The May Sisters. Ch. 1. 1st 4 pgs.

Chapter One
Annemarie sat in the garden, sweeping her hand over the fresh green grass thoughtlessly. Her dress would shrilly suffer from the long impact of the grass on it. Inside, Caitlin washed the dishes, starring out the window into space, dreaming. Up in her room, Ellen lay on her bead, arms spread out like wings, looking at the ceiling above her. Everything seemed so lifeless after their mothers passing. Their father, John May, worked for a newspaper and was once in the military. Their mother had always been rich, providing the beautiful big house they lived in and all the lovely flowers, trees and plants in the garden. But now, without her, everything seemed to be in a shade of gray. Their mother had died in childbirth and the baby, a little boy, did not survive either. Ann, alas Annemarie, felt a drop of water on her cheek and looked up. Just like she felt, a rainstorm was coming in. And fast. At sixteen she was now the second oldest woman in the house, two years younger than eighteen year old Ellen and three years older than thirteen-year-old Caitlin. Slowly, as if in a daze, Ann got up and walked inside to the decorative living room. Rose, twenty, was stitching quietly by the fireplace, which held no fire since it was spring. She was married, but had come to stay with her younger sisters for some time to help them with Mother’s death. Caitlin also came in, walking as if in a daze and Ellen came down the stairs the same way.
“Come now.” Rose said cheerfully, putting her sewing aside with a smile. “You don’t want to spend the rest of your life like this, do you? Mother passed away in a common way and we enjoyed her life greatly. She would want us to be happy, helping and full of life. Not grieving her so.”
The other three girls cast glances at each other. One of the maids, Felicia, came in and light the fireplace, which started to warm the room.
“I know what will cheer you up.” Rose said, trying to get them happy once again. “Why not we go to the seaside for a week? We can leave all the painful memories behind here and fully enjoy ourselves.”
Still, the only thing that happened was glances and downcast eyes.
“Now don’t tell me you don’t like the idea?” Rose asked, slightly amazed. They had always loved the seaside and jumped at every chance they got to go. “Come girls, don’t you wish to go?” She smiled and looked at each of them.
“We like it.” Ellen said finally, her eyes looking briefly at her sisters. “But we don’t want to go,” She paused, “Without Mother.”
Rose stood, hands on her hips, lightly glaring at them.
“You all are being so lazy. We will have to recover someday and all you’re doing is putting it off. If you don’t start to patch yourselves up, you’ll never enjoy life again!”
And with that she left, tramping up to her room. Her days of lifelessness, crying and grieving had been two or three days before and now she was ready to enjoy life again. She’d been tearful and sad for nearly two weeks, but her younger sisters were still sad and it had been nearly a month. Meanwhile, down in the living room, the girls were talking quietly.
“Do you think she’s packing?” Caitlin questioned, spending a minute on each sisters face.
“No.” Ellen answered quickly. “She said she wouldn’t leave till the end of the month.”
“Its almost the end of the month now.” Ann pointed out.
“Oh dear, it has gone by fast.”
“Yes.”
Silence washed over them as each girl spent time in her own private thoughts.
“Shall we go to the seaside?” Ellen asked, lifting her head and straightening her back.
“It will only bring back memories.” Ann insisted, doing the same. “I don’t want to bring back any memories.”
“But they’ll be happy.” Caitlin put in. “Remember the last time-”
“I don’t want to remember the last time!” Ann cried hotly, standing up and walking quickly out of the room.
In the silence the oldest and youngest looked at each other.
“Shall we go?” Caitlin finally asked quietly. “We could. I like the shells.”
“I like the waves and sand. Its peaceful but fun.”
“We could go.” Ellen said mainly to herself. “We wouldn’t be hurting anyone. Ann doesn’t have to come.”
“We are being quiet lazy.” Caitlin reflected. “And we need a bit of fun.”
As if agreeing together in their minds, they got up and walked to Rose’s room. Ellen lightly knocked.
“Come in.”
Together, clasping each other’s hands, the sisters went in.
They looked at each other, then Ellen said, “We’d like to go to the seaside.”
Rose’s arms stopped peeling back the covers of the bed. She starred at them, then encircled both in a loving hug.
“I’m glad, we’ll help each other come back to life again. And then we’ll all help Ann.”
For the first timer in nearly four weeks, they all smiled. The trip to the seaside was wonderful and they all enjoyed themselves. Ann stayed at home and helped the two maids, Felicia and Edith. She also helped the servant, Tomas, but not as much as the maids. Her life took on little meaning, all the time letting her mind go back to the days when Mother was alive. When Rose, Caitlin and Ellen returned, Ann was still sad, depressed and lonely. She spent lots of time in her room and often cried past midnight. It had been four weeks and due to her promise to return to her husband and home, Rose had to leave. Ellen and Caitlin cried some, sad to see their loving sister leave. She had almost become a second mother to them and now it seemed like the old aching hole was back. But Ellen and Caitlin didn’t want it back this time. They took walks in the garden and sewed. Ellen told Caitlin about some of her childhood adventures, sometimes including Mother, sometimes not. Soon they found themselves nearly as happy as they used to be.