The Cinder Bullies (16)

Maddie was furious when her mother let it slip accidentally, that she was going to be excluded from the welcome home party. She knew that her sisters and their friends, including all of her own, former friends were all going to attend, even though they had not been invited. Scullery maids would not be included, like always.

"Now what am I supposed to do?" she screamed at her mother. "I was raised to be a young lady, not a scullery maid!"

"How dare you talk to me like that!" her mother yelled back, angrily. "You will do what you are told. Someone has to be here to tend the fire!"

There was no doubt that her assigned role was just like Cindy's had been, previously. She knew that the only way to get out of it, to change anything associated with her assigned life as a scullery maid, she would have to find a way to escape.

"Don't even think of leaving!"

It was as if her mother had just read her mind.

"Maddie, get these floors scrubbed, now!"

"Mother, do you have to be so mean?" She could not help but remember how cruel everyone including her mother, had been to Cindy.

"Cindy finally did escape," thought Maddie. "Now, I don't blame her for running away. I just wish I knew where she was."

In the other room, she could hear her sisters arguing. They were fighting over the gowns that they wanted to wear to the welcome home party. Maddie hoped that they would not try to steal her best gown, but knew that between them all, they would probably do that, too. If it fit even one of them, it would be gone for good, and she would never get it back again. They probably would not even tell her either, as none of them were allowed to speak to her. Maddie sat down on the floor by the fireplace and cried buckets of tears, real tears, not crocodile tears.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door and several of her former friends stood there looking at her. They were appalled at what they saw.

"You must have heard," said one of them. "You look like such a mess now. Let's get out of here, ladies!"

"Do you all have to gloat?" yelled Maddie. "This could be you!"

The young women laughed aloud at her words, and then left immediately. Maddie was reduced to tears, again.

"Well, she knows about the welcome home party now!" Maddie heard one of them say to the others, as they left.

"Too bad for her, too." one of the young women replied.

Maddie was familiar with how cruel the tongues of these young women could be at times, but unfortunately for her, she was the object of all the ridicule, not Cindy.

"I guess I am getting my own medicine back now," she said aloud.

"Scullery maids do not ever get to associate with young ladies," her mother said firmly, as she walked back into the room. "You had better get used to that fact!"

Maddie realized that her mother must have overheard them talking to her.

"I am really surprised that they came over here at all. I will have to speak to them, so they do not ever come back to see you."

"But they were my friends!" yelled Maddie, angrily.

"Scullery maids do not have friends!"

Her mother was determined not to allow Maddie any opportunity to see anyone, in accordance with the social rules of the day for for scullery maids.

"Mother! You are being so cruel!"

"Be silent!" her mother ordered. "You are not allowed to speak, only to be spoken to by others."

"But, I have never been a scullery maid. I was not born one and I will never be one," protested Maddie.
Her words just fell on deaf ears.