Finding myself in trouble again

 “Oh, Come on! We are going to be late! I can’t wait to show you!” I said, having to raise my voice to be heard over the loud “Clip-Clop, Clip Clop” and rattling being emitting the cobblestone streets.

 “Will you just stop running Marguerite? It is not proper to run!”. Josephine always worried about what was proper and what was’t. She was also completely obsédé or obsessed about boys. We had already stopped about seven times for her, Marcelle, Charlotte, and Cecile to huddle together and giggle over Lord such-and-such’s son What’s-his-name.This was getting ridiculous.

“Who is going to see us? Anyway, it’s not like anyone will be able to find us on this busy street, even if they tried.”

“What about the Pope? What ever would he think if he spotted us running around without a chaperone, and being undignified!” Whined Charlotte. “That would tarnish my family's reputation completely if he saw me!”

“What would the Pope do if he saw you giggling like a bunch of school girls over that one boy. What was his name? Oliver? And how about Chandler? Forget about the Church for a minute Charlotte! Come on!”

“I don’t know if I want…” She did not finish her sentence, because I dragged her and  Josephine, with Marcelle ad Cecile trailing closely into the street, headed toward the park.

“Où pensez-vous que vous allez?!?!?! What are you doing? Where are you going” Exclaimed Noel, the iceman, as he pulled to a quick stop to avoid running into us. Josephine squealed as mud splattered all of us. The horse reared, bucking the cart. Everyone on the street turned to stare at us, covered from head to toe in mud, and horse waste. We smelled horrible, and were attracting more attention every second.

“How could you do this? Not only did you almost get us run over, but you made us look like this.” Wailed Josephine, indicating to the soaked dresses. She lifted her skirts from the puddle below. “And in front of Lord Chandler II, and his son! I am going home to change, before you get us in any more trouble. No more of this improperness!” Marcelle, Charlotte and Cecile agreed and walked away, wailing. As I watched their backs heading away, I felt so lonely, but why should I go with them? Life was not easy for a rebellious young woman, who wanted to be free from the constraints of modern French social laws for young girls.

I kept walking. I could hear the yells from the men on the carts, telling me that I was going to get run over one day, and the whispers of the women, saying how undignified I was. The horses neighed in objection, mad that their reins had been pulled so suddenly only to be stopped from running over a useless girl.

I kept walking. Every noise- the horses trotting, the cobblestones rattling, the people screaming- seemed muffled and distant.

I kept walking. I walked across the road, and through the streets of my beloved town, but everything seemed like an eternity. I felt the stares of the people,

I kept walking. I kept walking until there was soft grass under my feet instead of hard cobblestones, and my face was shaded by trees instead of large buildings. I fell to the floor in a heap, and now, I could hear the whispers loud and clear.

“My! Look at that dress! You cannot even tell what color it used to be!”

“What are her parents thinking letting her wander about without an escort, or someone to help her? We should report this. What a disgrace!”

“If I did not know better, I would say she was a peasant raised by horses!”

“Oh hush dear!” That must have been his wife. Now quieter “I happen to know the family, and they are very kind, and dignified.”

“But” said their child loudly. “She really smells like she was raised by horses!”

“Hush now! Do you want your father to get out the belt when we get home? You are supposed to stay silent. Did we not repeat that to you a million times? Children are to be seen not heard!” Said the mother as they walked away.

“But she does smell strongly of manure. What has this girl been doing all day?” As these words echoed all around the park, I stood up, quick as a bolt and ran off.

“Undignified.”

“Undignified!”

“Undignified, undignified, undignified.”

“How absolutely undignified.”

“How can her parents stand having such an undignified daughter I will never know.”

I kept running, but there was no escaping the whispers. I halted in front of the only common hawthorn tree in the park. I had seen it from my grand-mère’s chateau on the top of the hill. It had stood up above all others, the only flowering tree that looked as if it stood in a white wedding-dress gown. The rest of the trees were so uniform, strict, in their own dignified way. They all flowered together, with about the same amount of blossoms each. My tree stood out. Of course, everyone else would say it stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Improper!” I mocked under my voice. I sighed. I looked around to see if anyone was looking then I raised my arms above my head, reaching, so that finally, I could reach the lowest branch. I strained my arms, trying to get my body up, but it was no use. I could feel the weight of my heavy skirts and shoes weighing me down. I looked around. As I have mentioned, everyone was against difference, so no one was near my tree. I kicked off my shoes, and, making sure no one was looking, I removed my heavy underskirts. I made a bag from my skirts, and put the shoes inside. I threw them up into the tree, and jumped for the lowest branch. I missed, but the bark cut through my hand with searing pain. There was blood streaking down my palm and trickling down my arm. I winced, but jumped again, this time, better aimed. I breathed deeply,pulled myself up to the branch, then kicked my leg up and over the branch. I was so happily overjoyed that I was safely barefooted, instead of with the heavy shoes that had dragged me down earlier. I tried to avoid the smell that my body emitted, but it was weakening, because my undergarments were hanging on the sawed off brach below.

“Enough looking at the view!” I scolded myself firmly. I came here to climb to the top, not to stand around like a fool, enjoying the view. I sighed. I scooted myself across the branch, making my way to the trunk. They were like little steps made just for me; the one who calls it unique, while others call it weird. This has to be the best tree I had ever laid my hands and feet on! I took a deep breath, inhaling the light scent of the bark. I carefully stepped onto the next branch. The bark helped me get a good grip on the branches.

“Your Majesty” I whispered, as I was slowly nearing the top. “I have returned for thee. We must leave at once!”

“But first we must enjoy the beauty of being in such a beautiful ‘palais’. “I exclaimed, taking the part of the Queen, then welcoming my “Guard” self with a small curtsey into the ‘palais’. As the guard again, I went into a deep bow. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of looking  down, and it looked as if the world was spinning. My footing slipped, my grip failed me, and I fell, and landed on the ground. Then, and if the sun came for a visit and left, there was a sudden light, then darkness.