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I then returned to my Duties. As I lifted a plant back onto its
pedestal—the pot had fortunately not broken—I observed the
Grandmother, at the top of the staircase now, observing me. Her
expression (at a distance, however, emotions are more difficult to
discern) was comparable to disdain. She abruptly turned then,
and hand-in-hand with the Boy, walked past the portrait, down
the upstairs hall, and into the regions of the Manor with which I
am unfamiliar.
On days of rain, my Mistress, in especial, requires more
tending than usual. As usual, I brush her hair, while she
watches her programs. Her preferred program is one entitled
Mossgrave Mansion, which illustrates the private life of a wealthy
family. Though watching television is not among my duties, I
have over-observed and heard many fragments of this program
in particular. Over the course of a year, the principle character
on Mossgrave Mansion, Lady Mossgrave, has been kidnapped,
blackmailed, buried alive, accused of arson, accused of murder,
and even murdered (though she continues to live). “Why can’t
my life be like that” my Mistress will say to me, sighing, while I
brush her hair. My Mistress is an intricate woman.
When she grows bored of television, my Mistress will ask
me to read to her (there are a million texts in my Reservoir), or
transmit music. When her boredom is extreme she will even,
though she does not excel at games, challenge me to a game of
checkers. While I have yet to be defeated, I have found it beneficial,
on occasion, to permit her an artificial victory.
“I’m so bored,” said my Mistress, that day, as I brushed
her hair.
Though as a rule my Mistress is easily bored, I consider it
a failing when I cannot amuse her.
“Would you care to play checkers, Mistress” I asked her.
She pressed her lips together, but did not answer. From
this I understood that, while she truly did wish to play, she
preferred to do so at her own request, only. Experience informed
me that she would allow several minutes to pass, and then make
8 Writing Tomorrow Magazine