Founders day

The Founder's Day Ball, an evening uniting residents of all ages and backgrounds, both human and werewolf, was approaching.

The town boasted a vibrant history; initially settled by subsistence farmers, it had flourished over the years as they amassed wealth and population.

Expanding their territory, they leased land to interested individuals. The annual celebration marked their collective achievements with festive fanfare.

Arielle fussed over the ball, dreaming of finding a mate there. Only at such events did she feel truly pretty; on regular days, she considered herself just passable. Imagining her appearance at the ball, she envisioned herself in expensive, albeit flashy, dresses adorned with jewelry. She hoped that dressing to impress might lead her to a potential mate.

"Mom, I still have no idea what to wear, and the ball is just two days away," she exclaimed to Mrs. Zaynader over breakfast.

"Language, girl," Mr. Zaynader reprimanded, to which she rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, Arielle," Mrs. Zaynader said, placing one hand over her daughter's.

"There's still much time."

"Much time, you say, Mom?" Arielle questioned.

"Come on, I still need someone to do my makeup and other things like clothing and accessories. There's barely enough time, Mom."

Mr. Zaynader, often sickened by his daughter's demanding approach to preparing for the ball, buried his face in his phone, reviewing work briefs sent via email.

"Okay, then, baby. Why don't we start today?"

Mrs. Zaynader suggested, raising her head to face her daughter. As she observed Arielle's features, a pang of regret resurfaced.

Arielle had inherited her father's broad, almost masculine features despite not being as plump. Her uneven face and bulbous nose mirrored her dad's, making her look unattractive.

"If only she looked like me," Mrs. Zaynader had said to herself.

"Now you're talking, Mom," Arielle exclaimed, her eyes sparkling excitedly.

"So where do we start?" Mrs. Zaynader asked, trying to muster genuine interest.

"Well, obviously, we have to get a dress," Arielle stated.

"I want my dress to outshine the rest, to captivate every gaze. Unlike the one I wore for the last ball, which practically faded into the background. I need something that'll radiate, like a solitary star in the sky. Can you picture it, Mom?"

"Mm-hmm," Mrs. Zaynader nodded eagerly, catching a glimmer of her daughter's vision.

Mr. Zaynader excused himself, and Mrs. Zaynader rolled her eyes at him. He might not be thrilled about it, but he was still on the hook for covering the bills for Arielle's dress and anything else she needed to look stunning for the ball.

"Good. So we must find a way to get this show-stealing dress."

"Okay. We're going to have to go to a mall, then."

"What? A mall? Ugh, Mom, that's just classless. Look, I'll contact a designer I found online. She's brilliant; I've seen some of her work, and they're explosive. Maybe I'll find something I like."

"Well, if you're going to do it, you should do so now."

"Of course," Arielle said, rising from her seat. "I'll just get my laptop."

As she left, Claudine entered the dining room.

"Fucking rat," Arielle muttered under her breath to Claudine, giving her a little shove.

"Good morning, ma'am," Claudine greeted Mrs. Zaynader as she regained her balance. Mrs. Zaynader only nodded, lost in thought.

"Are you done with your work, girl?" Mrs. Zaynader inquired of Claudine.

"I am," Claudine replied.

All morning, Claudine had been diligently doing the dishes despite the perfectly functional dishwasher that Arielle insisted should remain untouched.

After completing the kitchen chores, she tackled the daunting task of cleaning and organizing Arielle's chaotic room. The effort left her muscles aching and throbbing.

Finally finished, Claudine prepared to settle in for breakfast. Knowing she couldn't sit at the dining table, she put her food on a plate, intending to take it to the outhouse. Arielle returned just as she was finishing.

Arielle shoved her again, this time with more force, causing Claudine to stumble backward.

The coffee mug she had poured for herself spilled onto the table, and the mug crashed onto the marble floor, breaking into three neat pieces.

"Clumsy fuck!" Arielle exclaimed, smacking Claudine across the face.

"Watch where you're going?"

Arielle sat back down, her attention fixed on the laptop. Claudine, irritated by the incident, could do nothing but stare—at the broken mug, at the plates on the table, and at Mrs. Zaynader, who, despite the commotion, did not lift her head.

"Clean this up," Arielle instructed coldly.

