the guest part 2
(the Guest looks up at the shadows cast on the ceiling of the bedroom wall by the errant carriage lights, as they glide past. The curtains don't quite meet in the centre, and the slivers and wedges of light make interesting patterns on the artificial sky of her bedroom. She is savouring that peaceful hour, when her eyes open, her dreams are laid to rest. She has to wake up to set the maths plan for the day, but her body is loathe to leave the warm confines of her bed and the gentle press of her dog's spine against her tummy. Did you know dogs sleep with one eye open? She is in a constant state of vigilance that nothing and no one should harm her master. It is hard to explain that love. It's to a point of madness.))
My dearest PeePeeDoc
Would you believe if I told you that some creatures are spawned from heaven and just supplanted on this earth? My trust dog Ithie, is one such phenomenon. Our family home is in a sleepy part of VolgoGrad, by the sea, a stand alone house in the quietest part of the world. It is lost in time, hidden amongst rows of trees and beautiful flowers. I go there with my children every Sunday, so they can meet their grandparents and play. It is fairly close to my own parents home, where the children go on Saturdays to play. So it was in this sleepy home, that a young white fawn would come and take shelter under the overhanging roof, trying to stay away from the rain and heat. She wanted no food, she wanted no water. She merely wanted love and a place to call her own. They say we don't choose our dogs, they choose us. In our case, this was the gospel truth. The children would play with her, throwing a ball, pulling her curly tail, and she would gently allow them to do so. She stole my heart and all I wanted was to take her home! Unfortunately Count Dnyanovich and our favourite Ashapovich raised objections. 'who will take care of her? What will she do in the day when we are away?" they objected. I longingly caressed her head and soft ears, and kissed the top of her perfect triangular snout. My fourtieth birthday was round the corner, and coinciding with that, was the boys' rite of passage where they are officially annointed as Priests of the order. It is a symbolic event, since they no longer go to the forest to stay with a teacher and beg for alms. So in essence, it was a precious time when all the stars aligned and the fawn sparked a series of chemical reactions in the brain of the Count, and he decided to bring her home. It was a tender extraction, where she sat quivering in our carriage and didn't eat any food nor drink water for the next 24 hours in our castle. On the 25th hour, she came into my bed, nuzzled my shoulder and has never looked back! Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you like animals?
I count down the hours till your reply....
Madame D
((The Guest rises to start her day. She sits by the son listening to him hash his way through algebra, her thoughts lost in a country far far away....))