An extract from Little Miss Haughty
“Mary?'' my mother called, in a tone that required immediate response. I pretended not to hear. I had learned from my father; choosing to hear only what suited me. ''You need to water the animals. It's your turn.'' My mother's voice continued to bleed into my favorite TV program. I continued to play deaf. My older sister Miss Haughty otherwise known as Jacqueline, decided to do me a favor. Rising from her chair, Miss Haughty called out to mother. ''I'll do it mother, Mary is struck dumb again, so it's best she stays put.'' Smiling sweetly or sickly whichever you prefer, off she went to water the animals. I watched from the window as Miss Haughty gingerly waded through the thick grass that no longer resembled a lawn and climbed over the fence. A light drizzle had started to descend and the winter evening was closing in. I suddenly had a pang of unusual guilt. I decided to don my boots and give her a hand.
Miss Haughty was never in a hurry. Her dawdle was almost stationary. The only medal she ever won which involved movement was a swimming race. The only reason she won that, was because she was the only one in it. God only knows how bored we all were that fateful afternoon. It was only a 100 meters, but it seemed like a 100 miles. It was a very long afternoon.
Due to Miss Haughty's lack of speed. I was almost upon her has she reached the stables. Without thinking, I hid behind a stone wall and waited till she had finished tending the animals. To my relief she finally rounded the corner to head back home. My plan to jump out and scare the living daylights out of her dissolved. A better plan crept between my ears. I stayed put. I watched gleefully as the gap between us widened and I could follow without being seen. I rustled in the ditch that ran along side the lane and dragged my leg on the ground. I stuffed my coat sleeve in my mouth to stifle my erupting giggles, resulting in loud snorts. Miss Haughty stopped in her tracks, turning around she called out.
''Who's there? Come out whoever you are. I won't hurt you.'' I jumped into the ditch, snorting loudly. Hearing the noises from the ditch, Miss Haughty took off like a runaway train. Later, she told me she ran that fast her knees bounced off her chin.
I leapt from the ditch and took after her. My hysterics sounding like the bellows of a crazed animal. Miss Haughty was but a blur in the distance. I watched in disbelief as she cleared the fence surrounding our over grown lawn. I ran in hot pursuit. When I reached the house I crouched under the kitchen window. I could hear Miss Haughty as she told mother there was something up the farm. My heart was beating against my rib cage. Tears of laughter rolled down my cheeks. I heard mother call father and listened with relish as she repeated the story. My father had only one question. Where was I?
At that particular point realization dawned. The back door swung open with a loud bang. Miss Haughty stood in the doorway; alarmingly fierce, glaring straight at me; her cheeks red with anger. Without another thought, I bolted into the night, with a very angry and very fast Miss Haughty hot on my heels.
©2012 Gabriel Wilson All Rights Reserved
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