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I know I probably shouldn't be putting this story on yet, cause I only have this chapter done, but I really like this one, not like this chapter in general, but the other things I wrote for it, and the story that I have planed out.
This story is basically about Ezekiel and his life as he gets older, and his relationship with people and how time changes his feelings and makes him realize more about himself. I'm trying to make this more of a romantic, and like emotional story, unlike task master, which I think is more comedy. Hope you like it.
I counted along in my head, 1...2...3...1...2...3, step 2 3, step 2 3.
“Ow!” I looked down and noticed that I had stepped on Samantha’s foot...again.
Ms. Pewter gave me a stern look, “Honestly Ezekiel, if you cannot keep in time and manage to not step on Samantha’s shoes then we will have to discontinue this lesson.”
I sighed, it was Thursday, and Thursday’s meant dance lessons.
Monday’s were viola lessons, Tuesday’s were piano lessons, Wednesday's were horseback riding lessons, and Thursday’s were dance lessons...with Samantha.
Mother had always said that if I wanted to go to collage and become a doctor like my father I had to be well rounded.
But I had never understood how playing the viola and dancing could save a life.
I watched Samantha as she cradled her foot after me stepping on it so many times. It seemed as though all I did was harm people instead of fixing them.
“Samantha, dear, are you quite alright? If you need to rest that’s perfectly fine, I could understand why considering how many times Ezekiel has stepped on your foot,” Ms. Pewter laid a comforting hand on Samantha’s shoulder, and Samantha only looked to me and smiled a warm friendly smile.
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. Everyone makes mistakes.”
Ms. Pewter only glared at me and huffed, “Some more than others...But, let us continue...1...2...3...1...2...3...”
My name is Ezekiel Hunter. Son of Grace and Robert Hunter, and sole heir to the Hunter fortune. Aged seventeen and knows how to play the viola, and the piano, and can ride a horse. I’m still working on the dancing.
In front on me, still wearing a warm smile is Samantha Warring, not the sole heir to the Warring fortune, but soon to be Samantha Hunter, if everything goes as planned. She’s a year younger than me, and it seemed as soon as she was out of the womb, we were promised to be together. I don’t mind though, with her luscious brown curls and deep caramel eyes she wasn’t someone I minded looking at. And it’s easier to marry someone that you don’t find incredibly repulsive, or increasingly irritating.
Samantha danced with practiced ease around the room, while I struggled to keep in time. The constant mantra of step 2 3, step 2 3 kept playing in my mind.
“Your doing very good Samantha,” Ms Pewter called, still waving her hand in time.
Samantha twirled more, and smiled that bright smile of hers lighting the room more than my mother’s expensive lamps from France ever could.
“Thank you, Ms. Pewter, but I am awfully tired.”
Ms. Pewter suddenly stopped her hand movements and smiled, “Well I supposed it is getting late, we shall continue our lesson next week.”
Samantha and I parted and she began to walk towards the door, I followed, but Ms. Pewter pulled me back by my ear, “And I expect to see some improvement next time Mr. Hunter, or your father will be hearing about this,” I nodded, and felt a lot like a quivering school boy at the moment.
“Yes Ms. Pewter, I expect to see some improvement the next time I’m here too.”
Her lips thinned and her already sour face turned even more sour, “Do not sass me young man,” she let go of my ear and lifted her hand up to strike me.
“Ms. Pewter?” My father walked in through the large mahogany doors.
Ms. Pewter’s arm dropped so fast I’m surprised it didn’t fall off, “Mr. Hunter, I was just saying goodbye to your son,” her sickly sweet voice seemed to convince my father.
“Yes, that’s good. Samantha told me that you were finished for the day, I just wanted to come up and walk you out of the house.”
Ms. Pewter put a hand over her heart and smiled, “Oh, your such a charmer, now I know where Mr. Ezekiel gets it. The two of you are always so kind, and so talented, at all sorts of things. Samantha is such a lucky girl.”
