Full Circle In The Wheel Of Life Part Two

Jacob had been swimming for a good half hour. It was at this point that he decided he'd had enough and climbed out. Grabbing a towel and drying himself off, hunger overcame him, he was also desperate to find out if his brothers had returned yet. Making his way towards the pool door he found it ajar, he could have sworn he'd closed it, but shrugging his shoulders he didn't think anymore of it.

 

The boy shivered in is bear feet making his way back across to the main house and through the rear entrance. Walking in he opened the door to the kitchen, there was a lot of rowdy activity going on as cook was shouting her orders to the staff.

 

Tip toeing in still clutching the towel around him, Jacob approached cook tapping her on the shoulder. The woman was plump and round and always had her hair up in a net and hat. She wore a white apron that all the cooks wore in the kitchen. Looking round she jumped in surprise, her big blue eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “Jacob! My boy – where did you spring from?” She flung her arms in the air.

 

The boy gave a big toothy grin. “Been back nearly an hour, I've just been for a swim.” Hardly taking a breath, the boy was always straight to the point and said what he wanted. “Can I have a sandwich when you're ready please, I'm starving?”

 

“Why! Of course you can, but first you go up and get dry this instant.” He smiled at cook as he tip toed back to the door. She was a kindly woman and her bark was worse than her bite. She liked Jacob and thought he was such a well behaved boy. “I don't know! Walking around with just a towel, that boy will catch his death of cold.” She remarked screwing up her face and tut tutting.

 

There was much coming and going, with food being prepared for the home coming of the children and the evening meal. Cook looked at the clock on the wall, it said 5.30pm. Clapping her hands she said.  “Right! Come on everyone let me see you get organized, there's no time to waste. Gloria go and make Jacob a sandwich and send it up to his room.”

 

“Yes Cook...right away.” The woman grabbed the bread, slicing from the loaf two thick portions, knowing how the boy liked his doorsteps. She placed some slithers of ham and cheese with some lettuce and mayonnaise on one slice and covered with the other, slicing it into four. Then she took it out of the kitchen and gave it to one of the other staff to take up. “There you go! This is to go up to Master Jacob's room toot sweet.”

 

The woman took the sandwich from the kitchen help, she didn't like being ordered around, but she was here for a reason and the money was good anyway. She knew she had to keep an eye on the boy and report back, but this was going to be harder than she expected, the boy was never alone. She supposed she'd had the chance while he was in the pool, but wasn't sure if someone would come in. No! The risk was too great, it would have to be a hundred percent sure of not being caught. 'Why did they have so much security here?' She thought to herself. It was like a prison! This was going to be harder than she'd anticipated.

 

Up the wide staircase there was a portrait painting of William and Monica. The woman smirked and sniffed at the spectacle. “These posh twats think they've got everything. It ain't right – wait till later, they'll be sorry.”

 

Ambling along the landing, she continued to study the other paintings, each child had their portrait on the walls. “What a joke!” She said to herself. The woman came to the boy's room and knocked. “Sandwich for Master Jacob!” She called out, feeling like some kind of alien in this strange world of the rich.

 

The boy opened the door and took the plate, thanking the help for the food. He slammed the door in her face, but not on purpose, he was just desperately hungry.

 

“And thank you too!” She remarked angrily at having the door shut with such force in her face. Turning she huffed and decided to find somewhere private to make a phone call. Taking out her mobile from her pocket, she made her way to the bathroom, deciding it was the most private place in the house to have a conversation. Locking the door behind her, the help turned on the taps and pulled the flush to muffle the sound in case anyone was outside.

 

Tapping in the numbers, the phone rang out. “Hello! Lilly! It's me. Look it's not going to be easy, I need more time, the boy's only just got home.” The conversation between the two women was strained. Desperation from Lilly gave the woman anxiety, she knew they had to move fast, but she would need to see the boy's routine to be able to make any fast plans. “Just give me a couple of days, I'll get back to you as soon as I've more information – okay?” There was a pause and then an agreement. The woman put the phone back in her pocket and continued on with her duties.

