OBSTACLES [9]

Today was especially special, as they both get to escape from the Kellard, Mr Richard and of course, Bernadette.
Alethea skipped her way to the farm. Damon was also excited but in his mind was still trying to find any flaws in their plans.
Alethea whispered a 'goodbye' to each of the animals that she tended to.

"OK Alethea, when we go back to the house." said Damon to Alethea, "We go straight to the living room."
"Why living room? Aren't we suppose to find Mrs Kellard?"
"Mrs Kellard is always in the living room. We ask her whether we can go out to buy our clothes that she promised us once every three months."
Alethea nodded.
Damon and Alethea walked back to the house, hoping not to see Bernadette.

"Ready? This is it!" said Damon suddenly feeling very nervous.
They both entered the living room and saw Mrs Kellard sleeping in the middle of her soap opera, snoring like a pig.
Alethea decided that she should let Damon do the talking and so she just stood at the living room's doorway.
Damon walked carefully around the empty beer cans and potato chips sprawled all over the floor. Finally reaching the sofa where Mrs Kellard lay snoring, Damon hesitated for a while he looked at Alethea. Alethea gave him an encouraging smile. Damon took a deep breathe in and then he cleared his throat as loudly as he can.
The sound startled Mrs Kellard awake. She wanted to kill the person that woke her up from dancing with the most handsomest man she had ever seen but sadly it was only a dream.
"I'm gonna kill you! What do you want?" shouted Mrs Kellard feeling very annoyed.
Damon looked at Alethea one last time and said, "Well you promised us that we could buy a new set of clothes every three months. Well i think maybe today could be the day where we can ... get the clothes?"
"What? When the hell did i say that?" Mrs Kellard looked cluelessly at Damon.
"You did ma'am" said Alethea.
Mrs Kellard turned her head and saw Alethea.
"So, you two are ganging up on me is it?" Mrs Kellard said in a threatening voice.
"No, definitely not. We just think that it was time to get a set of new clothes." Damon said.
"Fine, if i give you the money would you leave me alone?" sighed Mrs Kellard.
Both Alethea and Damon nodded their heads.
With one last sigh, Mrs Kellard got up slowly and walked to the kitchen table where her purse was. She shuffled through her notes that she had in her purse.
Finally Mrs kellard took out two notes.
"Here you go. two dollars each." and Mrs Kellard chuckled while she handed them both each a two dollar note.
Alethea was about to say something, but before anything could come out from her mouth Damon gave her a stern look.
"Thank you." Damon said softly and walked away with Alethea.

They snuck into the basement to get their bags and they both walked silently out the door not wanting to let Bernadette in particular to see them walk out the door.
Luckily for them Bernadette was in sight.
once they walked out the front gate, Alethea started to grumble to Damon.
"Two bucks? She's cruel!"
"I know Alethea. But at least we gotten permission to leave the farm."
"I guess your right. What do we do now?'
"Now we need to go to the market. I need to see someone."
"Who?"
"Never mind who. Come on let's go."
Alethea did not give a second thought about who they were going to meet as she was used to Damon keeping secrets from her.

When they reached the market, Alethea was mesmerised by the millions of people she saw.
The people were all in different shapes. Fat, thin, tall, short. people with funny hair.
Alethea could not stop smiling.
Damon looked side ways and saw Alethea smile made him smile too.
"Well Alethea, welcome to the ever so crowded market."
Not wanting to be separated in the crowd, Damon had a reason to take hold of her hand.
Alethea did not mind.
After a minutes of pushing through the bustling crowd they finally reached their destination.
It was a big green tent which was, like where those fortune tellers live.
Damon told Alethea to stay outside and that he would be a while.
Damon gave Alethea the two bucks, "you can go buy something cheap, near this tent. Don't go too far."
Alethea nodded her head like a good girl.
As Damon entered the tent having one last look at Alethea, Alethea walked straight towards the nearest stand.
It sold loads of beautiful jewelery.
At the corner or Alethea's eye, she saw the most beautiful necklace. It had a small silver teddy bear and it was holding a red heart.
"is this to your liking?"
Alethea looked up and saw sweet kind old lady looking at her.
"Yes i am, how much isit?"
"6 dollars." said the lady with a smile.
Alethea looked at the two dollar bill she had in her hand.

Nearby, Wilfred, Mr Richard's servant boy was watching Alethea.
Wilfred fancied her.
Knowing that Alethea did not have enough money he checked his pocket and had seven dollars.
With a smile, Wilfred approached Alethea with much confidence.

"Could sell it at a cheaper price please?" begged Alethea.
The owner of the shop, sympathetically looked at Alethea and shook her head.
Alethea tried to negotiate again. Something inside her needed to get that necklace.
Just as all hope was lost, Alethea felt a light tap on her right shoulder.
Alethea turned around. She saw a guy around her age smiling at her.

"WIlfred?" said Alethea
"Hi."
"Oh, Wilfred!" said the owner of the shop running towards Wilfred. While pinching his cheeks and ruffling his hair, "How have you been? Would you like to come by my house for dinner tonight?"
"Oh Mrs Cherene, i can't," said Wilfred as he cupped both her wrinkly old hands.
Wilfred saw Mrs Cherene's pout, "But, what i can do is," as Wilfred picked up the necklace that Alethea wanted to buy. "buy this necklace."
Alethea was standing by their side overwhelmed by the owner's reaction as she saw Wilfred.
After Wilfred bought the necklace, he turned to Alethea.
"Here you go."
"Huh? what?" said Alethea surprised as he handed Alethea the teddy bear necklace.
"You wanted this, but you did not have enough money, so here. Accept it."
"Oh, ok." said Alethea ginning from ear to ear.
"Come here, let me put it on for you,"
Alethea stood in front of Wilfred as he put the necklace.
After putting the necklace on Alethea, Wilfred turned her around to face him.
Alethea looked down and saw the necklace dangling around her neck, "it's beautiful, thanks."
"Just like you." said Wilfred confidently.

"Oh." Alethea had nothing much to say.

Wilfred leaned forward to Alethea, and gave her a peck on the cheek.
Alethea was overwhelmed by it.
"Wilfred..." Alethea couldn't find the right words. "You know this will never work out."
"Why not?" said Wilfred confidently.
"You work for Mr. Richard. I work for the Kellards. It will never..."
Just then, Damon grabbed Alethea by the arm and pulled her away.
"Ouch!" wailed Alethea.
"We have the go now." said Damon in a very deep and constricted voice.