This is it. This is the day.
It was a cloudy day. My dad and I are on our way to the train station. We are on our way to London. I'm not really excited about this because I know that my dad and I are going to be far away from each other because from this day on, I'm going to live at Ms. Minchin's Boarding School. I'm really scared. What would people say about me? Oh well.
After a few hours, we have finally arrived. The house is really big that's why I got scared but I managed to be brave. When we went inside, we saw Ms. Minchin. She was very dull and she looks very mean. However, when she spoke, I got shocked. She approached us very happy and she was complimenting me so much. She'd say I'm really pretty, although I feel I am not. Then my dad and Ms. Minchin talked. They're taking super duper long already. I just want to get Emily. Emily is a doll. Yes, I named her before I even got her. After they talked, my dad bought me a lot of things-including Emily. After buying me things, dad dropped me off and told Ms. Minchin that his lawyers would pay for all my bills. Aww, my dad is the sweetest. As I sit by my window seeing my dad leave, I felt sad. I felt really sad. I tried not to cry because I want to be brave just like a soldier. I'm surely going to miss my dad so much.
It was my first day of school the day after. I went to my classroom and everyone was staring at me...because I'm the new kid. It's always like that, when there's someone new, everyone stares. My classmates and I don't have the same age. So here is Lottie who is just 4 years old and the other girl, Lavinia, who is almost 13. All of them seems to be talking about me. Well maybe because I have a french maid named Mariette and I have a box full of frilly clothes...or something like that. I'm not really sure. I just feel that that's what they're talking about because I'm the new kid. Ms. Minchin introduced me to the whole class and told me (us) that I will be learning french. I already know how to speak in French. I want to tell Ms. Minchin but I do not know how so I end up looking I don't want to learn the language. So when Monsieur Durfarge comes in the room, Ms. Minchin announces that I didn't want to learn French! How annoying. So I stood up and explained to Monsieur Dufarge in fluent French. "Merci beaucoup." I ended. Now I think Ms. Minchin is embarrassed and at the same time annoyed.
At school, I met a lot of people. One of them is Ermengarde. Ms. Minchin isn't really nice to her...and to all of us. As a result, I felt like she needed a friend. After the lesson, I approached her and I introduced myself to her. I also asked her if she wanted to meet Emily, my doll. I told Ermengarde a lot of fantastical stories about Emily. "Wow! You are so amazing. You are really good in making stories." Ermengarde told me. Well, that made me smile. However, at some point, I thought of my father. I felt really sad and down. Ermengarde asked me if I was alright. I told her I miss my father so much. Ermengarde cheered me up. Then after, she asked me if we could be BFF's. Of course I agreed!
Here goes Ms. Minchin again, complimenting me. Every time parents would come to the boarding school, I always speak to them and tell them how good the school is. One time at school, I met Lavinia. Not really "met" but I just know her, out of nowhere, I know her name. Well maybe because she's popular and things like that. Lavinia is mean...I think. I mean she looks mean. One little girl named Lottie is prone to tantrums. She always cries and she always thinks that her mother is dead. So one time when she was crying, I volunteered to calm her down. I told her I also don't have a mother. I also told her I can be her mommy in school.
As i get out of the carriage one day, I see this girl standing on the stairs watching me. I smiled at her and she ran away. I don't know why. Later that day, I see the same girl once again at the room while I was sharing stories to other students about mermaids. Lavinia pointed to her and the girl ran away. I got super annoyed. "It's not normal to tell stories to servants! Ew!" Lavinia added. After I told stories, I went back to my room and asked Mariette who the girl was. Mariette told me that she was a maid doing all the nasty household chores. Her name is Becky. A few weeks later, I saw her asleep on the chair in my room. I didn't want to wake her up because I know that she's tired. After a few minutes, she woke up horrified. I told her that it was okay and I invited her to sit down and have a slice of cake. I also told her that she can listen to my stories everytime she wants so that she would feel welcome.
One day I got a letter. Wow! My dad is investing in Diamond mines! Glamorous. One time that day, I heard Lavinia telling Lottie not to be a cry baby anymore. As a result, Lottie cries and becomes hysterical. So I came and I went to Lottie. Lavinia said that she would want to slap Lottie. Well if she would do that, I'd slap her, but I know that I now better. Well of course, Lavinia uses the excuse that she would call me a princess. So I come towards her and we are so ready to fight. However, I stop. I tell her "Yeah, sometimes I do pretend to be a princess. Why don't you?". Lavinia is so annoying. You just really have to be patient.
I talk to Becky and I heard a lot of crazy things in the attic - where she lives. There are rats in the attic, ew! I felt bad for her and I give her some food to eat, and of course, I tell her stories.
A few weeks before my 11th birthday, I get a letter from my father that he's buying me my "last doll" and that my birthday is going to be one super duper big party. After a week, I wake up from my bed and I realized that it's my birthday already. I noticed a pincushion on the table and it was from Becky. Aw, how sweet. I gave Becky a hug.
