Meet The Family

As James and Theodore enter their new home, they are amazed by its interior. It had red walls with portraits hung on the walls. Both of them look at all sides of the house as they follow Dr. Wright. Meanwhile, the butler was behind them looking at them with disgust.

"There will be a time that you two will be out of here, street rats," the butler whispered. Theodore stopped in his tracks and turned around to glare at him. The butler smirked at the young boy.

"Should I tell Mr. Wright to remind you again?" Theodore answered. "His mother belonged to our kind before. Now, you are serving her. How does that make you?"

"An idiot!" James replied. The boys laughed and continued to walk behind Dr. Wright. They stopped when they saw Dr. Wright staring at them. They became terrified that Dr. Wright will throw them out because they were misbehaving. To their surprise, Dr. Wright knelt to the ground and patted their heads with a smile on his face.

The butler outburst his dismay. "Why did you let these boys live in this home? They both don't deserve to be here! They belong in the streets like any filthy street rats." His hands clenched to a fist as if he was ready to drag the boys out of the mansion.

The butler's attitude angered Dr. Wright. He immediately let the boys hold on to him before the butler will come and drag them out of the house. The boys held on tight to Dr. Wright's legs. A calming voice was then heard from the stairs.

"What is going here?" the voice said. Dr. Wright and the boys turned around, and they both saw a woman in her sixties. Her blonde hair was in a neat bun and she wore a red velvet dress like any other ladies from the middle to the higher classes.

The woman walked down the stairs slowly and walked towards Dr. Wright. Her aura was peaceful and calm, as any mother whether they are poor or rich.

"Good day, mother," Dr. Wright said. "Let me introduce you to Theodore and James."

"Are these the boys that you have been telling me these past few months?" she asked. Dr. Wright nodded before she knelt in front of them. She extended her arms to welcome the boys. "Come here, my grandchildren."

Theodore and James looked at each other and were shaking, thinking if they would hug her or run away from fear. The woman giggled, lowered her arms, and stood up from the ground. She held her hands together and smiled at them.

"I understand that you are still afraid," she said to them. "I am like you before. I used to work as a waitress in a pub in downtown London, and I have become their maid as well." She then turned to Walter. "Let them be, Walter. Time will come that they will call me 'grandmother'. How about the three of you help me prepare dinner with the maids? It will be our first dinner together."

Walter nodded and followed his mother as they walked to the kitchen altogether. When they got inside, five maids were working there. One is carrying the ingredients to the kitchen. Two are preparing the food, while the remaining two are cooking them. They both suddenly let go of Dr. Wright and went to different areas of the kitchen, enchanted by the aroma. Everyone giggled as the boys ran from one place to another.

"Is this the first time that you've smelled this?" Dr. Wright asked. "I always let you share my food when we eat together in the clinic."

"Yes, we do," James said. "However, it is different when it is cooked fresh."

"Can I help to peel the potatoes, Dr. Wright?" Theodore asked.

"Sure," Dr. Wright replied. "However, in one condition." The boys stopped and looked at him. "You will no longer call me 'Dr. Wright' or 'Dr. Walter'. You can call me 'father' from now on." The boys nodded and smiled. "Also, you can call my mother, 'grandmother'."

"Where is grandfather, then?" James asked.

"He is gone as of the moment," the woman said. "He will be back tonight." He then turned to Walter. "The Duke has been annoying him and begging him to come to his manor for a cup of tea."

"I bet he's looking for company, I suppose," Walter said. "Shall we go and help in the kitchen?"

The boys nodded and decided to help in the kitchen. Theodore helped in peeling the dishes while James helped in mixing the ingredients. Dr. Wright removed his coat and lent a hand in carrying the ingredients to the kitchen. Dr. Wright's mother helped in cleaning the meat.

After helping in the kitchen, the boys decided to help in preparing the kitchen. However, the maids refused assistance and told them to wait at the table. They obeyed and went to the table where Dr. Wright and their grandmother were sitting. They sat down and waited patiently for the food.

"How is the experience?" their grandmother asked. "Do you like it here?"

"Yes, we do," Theodore said. "Thank you for letting us stay here, grandmother."

"I am curious. Where are your parents?"

"My mother was nowhere to be found," James replied.

"I see. How about you, Theodore?"

"My father has been missing for months now," Theodore answered. "My mother was taken away by the police for accusing Lord Thompson of killing my father without proof. I never heard anything from her ever since."

The woman was shocked to hear their story. She heard of Lord Thompson. He is rumored to be brutal to his maids and servants there at his home. The woman paused and took a deep breath.

"Don't worry, my loves," she finally said. "We'll try our best to look for them if we have the chance. We would like to let them know that you boys are safe and well-taken care of." She then turned to Walter. "Walter, dear, have you chosen a school for them already?"

"Not yet, mother," Walter said. "I will check if there is an exclusive school we can enroll them in."

Theodore and James looked at each other and couldn't believe their ears. It has been a long time since they talked about going to school. Now, it is all coming true. They can't wait to experience what it felt like, but they felt fear towards the harsh reality that other kids will pick on them because of their real stature.

"Don't be scared, children," their grandmother said. "I will hire a tutor to teach you proper manners and act like one of the nobles. You are part of the noble family after all."

"Thank you, grandmother," Theodore said. "However, why the two of us?"

Their grandmother smiled and said, "Because Walter has told me stories about you. The two of you shared a dream of becoming a professional one day, most especially you, Theodore. Walter told me that you are into reading books while James wanted to learn. At the same time, I am getting old. I wanted Walter to become a father, but how could he? A lot of women were already in line to marry him, but he never picked one."

"I am already happy, mother, even though I am just a single father," Walter replied.

Finally, food was served on the table. The food they cooked earlier was placed on the table and ready to be feasted on. From steak to ribs, to soup, bread, and food that is hard to pronounce. They started to dig into the food. As they ate, the butler was watching them on the side, still outraged by seeing the boys eating with them.

"This is rubbish!" the butler said. "I will not serve these boys. They don't belong here. You two should eat with the other servants. You eat in the stables where animals like you belong to."

"You better watch your mouth," their grandmother said. "How dare you insult my grandchildren! You are the animal here!"

"You may be the wife of Lord Wright, but you still have a title of a street rat," the butler argued. Suddenly, somebody punched him by his left temple, knocking him to the ground.

"How can a butler, like you, insult my wife?" the man said. "I trusted you with all my life, up to the day that I married her. I will have your bags prepared tonight so you can leave tomorrow morning."

"Please, sir, forgive me!" the butler said. "I didn't mean to say it!"

"My decision is final. Now, let me have my dinner with my family," he said as he turned to the table and sat beside his wife. He noticed the two boys sitting at the table with them. "Oh, hello? You didn't tell me you have guests. Who are these charming boys?"

"Those are my sons, father," Walter said. "I would like you to meet Theodore and James."

Walter's eyes widened. "Sons?"