Sirene (Wattys 2014 Entrant)

Chapter 17

“Miss Morgan, may I speak with you?” Oceana asked after Miss Grey had knocked and the two of them had entered Miss Morgan’s office.

“Yes, Oceana, you may.” Miss Morgan nodded and Miss Grey left the room.

“It’s about tomorrow. I’m thinking, I probably won’t go down to the prison to see Chandler.  We have music lessons on Saturdays and you know how much I love music lesson and I’d hate to have to skip it every week. Besides, there’s not much to do with Chandler except sit there in that miserable place and I’m getting a little tired of going there every single week.”

“I think that is a very wise decision.” Miss Morgan nodded with a smile on her face. “After all, it’s not like Chandler is going anywhere.”

“That’s true ma’am, he’ll be stuck in that prison for a long, long time.”

“Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Then you may go back to your lessons.”

“Thank you.”

Oceana stood up and left the room, leaving behind a very pleased Miss Morgan. Who would have thought the plan would have started to work after all?

***

London, April 1902.

“I told you she could be broken in.” Miss Patterson was in a very good mood and glowing with victory.

“What do you mean?” Stephanie asked.

“I’m speaking of Oceana, she’s just about completely ceased visiting Chandler in that rotten prison. At first it just started off with her going to see him once every two weeks, now her visits have become very random. She still goes over to him every now and then, saying she owes it to him to visit every so often, but Miss Morgan feels with just a little bit of pressure we can get her to stop completely. It’s just a matter of two or three months.”

Stephanie didn’t say anything and turned her attention to another letter she was reading.

“At this rate, I think I could easily take her to live with my by December. Of course, time will tell, but I’m very pleased with the way things are going. See, my dear Stephanie, even the most wild of children can be made to follow the rules and taught to keep to the standards of society.”

“That may be true, but if you ask me, society severely limits freedom.”

“Stephanie, don’t lecture on society, remember I’ve been in it longer than you have.”

The door opened and Mrs. Alberna came in.

“Mrs. Alberna dear, what are you so upset about?”

“A certain gentleman left his card just a few minutes ago, I believe he wants to call on us sometime soon. Stephanie, do you understand any of this?” Mrs. Alberna handed Stephanie the card. Stephanie put her letter down and glanced at the card.

“Oh, it’s Dr. Wilkens' card.”

“Who?”

“Dr. Wilkens, he’s a doctor who visits the prison and treats inmates. I met him once when I was there with Oceana.”

“A doctor who treats inmates, what a wretched profession.”

“It’s not wretched, Mother, it is very honorable. Inmates get sick too, and not many doctors are willing to go over to Newgate.”

“Not at all surprising. How long have you known this doctor?”

“Over a year, I met him the first time I went for Oceana at the prison.”

“You’ve been meeting with a gentleman for over a year?"

“It has been strictly business, Mother. Dr. Wilkens provided great help in bringing Oceana’s constant running away under control.”

“Is he the gentleman with whom you have been keeping up such an active correspondence of late?”

“Mother!” Stephanie felt her face turning hot. "You of all people should know I would never carry on a secret correspondence with a gentleman.”

“Then who is it that writes you all those letters?”

“They are from the children at the orphanage.”

“You write letters to those orphans? What is the purpose of that? You already go over to that place three or four times a week.”

“Yes, but there are so many children and I never have time to talk to all of them, so I told them they could write me letters and I would answer them. They are very lonely, Mother, they need someone to talk to.”

“Goodness, don’t they have each other?”

“Sure they do, but they are children still, what they miss most is having a motherly or fatherly figure who will make them feel safe and loved. God had a reason when He gave children parents and when for some reason they are taken away, it is up to others to give the children that love and support they yearn for.”

“And so you have decided that you are going to be that ‘someone’?”

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t be, aren’t we commanded to care for the fatherless and the orphan?”

“Oh Stephanie, there are plenty of people in the world who are more than capable of doing stuff like that, I don’t see why you have to do it.”

