The Land of the Lambs

The Land of The Lambs

My story begins like all stories do-when I was a baby. I was born to a peasant family. Daddy worked in the fields all day. He would get up every morning as soon as the sun got up in the sky, to head to work in the fields. Mama would rock me when I was a baby, in an old rocking chair by the fire. Daddy would kiss me on the head and mama on the cheek. He then would smile, say good-bye, and work until the sun went down in the evening. If we were lucky, he would bring home some meat. Normally it was a little bit of bacon. This was a treat. A celebration for all of us. As a toddler I would dance for joy when Daddy could bring home some bacon and a loaf of bread for us all. Daddy, being weak and in pain from a hard day’s work smiled and picked me up, holding me close to his chest. “Oh Beatrice, your smile sure does make a poor man rich” he would say softly. I loved my Daddy. I didn’t notice that we were peasants. As long as I had my Mama, Daddy, and a little food in my stomach, that’s all I needed to be happy. But one day, all that changed.

One day Daddy got very sick. My Mama thought the bitter labour finally got to him. He was up all night, coughing, and sweating. The next morning, Mama couldn’t wake him. She sat by his bed weeping, yelling at him to wake up, but he wouldn’t. She threw me into the wagon to head into town. A local doctor offered his services to us for free, knowing that we were too poor to afford him. After taking one look at my Daddy, the doctor’s face fell. “I’m sorry Mrs. Bennet, there's nothing we can do. He’s too far gone.” I was only 5. What would I do without my daddy? I ran off outside. I knew my Daddy would not make it another day. I ran and I ran, and I ran. Not sure what I was running to, nor what I was running from. I just ran through the fields screaming, until I fell face down in the dirt, collapsing and gasping for air. Mama came running after me, and finding me face down in the dirt swooped me up, weeping and screaming “Your father’s gone. And I can’t lose you too. Please don’t run from me again.”

Mama carried on after my daddy died for another 5 years. Everyday mama and I would go and work, doing the same work Daddy did. It was a difficult life for my mama, and for me. But rent still had to be paid. We still had work to bring home food. I couldn’t go to school like the children of the aristocrats. I wanted to read books. I wanted to learn how to read, but I couldn’t. My mama started to get sick to, just like Daddy did. She would come home weaker and weaker, until one day she couldn't get out of bed anymore. The knight my dad worked for called in the same doctor. “She’s too far gone.” he sighed. I watched as my mama took her last breath. I held her hand and I cried. Not just because she was gone but because now I was an orphan.

I’m not sure how long I sat there, curled up beside my mama’s bed. I buried my face in my knees, not even looking up as the workers from the cemetery came to carry my mama away. I probably sat there all day, until a strong forceful hand snatched me up from beside the bed. I glared into the face of an old big man with gray hair “You're going to have to come with us little girl….your going to the orphanage.”

“Leave me alone! I’m staying here! I”m 10 years old, I can care for myself!” I tried escaping the grip of his strong hands, but couldn’t. Just then 2 other men, one of which was the constable grabbed me, and dragged me out. “You need someone to take care of you, your just a young one with no other living family members. You’ll join the other children in the orphanage. They’ll take good care of you. You’ll get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, clothes. Everything you need.”

I screamed and cried at the top of my lungs. “Get away from me!” I didn’t even get a chance to look back at my cottage for the last time, before they drug me into the carriage to head to the orphanage. I finally stopped screaming and crying after a few minutes because all the crying was making me sleepy. I tried to catch my breath. The road of the orphanage seemed like it took forever. I didn’t notice the time pass by much, and all I could think about, was how my life would never again be the same, how my childhood was gone, and was gone for good. I was alone in the world now. I was an orphan

3 Months have passed since my parents died. Being a Orphan at the local girl’s home I learned to become tough. The day started early, as soon as the sun rose up out of the sky. The head mistress, Miss Camilia would stomp into our room, and with a stern voice yell, “Everyone get up right now...get dressed, and wash your face in the basin” We learned to obey quickly, if not we would have to do extra chores after school-like scrub the floors in the dining area, or clean the chalkboards and desks in the school room. Several times I had to do hours worth of extra chores. My whole body would be sore, and my feet would throb. We would wake up in the morning, throw on our smock dresses, and get washed up. We would then head downstairs to eat breakfast before school. We would sit in the dining area waiting for our breakfast. Talking was allowed, but playing, laughing, or joking was not. Ms. Camilia would scream at us “No more breakfast for you and no supper tonight.” . Meals were light and simple. Breakfast was a bowl of porridge, lunch, a roll with butter, and dinner was a bowl of pottage, or stew.

