"Of all the females within my family, why I'm I the only one punish with this awfully looking hair?" protested Paris, as she held a loose strand of her long, curly, red hair, scornfully, gazing at it with great disappointment.
She hated her hair so badly that her heart ached every day to look at herself in her mirror and to touch it. She wished she had another color of hair, instead of her red hair, she considered to look like a white mop utterly stained by blood or red polish. Paris thought nothing of her hair other than unattractive. Sadly, neither of her parents had red hair. Her father had brown hair, and her mother was blonde. She had her father's bright blue eyes though, but sadly that was only the physical feature she had managed to inherit from one of her parents. Her mother had once informed her she had gotten her bright red hair from her great, great, great grandfather. Paris didn't care and hated it even more. She considered it the ugliest color of human hair and there's nothing beautiful about it. Angrily, she brushed back the loose strand of her hair, back into its tight bun hairdo. A hairstyle she would always fix her hair into trying to conceal it, the best she could.
"Paris," Mrs. Rose Poppy, her mother called as she entered the office, they both shared at work.
Her chair spun from her small desk filled with documents to look at her mother, who was also her boss.
"Please count the items now and see to it that they are gathered into the cart before your father returns from his next trip," ordered Mrs. Poppy.
"Yes," Paris answered as she slowly got up from her desk exiting the office.
Her parents Mrs. Rose and David poppy has been married for 27 years. She is the oldest of two children. She's 26 years old, her only sibling is Brian Poppy who is 6 months old. However, she is not the only girl her parents raised. Three years after she was conceived, a dear friend of her mother, a single mother had died from an incurable disease and so Mrs. Poppy had decided to take in her best friend and only child, Everlee Sunflower, to raise as her own. Everlee is 23 years old. She grew close with the Poppy family not lacking any love. However, she's out of the country finishing her studies to become an art teacher.
Mr. and Mrs. Poppy have a successful company where Paris had chosen to work with them after completing school, unlike Everlee who believed she was too good for greenfield and ran off to New York to chase her dream. Paris helped her family operate their business by checking their financial statements, paying employees, and counting all the apples reaped daily from their large orchard. They didn't only sell apples, in the past two months, the company started selling apple juice, and Mrs. Poppy has a small bakery shop where she would make and sell apple pies and other pastries by customer orders. She was a good baker.
Paris went to the back of the factory where all the picked apples and other products were kept.
"Here you go Ms. Paris, who has never been to Paris," Robert a tall sturdy, short dark hair male, who once was a classmate of hers from high school days handed her a sheet of paper teased her.
She dragged the sheet of paper and rolled her eyes.
Robert had been nothing but a troublemaker from her high school days. It amazed Paris that he hadn't changed. Robert worked with Poppy's company as one of the delivery men and an annoying employee who just can't seem to stop joking about Paris’s name whenever he sees her. Roberts knew how badly she hated her name just as she did her hair. Sadly, there was nothing she can do about them.
Paris was made the night after her parent's honeymoon in Paris. When Mrs. Poppy discovered she was with a child she decided to name Paris from the country they were because of the wonderful time they had there.
Hastily Paris counted off the apples and sees to it that they're carried to the cart.
"Please don't move this cart until father is here," she instructed Robert.
"Yes, Ms. Paris," retorted Robert as he gave her a warm smile. The kind of smile that gives you a hint that you were being teased.
Again, Paris rolled her eyes and returned to the office. She never could stand Robert. It surprised her a female had decided to marry him.
Well, at least he's the lucky one, no men here in Greenfield will ever be interested in taking me as their wife, Paris thought sadly walking straight back to her office.
"It's all done mother," said Paris as she gave handed the sheet of paper.
Mrs. Poppy took it, reviewing it.
Paris sat comfortably back into her chair.
"Everlee is coming home tomorrow," Mrs. Poppy shared surprising news.
No one thought Everlee would ever return to Greenfield after she secretly ran off without the consent of Mr. and Mrs. Poppy.
Paris's face was lightened by the news. Everlee had left greenfield from she was 18, so, she hasn't seen her for 5 years now. They would always write to each other but sometimes Paris wishes she could see her in person and tell her how miserable and lonely her life is, having no partner to call her own.
"That's great mother," said Paris excitedly.