Stephanie just shook her head and decided not to answer. She didn’t think she would be able to explain it in a way her mother would understand. Glancing down at Dr. Wilkens’ card she felt a warmth creep into her heart. He wanted to call on her. Of all the people she came in contact with, somehow Dr. Wilkens, or Joseph as she was now accustomed to calling him, was the only person who really understood her desire to help the little orphans and probably the only person who supported her in her endeavor.

***

“Oceana, you want to explain something to me?” Beth asked her friend. It was a moment in the day when they didn’t have much to do and Beth had grabbed this opportunity to take Oceana aside and talk to her.

“What’s the matter, Beth?”

“I don’t understand you at all. During this half year, you’ve at first gotten so lazy about going to see Chandler and now for the past month you’ve stopped seeing him altogether. Miss Morgan and Miss Grey are convinced you have finally come to understand what a terrible man he is and how it would be better for you not to be associated with him. Or perhaps they think you’ve finally gotten so busy doing other things and you stopped caring for him, but I know you better than that. There are things made in stone and your devotion to Chandler is one of them. Sure, the grownups don’t understand it, but then how can they? They’ve never bothered to look deep down in your heart in the attempt to see what you are made of, but I have. I know you are not at all a person who would just stop seeing someone because he’s not a good man. You are the kind of person who will keep seeing the person in an effort to make him a good man. I’m starting to worry for you. Remember how when that Callum fellow disappeared you were all worried and upset because he was behaving completely out of character, I’m beginning to get the same feeling with you.”

Oceana was silent for a long time, thinking how much she could tell. “Beth, can you keep a secret? Like a real secret?”

“I’ve kept a lot of your secrets, haven’t I? Remember when you ran away from the asylum the first time?”

Oceana nodded her head and after another moment of silence, leaned closer to Beth, her voice now in a whisper. “Beth, I’m going to run away from the orphanage.”

"Again?"

"I mean I'm going to run away for good."

Beth covered her mouth to keep the gasp from coming out. “Oceana, would you really dare? Where would you go?”

“Oh Beth, I wish I could tell you everything, but if I did, that would mean you would have to lie to Miss Morgan and the rest, or you would have to tell the truth and give me away. If I kept the details from you will be able to truthfully answer to anyone who asks you that you don't know. It will be safer for us all.”

Beth pondered this and nodded her head. Oceana did have a point. Little Beth was incapable of keeping truth from Miss Morgan and if she didn’t know where Oceana was going, she would be able to keep a clear conscious and not give Oceana away.

“When are you planning on leaving?” she asked.

“In July."

“That is only one month away.”

“I know, you will help me, won’t you? And you won’t tell anyone until I’m gone.”

“Don’t worry, Oceana, I won’t give you away. I won’t say anything at all until someone demands it from me.”

“Thank you Beth, you are a good friend.” Oceana embraced her.

“But what has that got to do with you no longer visiting Chandler?”

“Because I don’t want anyone to think that he influenced me to run off. I need to keep from being associated with him, or else they will all think it is his idea.”

“Is it?”

“No. Chandler isn’t capable of coming up with things like this. If he does anything, he will do it in such a way that will break the law. He once said that he lives to break the law.” Oceana sighed and looked down. “I just want him to become someone who will obey the law, at least obey God’s law, but he really doesn’t care for that.”

“You pray for him, don’t you Oceana?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then don’t worry, Stephanie once said that prayer was a very powerful thing, so I know someday it will make a difference in his life.”

***

“Beth, Beth.” Oceana gently shook her friend. “Beth, wake up, we have to leave now for me to make it on time.”

Beth opened her eyes.

“Beth, we have to go now or it will be too late.”

Beth sat up wide and alert. Throwing back the bed covers she softly stood up from her bed. Her eyes weren’t completely adjusted to the darkness and she rubbed them to try and get the sleep out of them.

“Put a sweater on, it’s chilly in the night.” Oceana whispered.

“You’re already dressed?” Beth asked.

Oceana nodded. “Come on.”