After breakfast it was time for school. Pro bably the only good thing about school was learning to read and write-something I always wanted to learn, and spending time with Anna. Me and my best friend Anna would sneak notes to each other in class. We would also draw funny pictures of the headmistress with an extra big head or extra big lips, holding her cane. The only happiness in my day was exchanging funny drawings with Anna. Anna and I would sit together in the dining area. We would talk about what we would do if we ever got adopted, what type of family we would want, what type of house we would want to live in. Anna would stare off into space, and dreamily recount a story that her parents had told her before they died, about her uncle, who supposedly was a very rich man, in another land not far from there. A place called the land of the lambs. She said that if they could only escape the orphanage, she would take me with her, and we would go find her rich uncle, who she was sure would take us in. “They say that he lives in a mansion, with a pond, a large garden to run and play in , and all the food you could ever want.” Anna would tell me. We even thought about ways in which we could escape the orphanage. She decided that one night, when everyone else was asleep, we could sneak out the bedroom window, climb the fence in the back of the property, and be on foot, headed to town before anyone else knew we were gone. I thought it was crazy. It was a nice thought, but certainly Anna wasn’t daring enough to try it. Or so I thought….

One night, Anna woke me up out of a dead sleep and whispered in my ear “Beatrice, Beatrice, get up.” I woke up irritated “Anna, what…’ I whispered half asleep.

“Now is our chance Beatrice. Let’s do it. Let’s get out of here. Come on. “ Anna whispered, shaking my shoulder.

“Are you crazy Anna? We’ll get caught. Where will we go?” I asked,

“My uncle, the rich Aristocrat.”

“I don’t know Anna…” I hesitated.

“What's better staying here with the mean headmistress, or seeking something better?”

“What if she hears us trying to sneak out?” I wondered out loud

“So what…” whispered Anna “extra chores, maybe having to go to bed with no supper. At least we will know that we tried.”

I sat and hesitated for a few minutes, wondering if it was worth the risk. After determining that it was, we creeped over to the bedroom door slowly opening it, attempting not to make any noise. Anna crept out first, and then I followed. We snuck down the stairs, hoping the stairs didn’t creek too loudly to wake the headmistress. My heart pounded in fear. My stomach was in knots, and my palms were sweaty. We looked around trying to find a window to sneak out of. It was too risky to open the door. The door creaked and made too much noise. We couldn’t risk waking Miss Camilia. And then we found our chance. My heart leapt. Right in front of us, towards the back of the orphanage, was a window that someone had forgotten to close.

I looked over at Anna but Anna bravely looked at the open window and smiled. “Are you ready?” she whispered with excitement.

“After you Anna.” I spoke softly.

Anna climbed out the window, and I followed. I was astonished that we hadn’t yet woken someone up. We ran to the fence, trying not to make too much noise, and giggled. Were we really going to make it? Were we really going to be able to get out without getting caught? We climbed the broken fence near the back of the property that was leaning over. Perfect for climbing over. We climbed over the fence, and as soon as we stepped one foot outside of the property we looked at one another.

“Let’s run.” Anna said. We ran, and we ran, and we ran through the empty streets, the full moon being our only light. Certainly, we were going to run into something running through the darkness, but we ran anyway, until we couldn’t run anymore. We weren't sure where we were going, or what we were going to do but we decided that it would be better to find a place to rest for the night. We found a spot in the woods somewhere inside an old tree, and laid in the dirt, sleeping close to one another for body warmth. We had no blanket, and only the clothes on our backs. I fell fast asleep, exhausted from all the running, and woke up to the bright colors of the sunrise shining into my eyes.

“Anna, it’s daylight…” I said, shaking Anna awake.

“Let’s go into town then. Maybe we can steal some bread from a vendor. I don't know about you, but I’m starving.”

“ Me to…” I groaned. “Let’s go.”

When we got into town, I looked around. The merchants were just now getting set up to work. One of the merchants was eating on a roll as he worked. The marketplace began to become busy, and I figured that this would be the perfect opportunity to get to Anna to distract the merchant in order for me to steal the two rolls he had sitting on the table. She walked over to the food cart, and pretended to trip onto the floor and cry. While several people gathered around Anna, I snatched the rolls off the table, and hid them inside my dress. I then saw a cart full of grapes. I could almost taste the sweet juice on my tongue as I stared at those grapes on one of the food carts. Though I could have made my escape with the rolls, I decided that while everyone was distracted with Anna rolling around on the floor pretending she broke her leg, I was going to take my chances. I creeped over there, grabbed a bunch of grapes, and began to walk off, quietly, that is until I heard those dreadful words “Constable, that girl! Get her! The little thief just stole food from my market!”

I darted away as fast as I could, scared for my life. I knocked over carts, and lost my footing, as I slipped and fell to the hard ground face first. I busted my nose and mouth and couldn’t push myself to get back up before the constable grabbed me up by my hair with fiery rage. “To jail for you miss. That’s where thieves go. Escape from the orphanage I see. We’ll see how to like a stay in the town prison!”