Mrs. Poppy started on some files. She wasn't too happy about Everlee returning. The day Everlee decided to pack her bag and leave, Mrs. Poppy was against it so did Mr. Poppy, but Everlee was so determined to chase her dream to become an art teacher instead of staying back home and being a part of the business, like Paris did, so, she sneaked off, and both Mr. and Mrs. Poppy haven't forgiven her ever since. Paris too wanted to be angry with her but how could she when she knew what Everlee did, was what her heart had always longed for.
"Did you tell our maid to prepare her room?" Paris asked. The day she left to chase her dream no one had ever slept in her room much less go inside.
"Why.... she won't be staying for too long for she's too good for this country lifestyle," Mrs. Poppy said upset.
"I'm going outside to eat lunch," said Paris not wanting to be around her mom in her upsetting mood, she always ends up taking it out on her and later blamed her for not being married nor ever going out on a date at her age, but how could she find love when no one liked her hair as much as she did. They teased her here calling her a carrot top. No young men within Greenfield found her attractive.
Paris left the office right away and went to sat underneath a tall tree behind the factory. It was a very peaceful place for her. It was her everyday spot at work. She bit her apple jam sandwich enjoying the beautiful view.
"Paris," she heard her dad called, disturbing her peace."I'm coming!" she yelled, hurriedly packing away her lunch, running back into the factory.
"Is everything okay, is Everlee, okay?" Paris asked worried as she enters the office seeing her dad and mom both standing, waiting on her. She was not liking the strange behavior both were giving her right now.
Both Mr and Mrs. face lightened.
Paris stared at them strangely.
"Sit down Paris, your father has great news to tell you," Mrs. Poppy said in an excited high-pitched voice.
Paris sat stiffly within her chair eager to know what her parents were so happy about.
"Is Everlee married and you're getting grandchildren very soon?" she again asked curiously.
Paris thought it must be the reason why they were so elated, ever since she turned 26, her mother had been down her ears telling her she needed to find herself a man and have children, for she was not getting any younger.
"No, much better," said Mr. Poppy.
Paris gazed at him hard.
"I've found you a good suitor to get married to," said Mr. Poppy.
Paris's eyes widened surprisingly.
"What!" she sat up from her chair.
"He's 30, an old friend of mine son and he'll be coming tomorrow to have dinner to meet you."
Paris started to breathe heavily at such appalling news.
"The faster you both meet, the faster you get married and give us some grandchild," said Mrs. Poppy excitedly.
Paris couldn't take such shocking news; she fainted right away.
"I've got to go”, Archer got out of bed, naked, reaching for his pant. "So early," Blair complained, as she sat up, holding the white sheet across her bosom, hiding her nakedness. "Yes, I have some family business I was told I needed to attend, I can't miss it," he told her as he started to button his shirt. "I wish you could stay longer," Blair pouted. Archer admired her disappointed face which looked so cute to him. He leaned to kiss her. "Your 1000 pounds is on the bedside table, and I promise I'll come to see you tonight," His rough voice that was pleasing to hear by all women whispered in her right ear. She kissed him happily. Blair is his first and only sex worker, a very attractive green eyes and dark hair 18-year-old, he found out was a virgin and it was her first time working at a brothel. He later learned her story, after turning 18 she had to leave the orphanage she grew up in, and not having any experience in the working world this was the only job she could get. "F
Paris's eyes opened slowly, and she found herself lying in her bed. "You're finally awakened," she heard her mother's voice. Her eyes searched the room and there she saw her mother sitting by the window. "It was not a dream," Paris said worried, realizing what had happened today was true. "Tomorrow, I'll be following you to get some new dresses to look beautiful for your soon-to-be husband and also a stylish hairstyle," her mother told her as she got up from the chair, leaving the room. "Mom," Paris jumped out of bed stopping her. "Who says once he looks at me, he'll want me to be his wife?" Paris asked worriedly. High school days Paris had been ignored and scorned many times by boys because of her hair and worst her face too, which was filled with freckles. Paris believed her face wasn't beautiful as well, she believed her face looked like a piece of stained white cloth. "He'll love you when I help you beautifully dress and showing a little skin, said Mrs. Rose. So, stop being
Everlee stared through the window of the carriage nervously. She wished badly; she didn’t accept to have lunch with Mr. Fredrick this evening. She should have been on the first train to Greenfield, but that was another issue bothering her. Leaving home without Mr. and Mrs. Poppy's knowledge after they had taken her in and raised her as their own when her mom had passed away, she felt so bad for disappointing them. She knew returning home today will not be easy facing any of them. She feared they will never forgive her, and she'll return to New York lonely, no longer having them within her life. Everlee wanted to regret what she did to them, but she couldn't. Leaving home to NY was the best thing she had done. If she never did, she would never be who she was today, an art teacher, an independent and ambitious lady. She just hoped they will forgive her that's if she does take the last and second train to Greenfield. Going out on a lunch date with Mr. Fredrick was a way for her to cancel