Oceana put the little pack she had prepared on her back and took her shoes in one hand. Barefoot, the two girls tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs towards the kitchen.

“I hope it doesn’t squeak.” Beth whispered as Oceana unlocked the kitchen window.

“I hope so too.” Oceana said. Beth reached out gently tugged at the window. To the girl’s relief, it opened silently.

“Did I ever tell you I’m afraid of the dark?” Beth suddenly turned towards Oceana. “How will I get back on my own?”

“Don’t go with me all the way, just lock the window after me and go back.”

“No, I said I’d see you to the wall and that is exactly what I shall do.” Beth stubbornly replied and climbed out of the window first. The grass pricked her bare feet but she didn’t pay attention. Oceana followed her and the two girls ran like frightened rabbits to the large tree that grew right by the wall that went around the territory of the orphan asylum.

“You’re not afraid to climb that?” Beth asked, looking up at the tall, tangled tree.

“Nope, I love climbing trees.” Oceana replied.

“Oh Oceana, aren’t you sad to be leaving me?”

“Dear Beth.”Oceana felt tears coming to her eyes. “I hate leaving you; I wish you could be persuaded to come with me.”

Beth shook her curly head. “No, I could never do such a thing. You and I are very different Oceana. I’m not really into doing wild daring things. I know my place is here, and I will stay here. I wish you could write me from wherever it is you are going to run away too.”

“Maybe someday I will be able too. Goodbye dearest Beth, you were such a help to me here, I would have been completely lost without you. I will pray every day that some nice people will adopt you and give you a happy and loving family.”

“I’ll pray for you too, Oceana, remember sometimes it’s wise to obey the rules, because they keep you safe.”

“I will, and you remember that sometimes it’s okay to break the rules because they hinder you.” The two little girls embraced under the tree; then Oceana tied her shoes around her waist and began climbing the tree.

“Don’t lose the lock of hair I gave you!” Beth called to her.

“Of course I won’t, and you don’t lose mine.”

“Never in my life.”

Oceana waved from the top of the wall, then climbed over it and disappeared on the other side.

 The fall was less than pleasant, and Oceana bruised her knees when she landed. Her one comfort was it wasn’t a very high wall. Putting her shoes on, she carefully made her way down the street. Her greatest fear now was running into a Constable, because he would no doubt grab her and take her right back. Keeping to the shadows and as far away from the light as possible, she made her way down the mostly deserted streets of London. She nearly bumped into a policeman three times, but managed to hide just in time. Oceana’s heart pounded the entire time, she had never gone off anywhere on her own after dark before, and being alone out in the city made her a little scared. On and on she went, until at last she came to the train station. The midnight train was huffing and puffing on the platform and she quickly made her way to it. Oceana was in such a hurry, she didn’t notice the man standing in front of her and collided straight into him.

“Oh, I’m so sorry sir,” she stated and was about to run off before he could start asking questions.

“Ah, Oceana, right on time.” Callum’s voice sounded out. Oceana stopped and turned around.

“Callum? I didn’t recognize you.”

“So I see. Did ye manage to *gettae away unnoticed?”

“Yes, the whole asylum is sleeping.”

“That is good. Come along, we have a long joorney ahead of us.”

The large weather-beaten hand took the delicate childish one and the two of them boarded the train.

“You never mentioned that you were going to be here to meet me, Callum, you just said to be here for the midnight train.”

“Aye, well, I dinnea want to tak' onie risks. Th' idea is 'at this a ‘chance’ meetin'.”

“The things you can come up with.”

“Chandler helped.”

“Of course.” Oceana giggled.

Soon the two of them were seated and Oceana stretched sleep was beginning to catch up with her with rapid speed.

“So where exactly are we going?” She asked with yawn, resting her head on Callum’s shoulder.

“Scootlund.”

******************************************************************

Hmmm, this was unexpected, wasn't it ;) What about Chandler? What will happen to Beth? Things will start unraveling in the chapters to come, so stay tuned in!

Votes and comments are greatly appreciated :)