It all started during this month, I was watching her work and by pure chance I noticed how she looked at me, trying to get my attention like a little girl looking for a friend to play with.
I am no longer a child, I'm fourteen years old, I don't have time for silly games with smaller people... That's why I ignored her on that occasion.
And at least it seemed that she had also understood my displeasure because she didn't try to get closer to me either... Or she hadn't, because three days ago she found me at lunch in the back of the inn sketching in my notes. She saw them, approached me happily and asked me:
- "You drew that?! CAN I SEE THEM?!"
I tried to warn her of the horrible contents that my medicine notes contained, however, she ignored me and still leaf through the entire booklet.
- "They're fantastic! I don't quite understand what they are... But I can tell the effort you put into them!"
- It is normal that you do not understand them, you are a girl, you should not understand surgery things. - I said snatching my notebook from her hands.
- Hey! - She screamed. - That doesn't mean I'm stupid! I know how to read and write, I am also very good at cooking, I know how to knit and my mother used to say that I'm very intelligent for my age. - She smiled proudly, placing her arms on her hips.
- And why should I care about all that? - I replied coldly.
- Ughh! I was trying to be your friend, but now I see that you are rude, Bye! See you never! - She told me and then she walked away giving little kicks to the air.
In that moment maybe I should have felt guilty for how I had treated her, however, what I had really felt was relief. That day I did not want to talk to anyone, I felt ... Discouraged for no apparent reason, I just wanted a bit of tranquility, which sadly disappeared when that girl returned in her footsteps to talk to me.
-You know what? Now you owe me one! - She mentioned it to me, raising her voice a little.
-Excuse me? - I answered confused.
- You hurt a girl's feelings! If you think you are as smart and friendly as you always speak or act, then you should know that now you owe me something because you broke a rule of etiquette.
-This... This is not how the etiquette of manners works! - I tried to tell her.
- SHH! SHH! - She shut me up, even putting her hand on my mouth.
- But what a shame for your family! If they saw their son treating a young lady! No, no, what a bad appearance for your reputation. –
Reputation, the only thing that seems to matter in this world ... The reason why I was forced to leave my family ... A word that always hovers in my head and that I was forced to say:
- "UGH, GOOD! What do you want of me?!"
- Teach me to draw! - She answered innocently, with a wide smile that showed two missing teeth in her mouth.
- What? – I Ask confused - You know how to read and write, why do you need to learn such a skill?
- Before coming to work here, my brother could only teach me those two things... So, when I come home one day, I want to show him that I learned new things while I was away!
- Okay, I'll show you. - I sighed for a moment - But it will only be at night, without bothering me during the day. It is clear?
- Clear as crystal! So, is it a promise? -
- Yes, yes, a promise. NOW, could you leave me alone? - I said coldly, without even looking at her face.
- You promised! Hehe, I hope you understand that a promise is not broken. By the way, I'm Josephine, Josephine Utterson! - She mentioned, extending her open hand towards me.
-... Henry, Henry Jekyll. - I replied without accepting the hand he was giving me to shake.
- Well ... That being so, see you at night Henry - She kept behind his back and turning around ran back to the kitchen.
Sometime after that I realized how stupid I had been. I didn't want to teach that nagging girl to draw! What's more, I didn't even want to see her, much less have her close. And now every night I have to become the tutor to an outgoing, spoiled, hyperactive eleven-year-old redhead who-
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- Hey, what are you doing? -
-Ahh! -I dropped the pen with which I was writing my diary - What are you doing sneaking around like that when you see that I'm busy?!
- Busy? Ohhh, are you writing your life story or something? -
- GOD! It's none of your business, you annoying girl! Today we had our class, come back tomorrow.
- Well well! I'm leaving, I just wanted to stop by to say hello... And by the way, I like to see you when you're like this... More animated. -
Josephine, who had approached me from behind while writing my diary told me. With those last words, she closed the door to the men's dormitory.
When she left, I picked up my pen again, dipped it in ink and continued writing where I had left off.
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Journal entry for Josephine Utterson.
July 29, 1874. This is my first time doing this... But since I always see Henry writing in his journal, so I thought it would be fun to try too!
Let's see... I'm not quite sure what to write here, so I'm going to start by telling a little about myself!
I'm twelve years old, my mother's name is Aíne and I never knew my father; I have three brothers! Two older people and the one I used to hang out with the most, my twin brother: Gabriel (Or John as I say affectionately) Utterson, like my whole family.
He wants to be a lawyer to defend those who have no one by their side, who always look at us with their heads down. It's a very cool goal, that's why my mother, brothers and I work hard; so that he can attend college and fulfill his dream one day.
The work has always been difficult, but I had never bothered to do it because every time John came home, he would teach me everything new that he had learned, he would lend me some of his books, he would read to me and he taught me how to write letters to him to stop missing whenever he left.
He's very smart; I know that one day he may be the best lawyer London has ever seen! That is why I moved to work here, away from my family and loved ones, but with a better salary than I used to earn in the factory with my mother. (I hope she is well at home).
Also, I'm just the kitchen assistant here and the place has enough employees who take care of the different needs of the place, so it's not just me who has to deal with all the work.
The only thing that did bother me a bit was the lack of other children my age, not to play with them, but at least for a little chat as I used to sometimes do with the children at the factory.
It was boring being here alone! And that's how the days used to be until Henry came along.
I remember it well, because this happened just 2 months ago. That day I was in the stable milking the milk, when I heard how one of the horses had escaped from the stable, crossing the main gate at high speed. I knew that the gentlemen who took care of him were going to be in big trouble, although I never thought those problems were so great to the point of firing them.
That's when I met him, the new alternate driver I saw come in from the gate. And what an impression it gave me! His eyes... To me, they were very pretty, and I still think the same about them, it doesn't matter that the rest of the girls who work here tell me that I shouldn't get so close to him; in case he was sick with something weird that I could catch it.
And well, from the day he arrived until today, I have been in good health even though I have been following him hoping to have a little talk with him, so I highly doubt that he really has a contagious disease or something. for the style.
I mean, he's a bit weird, I'm not going to deny it ... But I'm not that "normal" either and I think the world needs weirdos to make the days more interesting.
Continuing with the story of that day: Henry arrived without speaking much, seemed to have lost eyes, did not smile much and always seemed disinterested in the things that were happening around him.
At first, I thought he was just a quiet boy, but a month after being here; he became more cheerful, he smiled more... In general, he looked more energetic (so much that sometimes he even moved his hands or feet while we ate or he was drawing.)
I wanted to get closer to him, to know what things he liked, how his day had been, what his tastes were ... However, whenever I tried to get closer, he would move me out of the way or lower his gaze when he saw me, that's why after a for a while I resigned myself and stopped trying.
This is what I was going to do until one night when I had woken up to go to the bathroom, I found him crying under a tree on the outskirts of the inn, he was murmuring something that I could not hear because he was very far from where I was, but to see him there so alone, so sad. No one deserves to suffer alone; I believe that we all have the right to have a shoulder to cry on. So, I decided to try again with a new plan that occurred to me, a little idea to spend with little time with him.
It will work? I don't know, but I'm still going to try, to try! One last attempt, brace yourself, Henry Jekyll! Because I'm going to be your friend!
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