"Don't just stand there gawking like a fucking retard."

Claudine retrieved a mop and a freshly laundered tablecloth, returning to the scene. Mrs. Zaynader, absorbed in Arielle's laptop, wore a vacant expression while Arielle animatedly discussed dress options.

"How about this one, Mom?" Arielle suggested. "I think it'd look good on me."

Mrs. Zaynader hesitated, studying the screen. "This seems rather ostentatious, doesn't it?"

Arielle's eyes widened. "What does that even mean, Mom?"

Claudine focused on her cleaning tasks and wiped the table meticulously.

She poured herself another mug of coffee, avoiding drawing attention to her presence, all the while absorbing the conversation.

"Showy, Arielle, it means showy," Mrs. Zaynader explained.

Arielle continued her quest for the perfect dress.

"Well, that's not far from what I want," Arielle smiled.

"I want to be the belle of the ball, to glow that night. What better way than with a flashy dress?"

The word "ostentatious" rolled off her tongue with a playful smirk.

As the two continued their fashion discussion, Claudine, still curious about the mysterious ball, quietly carried her plate away. Lost in her thoughts, she wondered about the event and asked Ezrianna, whom she planned to visit later.

"Well, baby, if it's what you want, it looks good," Mrs. Zaynader concluded. "You'll look beautiful in anything, you know. You're a pretty girl."

"Aww, thanks, Mom," Arielle blushed.

"I have a feeling this year is my year, that I'll finally find a mate. I can feel it in my guts."

"I wish you good luck, baby. Your dad and I only want the best for you."

With a kiss on her daughter's forehead, Mrs. Zaynader rose and retreated inside the house, leaving the lingering atmosphere of anticipation.

***

Claudine fell into a predictable rhythm, realizing that life with the Zaynaders didn't have to be as agonizing as she initially thought. Each morning, she has brought a cascade of chores—intense cleaning, hand washing clothes and dishes (thanks to Arielle's ban on the washing machines). Breakfast followed after chores, and on fortunate days, she managed to avoid Arielle's presence for the rest of the day. Also, life became less agonizing once she realized she could slip out at night to seek refuge in the woods, where she could meet Ezrianna and temporarily escape the challenges of her daily life.

So that evening, she snuck out again to visit Ezrianna.

"Ohh, hi there," Ezrianna greeted cheerily as Claudine stepped into the clearing.

"You're here."

"Yeah, I'm here at last." The two girls embraced warmly.

"I thought you weren't going to make it," Ezrianna remarked.

"Ahh, I had to be very watchful," Claudine replied, calm.

"My foster family, especially Arielle, my elder sister, would kill me if they saw me sneaking out."

"That's terrible," Ezrianna said, her expression shifting to a sudden seriousness.

Guiding Claudine to their usual rock, they both sat. Ezrianna retrieved a basket filled with food and handed it over to her.

Claudine, ever mindful of the limited time for these clandestine meetings, ate quickly, not taking to savour the deliciousness.

Under the moon's glow, Claudine poured out her heart to Ezrianna, recounting the morning's tribulations.

The words flowed with a torrent of suppressed emotions as she painted a vivid picture of her struggles within the Zaynaders' household. Ezrianna listened attentively, her surprise growing with each revelation.

"And while I was cleaning the floor, they were looking for a dress that Arielle would flaunt at a ball," Claudine mentioned.

"Oh, the Founder's Day ball!" Ezrianna said with recognition.

"Something like that, yeah. I was meaning to ask, what's that all about?"

"The founder's day ball is just a frivolous activity where the locals gather to indulge in excessive eating and drinking, and their children get a shot at mingling with each other."

Ezrianna winked at Claudine at the last part.

"I see. Arielle seemed very serious with it."

"Most girls are like that. Maybe she wants a boyfriend or something. Tell me, is she pretty?"

Claudine had never been one to appraise a person's looks, but she knew pretty was not the word for Arielle.

"I don't know," Claudine replied.

"I can't exactly say."

Ezrianna nodded in understanding. "Well, if she is, the ball is a nice place to get a date."

"Have you ever been to one before?" Claudine asked, finishing the last bite of her food.

"Well, yes, I have. But I got bored and left early. There's nothing special about it, just a bunch of mindless town folk."