👶 for a moodboard about my muse’s childhood
“dorcas bethany,”
the sharp tone of alanis selwyn cut through the words on the page before her. dorcas looked up sharply. it felt like they’d been sitting in this shop for hours. her grandmother had always taken pleasure in a long shopping trip. there was no telling how much time had passed since she’d taken up residence in the quiet corner with her old leather text. dorcas was used to being left alone both in the townhouse and about the town. even the more curious townsfolk knew not to speak to her lest they face the woman speaking so directly now.
“yes ma’am?”
alanis passed off some garment made of silk looking fabric to the store’s clerk and dismissed them with a wave of her hand. dorcas could tell they looked irritated by her grandmother’s attitude.
“it is time to go. follow me.” the older woman turned precisely so that she could make her purchases at the counter. however, she stopped and looked back over her shoulder. her eyes were like a smoldering hearth. “before we leave, you will apologize for your behavior.”
the instruction confused her. it wasn’t out of the ordinary for her grandmother to tell her what to do. on the contrary, actually. however, usually it was warranted. “my behavior?”
“are you so content to fade into the background? to become furniture in the world around you? I should think not. you are more than a peon and you will behave as such. apologize to the storekeeper for not greeting them when we entered, for ignoring them while we shopped, and for your disinterest in their wares. you’ve used them for nothing more than a roof. that is not how a proper person conducts oneself in public. unless you’d like to prove yourself the equal of your mother, you should endeavor to be more considerate. apologize and meet me outside.”
