Tammy's POV

I stared at him still twiddling my fingers. I could hear my heart thrust like a drum in my ears while he stared at me. I was waiting for it,my punishment that is. Obviously,he wouldn't let it go,would he?

"Where are you from,Tammy?" He suddenly asked, that's not what I was expecting at all. May be he was just trying to make me relax then punish me...

"Clifford." I answered trying to study his stern face but in all ways, he was unreadable leaving me so clueless about him.

"Tammy!!" I heard Mrs Manchester call from down stairs. I raised my eyes at him slowly giving him a 'can I leave now' expression. He sighed then nodded his head twice in approval.

"You can go,for now." He told me as he walked back to his desk.

I turned slowly opening the thick door,walked out without second thought. 'For now' what did he mean I could go for now? Oh no! He still had a punishment for me in mind. What was I to do?

I scampered down the stairs to the kitchen where I was being called from.

"Yes,ma'am."

"Help me carry this to Estacita's room,please." Mrs Manchester handed me a tray that was covered with a white cloth over the top.

"Yes ma'am." I turned to leave the kitchen,shuffling through the living room then up the stairs to the second floor. Balancing the tray on my right palm,I contorted the door knob and slowly pushed the door open and entered.

"James?" I looked at him as he quickly snapped his head at me in surprise standing up. What was he doing here,anyway?

"Oh,I..uh..just came to bring clean sheets," he walked passed me and went out.

Weird...there were no sheets anywhere....

I sighed shrugging my shoulders in an 'oh well' gesture before placing the tray on the side table.

"James....don't..don't leave." I heard Estacita mumble as she writhed in somewhat pain...

"He already left ma'am," I said to her as she slowly opened her eyes meeting mine "May I call him back?" I asked

"Ugh! Go away, silly girl." She snarled turning to her side,a pain filled groan left her throat while she turned exposing a long cut on her lower back but she hurriedly threw the sheet over it glaring at me.

"Am sorry. I'll leave now." I shuffled cross the room to the door but it pushed open before I touched it. Mr Stark stared back at me,his face void of any emotions.

Damn,this man's face would soon go numb if he kept that expression on...

I stepped out of the way quickly as he strode into the room,his shoulder slightly brushing against mine. I looked back at him before I walked out of the room.

"Leaving so quickly?" Mrs Manchester's voice caught me by surprise.

"Uh...Ms Estacita wanted me to leave so I...

"Oh jelly beans! She's always had that attitude, " she waved her hands in front of her "c'mon, I can't treat her by my self." She took my hand in hers  pulling me back towards Estacita's room

"But Mr Stark is there....

She opened the door and pulled me in with her. Mr Stark raised his eyes at me his  jaw tightening as he looked back at Estacita.

" How are you feeling, dear?"Mrs Manchester walked up to her bed

"Am not a baby,granny. Its not like I have a cold or a flu." Estacita snapped

"Someone's got her claws out and talking big now,"

"Granny!" Estacita whisper yelled shooting me a glance which Mrs Manchester followed slowly then her grandson too.
Why were they all staring at me? Well Mrs Manchester was staring; the rest were just...glaring at me. Like I had don't something wrong...

"Don't be too silly,Estacita. Tammy doesn't know anything."

Doesn't know what? What don't I know,? What are they hiding?...

"Granny,you'll make her...

" Its okay,Estacita. I have to leave now." Mr Stark said suddenly as he rose on his feet giving me a glance before he started to move. I stepped away giving him way. He opened the door and almost collided with James...

"Am so sorry, sir." James quickly apologized. He looked surprised to see Mr Stark here. Had he brought more sheets,perhaps? But he held nothing at all

"What are you doing here anyway?" Mr Stark snapped

"I..I.." He stammered,his gazing meeting mine then across the room to Estacita..

"I sent him to get me berries." Estacita intervened "Did you get them,James?" She asked

"When did you start eating berries?" Mr Stark suddenly asked taking my attention

"When did you start caring?" Estacita snapped instead

I looked back at him for an answer but...it didn't come. He just flickered his eyes at her with fury then pushed passed James hitting his shoulder.

This man had an attitude... I wonder how they tolerated him.

"Where the berries that Estacita so suddenly got the appetite for, James?" Mrs Manchester asked staring at him. He swallowed hard then nodded his head

"I..I couldn't fine them." His gaze fell

"But berries are in the kitchen....

" Shut the fuck up, silly girl!" Estacita snapped suddenly making me jump slightly

"Am sorry," I apologized "I'll leave now," I turned on my heel

"Tammy!!"

"Let her go,granny. I don't need her help anyway." I heard Estacita say as I left her room. So much for being kid to people who didn't deserve it.

"Always be kind to people, whether or not they deserve it, for the Lord will bless you."

Sister Norah's voice played in my mind's ears as I descended the stairs. There was so much that I missed,so much...
I wondered if the police at Clifford even noticed the empty Abby or the silent bells that were always rung at 6 in the morning or the harmonic melodies we sang every evening before super.

I missed that life,a life where I was protected from the wrath of the world. Even though I was in doors all the time,at least I knew I was safe,completely safe from everything and everyone bad until that day.... I would never forget that night,I lost my friends,my family,my home,my parents....

I whipped away the tear that escaped my eye. It hurt so bad that sometimes I forgot how it felt like.

"Someone's having troubles," a familiar voice jerked me out of my daze. I raised my gaze and met Carter's blue eyes. He had worry and concern plastered on his face. Just looking at that expression made me want to cry more but I had to stay strong so I smiled

"Am okay." I fibbed

"Ahh!" He frowned "Girls who literally say 'am okay' with tears in their eyes are having enormous emotion problems," he said leaning against the wall crossing his arms across his broad chest

"You wouldn't understand." I said sniffing slowly avoiding his direct gaze

"Why?" I met the frown on his face. I was about to tell him why when Mr Stark appeared, clearly angry.

Oh.. Lord!! I was going to have it,this time!!!

"Oh fuck," Carter said under his breathe causing me to look up at him

"Carter, when I asked you to bring the boxes into the house,I didn't asks you to mess around with o e of my maids too," his voice was stern, deep and hoarse from his anger. I moistened my lips staring at him in fright

"I was not messing around,sir...

" Save it! Get back to work,now!" He snapped then disappeared in a blink just as he came. Carter shot me a glance as he left. I mouthed an 'am sorry' before he too disappeared in the corridors. I leaned back on the counter holding my chest.

What kind of man was he?? Just snapping and commanding everyone around...

I hated him!

              ®