The road to the prison was even longer than the orphanage. But this time, I didn’t cry. As they escorted me into my cell, and slammed the door, I sat down on the cement ground. Rain leaked through a hole in the roof, onto a bucket on the floor. I was in the cell all by myself, but other prisoners were all in separate cells around me. Some screamed, some cried, some just sat there motionless. As for me, I laid on that hard cement ground, and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to scream. I was too tired to scream or cry anymore. Images of my mama and daddy drifted into my memory, and I closed my eyes, trying to imagine their voices again, trying to see their faces again. It was the only thing that made me feel less sad. I somehow fell asleep, even through the misery, until I heard the voice of a man telling me it was time for supper. I opened my weary eyes, to see one of the guards extend his hand inside my cell with a loaf of bread. I grabbed the bread without saying a word and sat back down. I struggled to eat, but couldn’t eat much. I felt sick, and exhausted.

“ I heard that you stole’ the guard inquired “that’s why your here. What did you steal?”

‘A loaf of bread and some grapes.” I murmured.

“ You couldn't wait till you got home to eat?” the guard asked. “Where are your parents? How old are you?”

“Home, what home!” I snapped “ My parents are dead. I escaped from the orphanage. I was hungry, so I took some food. They caught me and took me here.”

“How old are you child?” the guard asked.

“10.” I replied quietly, turning my head away.

“I know someone who can help you.” He said with tears in his eyes. You remind me of my daughter at home. I can't look at her when i get home tonight with a good conscience if I refuse to help you.”

He left and I went back to sleep, not thinking much of what the guard had said. I wasn’t going to get my hopes up that someone could help me. I didn’t want to be disappointed. The next morning, I heard the guards voice again ringing in my ears. “Is it breakfast?” I asked sleepily.

“Yes child. You're coming to my house for breakfast. We're getting you out of here.” Someone said. It wasn’t the guard talking. It was another man. His voice sounded kind yet bold. I looked up and saw a man clothed in white robes, with a crown on his head and a purple shawl across his shoulders.

“What??” I whispered “who are you sir?” I asked, frightened. “Are you the king?”

“I am the king of the land of the lambs. The guard came to my castle last night, and told me about the situation that you were in. He was seeing if I could do anything to help you. Well I am right now.” I sat there, stunned to silence.

“Get the child out of here!” the king commanded the chief prison guard.

The chief prison guard knelt before the king “your honor” he said fearfully“your own law states that a thief must be put in debtor’s prison until that person works off their fine. She must pay back double what was stolen.”

The king took out a bag full of golden coins, and handed it to the chief prison guard. “Would this cover it?” He asked.

“Yes, your honor.” The guard answered softly.

“Now get her out so my daughter and I can come home.” He demanded sternly.

“Your daughter….are you ok your highness? You don’t have a child. This is just an orphan. Her parents are dead.”

“I am adopting her.” The king said. “We’ll head to the orphanage she came from so I can sign the paperwork. Now do as I have commanded you.”

“Yes your highness” the king said fearfully, as he opened the prison door.

I looked up to see the kind king standing in front of me.

“Are you really the king from the land of the lambs?” I asked, stunned. “Yes, and I am here to get you.”

“Why would you do that for me? Spend all that money on me to get me out of here, offer to take me into your place. You're the king. You have everything.”

“I may have a lot of material riches. But I want someone to love. A child to hand down my wealth to.”

“Why pick me?” I asked with tears “why me. I’m nothing.”

“That’s not what I say,” the king replied. “You're a princess now. Your royalty little one.”

He placed his hands on my face and lifted my head “Let’s get you out of here, get you cleaned up, and get you some royal garments,” he said smiling.

He took me by the hand and let me out of that prison, into freedom. I cried with joy, as everyone sat and stared. The whole prison was silent.

His carriage was one of luxury. The horses that pulled the carriage were beautiful white stallions. The wagon had soft cushioned seats, and was decorated with gold and pearls. The aroma of flowers lingered in the air.

We rode straight to the orphanage so that my new father could sign the adoption paperwork. I walked into that orphanage with a smile. My father behind me. I wasn’t scared anymore, I wasn’t intimidated.

“Beatrice! “ Shouted Ms. Camilia. “Thought you could run away hugh? Thought you could sneak off. I’ll teach you to run away again. I’ll get you a bucket, a mop and you can scrub the whole orphanage till you collapse from fatigue. I’ll wash that foolishness right out of your system young lady. Got your little friend Anna to. She’s in the kitchen washing dishes right now….”

“Is this the headmistress? Im here to sign the paperwork to adopt Beatrice ” The king asked boldly.

Ms. Camilia stopped in her tracks, looked up at the king, and fell on one knee. “I’m so sorry your heiness. I’ll get the paperwork drawn up now.”

The king signed all the documents that he needed to sign, and I walked out of there the official princess to the land of the lambs, daughter of the king. Royalty.

It was a beautiful ride home. It took an hour to get to the land of the lambs. The king and I talked the whole way home. I told him everything about me. His smile reminded me of Daddy. His face beamed with love. The land of the lambs was beautiful. Rolling hills, clear blue water. Sheep that roamed the countryside, birds chirping and trees swaying in the cool breeze.

“Your heiness…” I began, stunned at the beautiful large castle in front of us “call me father….” he said kindly with a twinkle in his eye.

“Is this our house?” I asked with wonder

“Yes my child. You will never be an orphan again.” He said lovingly, grasping my hand. “Let's go home.”