Wandering Girl Read Free Page B

the knees. I felt very weak at the thought of all that work. She just told me to pull myself together, and follow her as she would show me around the house and where to find the cleaning things.
    I felt frightened as I didn’t know how I’d keep my energy or strength of mind up; frightened, for fear I might not finish in the time she wanted me to, and I would end up getting a scolding.
    While I followed on beside her, she was pointing out particular jobs that needed doing. I couldn’t quite focus my mind, or pay attention to her. My mind was far away, thinking of home and how the other kids were getting on. I wouldn’t feel so bad if some of them were here with me, I’d feel real happy. But I knew that was not to be.
    When she left me standing there with the list in my hands, my mind came back to reality. I started on my first duty which was to gather all the silver and brassware, and polish and shine it until I could see my face in it. Then I had to go around and wax and polish all the woodwork - from windows to skirting boards. Even the bricks around the fire place had to be polished! Then I had to wash and sponge the carpet down. Then all the windows had to be cleaned. After all that was done, on to the next room, and go through the same routine.
    I had to put every effort into making this room spotless. It was the room where she entertained all the Very Important People. Mr Bigelow was Lord Mayor of the town and surrounding districts.
    People used to come from everywhere - not that it mattered to me, I was only there to clean and sweep up.
    Whenever they were entertaining or having a party at night, I was never allowed to be seen. I had to go straight to bed. My orders were, I was not allowed anywhere near the house. It was out of bounds to her dark servant, because she didn’t want the embarrassment of me amongst her supercilious friends. The sight of me might have put their toffee noses out of joint!
    I shall never forget one of those lavish parties she threw. All the High Society was there. I remember the preparation I had to put into it - forever cleaning, mopping, shining things up for days. Her daughter came from town to help her mother. I couldn’t see any sense in why she came, since I had to do everything.
    As well as my cleaning jobs, I had to do all the kitchen duties, like preparing the vegies, washing the pots, pans, cleaning the walls etc., etc... making sure the pantry was spotless, washing and waxing the lino of the kitchen floor - all her daughter did was stir the pots of food on the stove.
    I heard her say to her daughter that this party was something to do with elections. I didn’t understand what that meant, I just carried on with my work, getting things ready so everything would look nice for her party.
    Now on the night, she came to me all done up in a long lime green evening gown. Her daughter was there too, dressed in a silvery white gown. Like her mother she was dainty, with a turned up nose and plenty of rouge and lipstick on. A real pretty kid , as we say.
    Their necklaces and earrings were of beautiful pale blue colours, but with all that make-up and rouge on, they both looked like clowns. As I’d never seen women dressed up like that it was something new to me - I thought they looked quite comical!
    Anyway, she came over to give me strict instructions. When all her guests arrived, I was to take her two grandchildren into the back room - what she used to call the sleepout. I was to look after her grand-kids in that room. I wasn’t allowed to show myself to her guests, so she left me and the kids there while she went to greet them.
    I settled the kids down. When they fell asleep, I looked out the door - cars were everywhere. I took a look at the kids, they were sound asleep. So I thought I’d better go and help Mrs Bigelow, me feeling sorry for her and thinking she might need a hand with all those people. So kind-hearted me bolded into the V.I.P. room,