For two reasons, actually. For one is that she never was taught how to read, and she yearned and yearned to do so, and two is that she didn’t exactly have many friends, not including siblings. Most times, she spent her days in the house. 

Now I know, you’re probably thinking, ‘Why didn’t she just teach herself to read?’ Well, here’s the answer: since they were late in payment, they sold everything they didn’t need. And that included books. She would’ve taught herself to read, but she couldn’t. Therefore saying, she was a poor, uneducated, girl, living in the most luxurious, (though empty) mansion in all of London. Sounds pretty odd, right? 

Most city folk, especially the poor, thought that the family who lived there, must be stuck up snobs, who care for nothing, but themselves. And I can see why they thought that. One—they never left the house. And two—they never gave alms to the poor or gave donations to funds. And that was because, they had no money.

But nevertheless, that is the way it was.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Knock! Knock! 

It was the window.

Alberta rushed up, still in her night-gown and dashed to the window. Sure enough, the sound was coming from a rock being tossed at the window. The rock nearly shattered the glass.

“Matthias, are you daft? These windows cost a fortune! You’d have to repair them!” 

Matthias took off his cap, and grinned, saying, “Easy as pie. Didn’t I repair the last set?” He smiled charmingly. He took a newspaper role from out of his mailman bag, and aimed it at the open window. Luckily, he didn’t miss.

Alberta smiled and rushed to her dressing room, then down the steps, across the dining room, through the long foyer, to finally reaching the doors. She swung them open and ran out to Matthias. 

“You know Matt, even if you repair them, I don’t think you should spend your life, breaking windows and them fixing them. Aren’t you a gentleman?”

Matthias laughed. “Maybe sometimes, but today—I’m plain old Matthias.”

“Good,” Alberta added. “ I think I like plain old Matthias better.”

The two walked along the cobblestones of London, through the little hidden door behind the shoe store, and out to the grassy meadows. 

Alberta had felt so trapped and enclosed as a child. She wanted fields, forests, flowers, mountains—she wanted adventure. She was six years old, and had lost her way in town, when she stumbled across the little hole in the stone wall. She called it, her hidden door. 

Ever since then, when she wanted to escape, she would crawl through the hole, and run to the meadows.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Do you like it here?” Alberta questioned to Matthias. 

“Yes, of course. It feels…” He picked up a flower. “Free.” He answered. 

Alberta continued on talking, about her reasons for wanting to come here often. “I get confused a lot…you know, with all the signs and stores, and labels. It gets hard, not being able to read. I want it so bad, you know. I’ve heard wondrous things about books. About feeling like you’re in a completely different place, just by reading the words that are written. And to be able—” She paused and sighed. “To be able to write a book. Perhaps, a book about my life. Or a book about adventure. Or maybe a book about love. It all sounds nice, don’t you think? And there, in the city, I barely understand a thing. But out here—I feel as if I can understand things. The animals, the nature everywhere, the earth, the wind, the sky—I love it all. But life in London—” She looked up at Matthias and stopped her walk. “I feel as if I’m in a cage. Or a permanent nightmare, I can’t escape from. There’s walls, and doors, and horses tied up with strings, being forced to work and carry heavy loads. When they should be here. Free. Free to run, and graze. Free to gallop with a whole herd. Free to feel a part of the family. Instead of living a life alone and locked up in some old stable, with no real nature anywhere. Do you know what I mean?”

Matthias chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. “I’m sorry Miss, but I can’t say that I do.” He took her hand and continued walking.

Suddenly, a voice was heard. It was the voice of Alberta’s sister, Elizabeth, screaming her name.

“I’m very sorry, but I must go!” She said, looking back once, and then running off.

“Do you want me to walk you back?” Matthias called to her.

“No, I don’t think you should!” Alberta’s voice was hardly heard, since she was far now.