Last night Paris barely slept. She turned and twisted in bed, anxiously waiting to be rejected by the suitor. The morning she was so tired and barely had the energy to get out of bed to get ready for work. Today is the day I'll be humiliated by the stranger after he sees me, she thought sadly. Tears filled her eyes thinking about being shoved aside just as she had been treated in the past at her high school dance. Every girl had someone to dance with, even those who just came to the dance hoping someone would ask them for a dance. Paris thought she would luckily be in the same position as them, but no one asked her for a dance. The entire night she stood at the corner watching every female smiling happily with their dates and enjoying themself. It was the most painful time of her life. Paris fell to the floor crying, before she could reach the bathroom to get a quick shower. Her mom entered her room. "What is wrong Paris?" she asked worriedly. "I don't want to be rejected by him,
"I wish I had written in the letter as well for dad to pick me up," Everlee argued with herself for being so foolish not to do so. She was now standing at the train station in Greenfield having no ride to take her home with a heavy suitcase that was now hurting her hand. Everlee was so used to dwelling in New York and being able to get rides no matter wherever she goes, she totally forgot how Greenfield worked. Greenfield was a country area and had no transportation like, in New York. Everyone here had their own horse and carriage to go wherever they needed to go, which sucks badly for Everlee now. She was stuck at the train station with no transportation to go home. I guess I'll have to walk and hopefully, someone going my way could kindly give me a ride, Everlee thought as she pulled her heavy suitcase behind her. She walked carefully along the road trying to ignore pulling her suitcase in any mud. Returning to Greenfield made her appreciate the day she secretly left home. Greenfi
"Delilah, please be on the lookout for Everlee if she's here before anyone returns home," said Paris grabbing her purse to meet her mom at the clothes store. "Yes, Miss Paris," answered Delilah. Paris coachman was outside waiting on her. He opened the carriage door as he saw Paris leaving her home. The door closed as she entered, and the carriage drove off. Paris took a deep breath in and exhaled heavily, nervous that the time to meet the stranger she was arranged to be married to was drawing near, close for her to being rejected by him because of her unattractive appearance, she thought negatively. When Paris had reached the well-known clothes store in Greenfield her mom was already there waiting on her. Mrs. Rose grabbed her by the hand pulling her along. "Good day," an employee came over to greet them. "I want a beautiful white dress for my daughter," Mrs. Rose told the sales representative. "Paris you can go and look at dresses you might like while I help the sales rep find
Out of anger, Everlee was clueless about the speed she was walking due to the stranger who had upset her after she refused to ride along with him. She had arrived at her destination. She stopped at the gate breathing tiredly, staring at the large white house she once used to call home. She was tired, thirsty and her feet hurt. She couldn't wait to find a seat and rest her legs. Her bright blue eye opened wide as she saw the front door of the house opened, nervous to meet her parents after secretly leaving home and haven't seen them for 5 years now. She was too bit nervous about meeting Paris whom she took as her big sister. She held her dress out of relief seeing it was Delilah the housemaid but was still worried that she still will have to meet them since she will be at their home. She'll have to grow some courage to approached them. Delilah had been working at the house since Everlee was a baby, so she knew her very well. "Ms. Everlee," Delilah walked hurriedly opening the gate,
Before returning home, Paris made sure she bought a large bag of every makeup Carrie had used on her face to conceal her unattractiveness. Though the new make-over had made her feel a little confident in meeting her arranged husband this evening she still felt nervous. "What is wrong, you now look beautiful?" Mrs. Poppy inquired her seeing worries on her face. "What if he sees that I'm not that beautiful without makeup," Paris answered. "Make sure you're always wearing makeup whenever you're around him and when he does marry you it would be too late, for him to reject you," Mrs. Poppy joked. "Stop playing with me mom and I'm being serious here," Paris argued. "I know, I'm only joking to put you in a happy mood," retorted Mrs. Poppy. Paris's eyes turned to the carriage window staring at the road sadly. "Stop worrying, most men never see their wife's real face until after the honeymoon, Mrs. Poppy told Paris. Your father never sees mine until I was in labour having you." "Well, h