My father let out a hearty laugh, “You act like we’re saints Ms. Pewter. I assure you we aren’t all that great. Ezekiel is also very lucky to have such a beautiful young lady like Samantha, it really is a shame that’s she’s going to be in London for the next two school years, but I can understand that her parents want her to get a proper education. I would have sent Ezekiel, but I don’t think his mother could stand to see her child away for so long.”
Ms. Pewter nodded sincerely and continued to talk to my father.
I stood awkwardly and waited for my father and Ms. Pewter to have a break in the conversation, “Excuse me father, but may I go downstairs?”
My father turned and gave me a stern look, “Ezekiel, it’s very rude to just leave your guests-”
“It’s fine Mr. Hunter, let Ezekiel leave, I’ve held him long enough,” I could seen the falseness in the sweet smile she gave me.
“Fine, go, but I want to talk to you later, alright Ezekiel?”
I nodded, and headed out of the room, barely keeping the snarl off of my face.
-----------------------
I walked out of the house to find Ella sitting by the apple tree, like she usually was during this time of the day.
Ella was my next door neighbor. She wasn’t as rich as me or Samantha, but still well off considering. Her father owned the only liquor store in town, and because of that, him and his family weren’t well respected. Most of the adults in town said that their money came from broken promises, lost dreams, and long nights of gambling. But the family still went to church on Sunday, and were still very kind to the townsfolk, so they weren’t completely disliked. Besides, as my father had said, everyone could use a little bourbon after a particularly hard day.
As for Ella herself, she was probably the least respected of the family. Coming from a family of 5 brothers Ella wasn’t the most feminine girl. Her usual attire consisted of shirts that looked like they belonged to her younger brother, overalls that looked like they belonged to her older brother, and boots that looked like they belonged to her father. I knew that she would rather go hunting, or sit under the stars then go shopping or fight for the right to vote. My parents didn’t like the fact that I hung out with her on a daily basis, but as long as she didn’t track mud into the house they didn’t say anything.
“How did dance practice go?”
“I kept stepping on Samantha’s feet,” I sat next to her by the tree and buried my face in my hands.
“Well, we can’t all hope to be as graceful as Samantha Warring.”
“You hate her.”
Ella gasped, “I do not! I’m just saying that she’s little miss perfect, you deserve someone who’s better than her Ezek.”
I looked over at her and raised my eyebrows, “I deserve someone who’s better than perfect?”
She tilted her head and thought about it for a second, “Yes. Well in a weird backwards way...what I really meant to say is that you deserve someone...more...,” she tapped her chin trying to think of the word, “someone more human.”
“Samantha’s human!”
“She’s too nice.”
“Jealous.”
“Jealous?!? Of her?!? I think not.”
I rolled my eyes and Ella got up to climb the tree.
“Besides, she wears dresses all the time, and I wouldn’t be able to stand that. We’ll be rid of her in a few months though.”
“I’m supposed to marry her you know.”
Ella sat on a large branch and dangled her legs, “Yea I know,” she stuck out her tongue, “And then you’ll have all these perfect little Samantha Warring children running around everywhere,” she jumped off the branch and ran around in a goofy manner, “I’m just so perfect with my flowing hair, and big eyes, and excellent grace and poise.”
I let out a good natured laugh, “Come no Ella, she isn’t that bad.”
“Yea but she’s-”
“Ezekiel! Ezekiel!” I turned to see my mother standing in the doorway.
I began to run for the house and turned to Ella, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She waved half-heartily, probably mad that she was interrupted.
I ran to the door, greeting my mother’s small smile.
“Ezekiel, good your here, your father wants to talk to you in the study,” my mother said as she lead me into the house, wiping off her hands. She was helping Ida, our maid, with dinner.
“Yes, mother,” I obediently said as I headed for the study.
---------------
“You wanted to talk to me father?”
My father looked up from the paper he was reading, the fire making a dark shadow on his face, that made him look more gruesome and menacing, “Yes, your still available on Fridays correct?” he patted the chair chose to his, and I sat down slowly.
