__________

he servants called them little ghost,

because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because the haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, drafting in and out of rooms, hiding In cupboards, sneak into the kitchen to steal the last summer peaches. Not like they won't get anything here what they want. Not bad living at foster home, especially, the motherly love of aunt Anne.

The girl was clever than a fox, smart and quick-witted as ever. She remains silent and talked less most of every time without a few lines. She was different and she knew it.

The boy was opposite; stocky, shy and social; always smiling.

Everyone doubted on their friendship; that was pure loving

and caring.

The boy and the girl arrived

within weeks of each other.

Huddled in the kitchen cupboard, Grown-ups gossip,The housekeeper,

Anne maria said, " Work fast, Nara must be starving ". A servant added,

" Alas! she's beautiful but knows how to give a cold shoulder at this age " . Another one howled,

"No child should look like this, always make a face like turned

milk ".

The cook replied, " And so

skinny, never finishes her supper "

Crouched beside the girl, The boy turned To her and whispered, " Why don't you eat ? "

" Because everything she cooks tastes like mud "

" Tastes fine to me "

" You'll eat anything "

They bent their back to crack in the cupboard door.

Aunt Anne shouted, " Enough, get on your works, don't you think she's a goddess, sent by Jesus Christ. "

The boy frowned,

"They're all possessed by your beauty"

The Girl Was indifferent,

" Beauty is noting like your boldness "

The boy continued,

" I don't think, you've something supernatural "

" Shhhh! " the girl hissed. But hidden by the deep shadows of the cupboard, she smiled.

In the summer, they endured long hours of chores followed by even longer hours of lessons in stifling classroom. When the heat was at its worst, they escaped into the woods behind the foster home to hunt for birds' nests or swim in the muddy little creek. Aunt Anne always forbid the girl not to do that which may create raves on her smooth skin, always telling she'll be the Ms.world one day. Hearing those, she couldn’t help but frowns and rolls her eyes. The boy and the girl layed beside each other for hours in their meadow, watching the sun pass slowly overhead, speculating on where they would build his dairy farm and her bakery shop. The girl always hoped her bakery shop would be a popular one in the whole world. Then that would be popular than hollywood and stars. Lost in her thoughts, the boy interpreted,

" I may will never see you when you grow-up and join the Hollywood "

A fake crying tone in his voice, acting...

" I also hope not to see someone who would be so popular among girls that time " she frowned by irritation

The boy pouted,

" You're so mean and cold-hearted as always "

" who told you to sneak out with this rock every time "

" Something must be wronged with my brain " he replied

She continued,

" what's new in that! I doubt if your brain have ever worked. "She rolled to her side and avoided eye-contact

The boy keep stared at her for a moment and said " Sometimes we fight like old couples "

The girl stared back at him, they both looked at each other and burst into laughter...

While laughing, the girl thought maybe this is why she always hangouts with him...melting the ice into water, finding the soft spot of a rock...

The girl sat firmly on the edge of her bed, behind her aunt Anne concentrated on something...

It was silent all over the drafting room. Aunt Anne broke the beautiful silence,

" Does it hurts,dear? "

She lean close to the girl's right ear...and muttered,

" hmm? "

The girl's ear bloomed by the hot breathe of aunt Anne. She flinched and get back to senses. Aunt Anne understood that she was inattentive like always.

The girl tugged her head upward,

" Did you ask anything... "

For a moment, aunt Anne stared on her face and grinned sightly...

" a lot of questions... but seems like you didn’t catch any of them "

No sooner aunt Anne finished her words, a boy figure burged into the room without permission, of course he don't need permission for entering into his friend's room.

" Her majesty was lost in her thoughts "

Aunt Anne flinched but the girl knew who it could at this time...

Aunt Anne snugged,

" You startled me, boy "

The boy laughed like a fool...

" hehe "

The girl remain quite and unconcerned, finding a loopholes to lost again in her thoughts...

She got destructed again...by a female voice...

" what are you thinking, dear! " she smirked, added,

" Prince charming coming by riding over a horse, taking princess palm and placing a light kiss and asking while getting on his knees; will you marry me? "

The boy chuckled...

Aunt Anne cupped her face with her both hands and pressed her palms against her cheeks, continued...

" princess agree on his proposal, then the prince take his princess on the horse and both of them disappeared through the clouds "

The boy giggled louder...

Aunt Anne said while smiling at the girl...

" how cute those thoughts are! "

The boy added while laughing hard,

" how girlish! "

The girl stayed indifferent, no expression

" that wasn't funny "

"yeah, that wasn't hilarious " aunt Anne joined her, " why are you laughing like a fool? "Aunt Anne said while smiling to the boy...

The boy smuggled,

" No! she can't think about those...normally When girls think about those things; they smiles, blushes or feels shy at own. But did you realize her expressions..."

" like she's making a plan about a big robbery or she's going to conquer the whole world on her own "

Aunt Anne seems concerned, "make senses, what a eight years kid like her can think about something so much? "

Both of them looked serious and stared at the girl

The girl seems unbothered about anything they were talking about.But she realized she needs to break this awkwardness about her, they were feeling...

She stood up from the bed and looked at her reflection on the mirror...

She stared at her reflection and pressed her hands on her sides tentatively.

"two~braids! " she annoyed

" I thought you'll do a ponytail " she muttered meekly

" you look good on them " Aunt Anne nodded

The girl scowled and retorted,

" I don't wanna look good, I wanna stay relaxed "

Aunt Anne stood up and approached the girl, she leaned close to her shoulder. Her hand travelled on the girls cheek and hold her chin up

" I doubt if you know how mesmerising you're looking with those braids " she grinned

The girl frowned by her words " I'm just a doll! "

The boy sighed and crossed his hand infront of his chest, rested his right shoulder on the wooden door plunk; observing the girl closely...