 

It wasn't long before Oliver and Joshua returned home full of conversation of their time at boarding school. As soon as they saw Jacob, they were all off to their tree house den and exploring the back wooded area. Behind the trees were the tennis courts and a bowling green, Monica loved bowling and would quite often have friends around for a game and to socialize with champagne, wine and cheese. It was a fun time for all.

 

The boys finally came to settle in their tree house. Oliver announced that he had a girlfriend and she was coming to stay for the holidays. Jacob didn't feel very enthusiastic at the thought of some girl coming between them and spoiling their fun. “What do you mean – you've got a girlfriend? How can you be dating when you're at an all boys school?” Jacob became sullen taking some gum out of his pocket, without offering it to Oliver or Joshua.

 

“We met at an end of term disco with an all girls school, it was put on by the art teacher.” Oliver could tell Jacob was upset. “She's really nice and a bit of a tomboy, so she'll not be any trouble.”

 

“So what's her name?” Asked Jacob, putting a large piece of gum in his mouth and chewing like a cow making the most of some fresh grass.

 

Oliver grinned as he informed his brother. “Her name's Aimee, she's the same age as us. She might be coming the day after tomorrow.” He looked at Jacob's face to see his reaction of displeasure. “You gonna let me and Josh have some of that gum then?”

 

Joshua sat quietly cross legged, not saying much at all. He wasn't very happy either, but decided not to comment. “I'm going back up to my room, get unpacked and go on my play station. Mum and Dad will be home soon then we can eat, I'm starving.”

 

Oliver didn't understand Jacob's attitude. “Look! If you're going to be an old grumpy, then I'm going back to the house too.” Oliver just got up and left deciding there wasn't anything to hang around for. “Anyway!” He shouted. “Mum and Dad might already be back, can't wait to tell them my news.”

 

Jacob just stayed squatted, with an expression of daggers about his brother. The boy was confused and uncertain. He never considered Joshua a problem because he was a boy and younger, but now Oliver was inviting a girl over and she was their age, suddenly the old saying of; two's company – three's a crowd sounded just about right.

 

He picked up a nail located next to him and started scratching his initials into the wooden floor of the tree house. Jacob had that sensation of suddenly not belonging, feeling like a remnant from the past that was no longer required. He wished for a diversion, anything to take his mind off the situation.

 

As the boy continued to scratch, still scoring out his initials, he suddenly heard a female voice calling his name. “Master Jacob! Master Jacob! Are you up there?”

 

The boy crawled over to the entrance gazing down below. The same woman who'd bought his sandwich up to him was standing there. “Can you come down please – I need to talk with you.”

 

“Yeah sure!” Jacob called out. The boy climbed down the ladder thinking that maybe his parents were home early. “Is Mum home?” He asked reaching the bottom rung of the ladder and jumping down turning to face the help. He noticed for the first time her thin scrawny features and thought she looked like someone who could do with a decent meal.

 

“No! Your Mum's not home yet. Elsa sent me to get you.” The woman then forced a smile. “Seems young Master Oliver informed her that you weren't too happy and that you've been sulking.”

 

Jacob kicked a stone, that was the last thing he needed, to be humiliated in front of the help. “I'm not sulking – I just want to see Mum.”

 

“Well!” Declared the woman. “I've got just the thing to cheer you up.”

 

The boy was puzzled, not understanding. “What do you mean?” He asked screwing up his face.

 

The woman took both his hands and held them. “Look! My Name's Sylvie and I'd like to be your friend. Elsa asked me to take you out for a treat. We can go down to the shops and I'll buy you a new play station game – how would you like that?”

 

Jacob immediately perked up. “Does that mean I can have any game I choose?”

 

Sylvie grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah! Of course. Now let's get going before the shops close. She again took the boy by the hand, as they made their way to the front gates.

 

To be continued...