“Yes, and Saturdays too.”
“Good, you see I was speaking with Mr. Glace the other day, and found that his older son has returned from collage to stay with his mother, it’s terrible that she got the disease, but I’m glad that her son is kind enough to help her in what might be her last days.
“I was telling him about you, and what a fine boy you are, and Mr. Glace said that his son was coached in many things, and that he had taken him to educate school when he was younger, and he learned all sorts of proper mannerisms. I hadn't really thought about it at that time, but I believe that having someone to coach you in manners would be a swell thing. So after dance lessons today, I contacted Mr. Glace to see if his son was available on Fridays to coach you for a couple hours, and he whole-heartily agreed and said his son would love to.”
“That sounds great father,” I tried my best to smile.
“I knew you would like it, he’ll be here around four tomorrow.”
---------------------
I sneered at the boy that stood in front of me.
It was Friday, and over the night I had not become any happier about having to give up my Fridays to learn mannerisms. In fact, I believe I was less happy about it, much less happy about it.
And the dirty look that the boy was giving back at me wasn’t helping any.
But my father was all smiles as he walked me closer to the boy, “Ezekiel, this is Jacob.”
I stuck out my hand for him to shake and he shook back with too much force.
“My he already knows how to be a gentleman, are you sure he needs me to help him?” Jacob said looking up at my father with fierce emotion in his eyes.
My father only laughed whole heartily, “Well I have taught him some things, but I do believe that you could help. Now I’ll leave you two to get acquainted, I’ll be in the den if you need anything, and if your hungry, Ida will make you lunch. Have a nice time boys.”
Oh yes, a nice time will be had.
As soon as my father had left the room, Jacob shed the tie he was wearing and flopped down on one of the chairs, “Now let me tell you this right now kid, I’m not going to be teaching you mannerisms…..in fact I don’t think that I’m going to be teaching you anything. I’m only doing this because your father is paying me a good amount of money, and I get to get out of the house.”
I sat down in a chair relatively far from him, and kept a frown on my face, “That’s fine, I didn’t think that I would be learning anything useful from you anyway.”
His eyes were closed, and I could see him smile for a second, “Think whatever you want to think, I don’t have time to argue with naive little children who think that they know things.”
My teeth clenched and I tried to glare more, “I’m only 3 years younger than you!”
He opened his eyes, looking at me, “Maybe three years in time, but not in maturity. I didn’t come here to teach you, but I can give you a lesson if I have to.”
“I’d rather you not.”
He shut his eyes again, and sighed, leaning more into the chair, “Then don’t talk to me for the remainder of the time I’m here, or the rest of the time I see you.”
“Well I can’t simply shut-”
He put his finger to his mouth, without looking at me, and I immediately quieted, “Good, see, you already know manners. But apparently not how to listen correctly. I said no talking, and that’s an order.”
“I don’t have to take orders from you, you……..you………”
He got up from the chair, and walked up to me rolling his eyes, “If that’s the best response you can think of, then maybe I should be teaching you some things, like how to learn when to talk back, and when to listen.”
He put his hand over my mouth, and held it with force as I tried to push him away.
“See, right now is a time for you to just listen, I’m older, and stronger, and smarter than you. Also, any bad things that I say to your father will get you in ever more trouble. I have the upper hand. If I was some weak manipulative fool, then you could argue and try to out wit me. But I’m not, so you shouldn’t, ok?”
He let go of my mouth, and I was close to spitting right on that sly smirk he was wearing, but held back, he could win this one.
“Ok.”
He smiled more, and lightly slapped my cheek, “That’s a good boy, now I’m going to go sit on that chair,” he pointed across the room to the chair he was previously sitting in, “and your not going to argue, talk, or ever look at me for the remainder of this lesson, understood?”
I swallowed the pride that was lumping in my throat, he was right, he had the upper hand, and I couldn’t do anything about it, “Very much so sir.”
I had a feeling that I wouldn’t enjoy my Fridays very much from now on.