I go to the schoolroom for my party and I got Ms. Minchin's approval to let Becky stay. Well, she was just there to watch. Ms. Minchin gives a speech about me. Then after that, I get my last doll with a box full of fancy clothes for the doll. During the party, my father's solicitor comes and demands to talk to Ms. Minchin. I don't know why but I believe it's important. After they talked, Ms. Minchin calls me and tells me that my papa is dead and that I will have to make myself useful around the school. I won't be able to keep all my things anymore. Plus, I'll be living with Becky from now on- in the attic. I remained calm for some reason. I just went up the attic and I lie down in the dirty little room. Then Becky comes in and we both cry together.
Ms. Minchin sends Mariette away and with her, all my things. I now help the kids with their lessons, I run errands, and I do all sorts of other things. Now that I'm a maid, I don't have time to speak to my friends and a lot of the people I used to hang out with treat me differently now. Of course, I believe Lavinia is delighted. To be honest, I am really having a hard time but despite all of it, I don't want to complain. I'm very lucky to have good friends like Becky and Ermengarde. At night, I feel comfy because Becky is just in the other room and she's always there to make sure I'm alright. My relationship with Ermengarde is a little complicated. At first, things were awkward because I assume that she is ignoring me like the other people. Then one night, I went to the attic to sleep and I saw a light coming from underneath my door. Creepy. So I went to my door and opened it and to my surprise, it was Ermengarde.She asked me why I don't like her anymore. What?! I actually thought Ermengarde was shunning me. We both say sorry to each other and I tell her that I pretend I'm a prisoner in the Bastille when I'm locked up here in the attic. Then Ermengarde asks me if she can come up at night sometimes and hear my stories. Well of course!
Lottie, the other person who helps me get through some rough times. She went up to my room and starts crying because it's so bad. I tell her that the room isn't so bad and that I can still see all sorts of things here from the attic. We look out the window and the house next to us is empty and I wished someone would live over there so that I will have someone to talk to- a new friend! We feed crumbs to the sparrows. I also pretend I have pretty things inside my room. Just then, a large rat comes out of the wall with its eye on the crumbs Lottie dropped. Well, I didn't scream as much as the other girls would. I just watched the rat. I even encouraged it to come out! Hmm, he seems pretty scared. Finally, the rat comes and takes the crumbs and then goes back inside the wall.
A week later, Ermengarde comes to my room and overhears me speaking to Melchisedec. Who is Melchisedec? Oh, he's the rat. Yep, I named him.
I know it's dangerous for Ermengarde and Lottie to come and visit me because I know that they'll get in trouble if ever Ms. Minchin finds out...scary. So I just do my errands all alone. Sometimes, when I walk on the way to the school (my home), I see the large family that lives near us. There are eight children in that house. The family is obviously rich and happy because they are many. I make up stories about them and I give them names. I call them the Montmorencys. One evening, one of the Montmorencys are going to a party, a kiddie party. This little kid, named Guy Clarence, stops and approaches me. By the way, he's just five years old. So I see him reaching into his pocket, pulling out a sixpence and gives it to me. I try to give it back but he insisted that I should keep it. Yes, I kept it. I felt proud and a little ashamed. I wore the sixpence around my neck.
One night, I tell Emily that I can't take this anymore. I can't take everything. I can't take Ms. Minchin, all the chores, all the hardships, all the things I do, EVERYTHING! Well of course, Emily doesn't respond. She's just a doll. I knock Emily off the chair. She's nothing but a doll. NOTHING! She can't do anything for me. After a while, I feel bad and I pick Emily back up again.
On my way home sometime, I see someone is moving in to the house next door. The furniture being brought in the house is from India. I got so excited. I see the father of the Montmorencys walk up to the house so I realized that he must know the person who has just moved in. That night, Becky says that an Indian gentleman has moved in and he's very sick...and ill. The Montmorencys' father is his lawyer. Turns out that the new neighbor doesn't have a family, only a nurse and two servants.
When ever I have a free time, I'm just up in the attic looking out onto the roof and into the sky. One day, when I was watching the sun set, I see a Lascar with a monkey. The monkey climbed up the roof. We smiled at each other. The monkey suddenly runs over to our roof and it landed on my shoulder. I volunteered to help capture the monkey. The Lascar told me that the monkey was very disobedient. The lascar's name is Ram Dass and he works for the man next door. He comes over to the attic and he catches the monkey. After he caught his monkey, he leaves. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed about my room is because it barely has nothing but a hard bed.
The next day, I was in the classroom and I started laughing. Nope, there's no joke. I was just thinking about how Ms. Minchin would react and feel if she finds out I'm actually a real princess. When Ms. Minchin saw me laughing, she asks me what's funny. I told the truth. Well of course, I was sent out of the room. How mean!
I like to imagine what's going on in the Indian gentleman's house. I became fond of him even though I don't know him. I figured out that he's actually an Englishman who had lived in India and he has something to do with diamond mines. The Montmorencys goes to visit the gentleman and they found out that the man (Mr. Carrisford) has been looking for a child. He's convinced that the child is in Paris because her mother (my mother) is French and her (my) father is.......Ralph Crewe. Yep, he was looking for me. He wants to find me and give me money because he is my papa's business partner. Mr. Carmichael (the Montmorency's father) assures Mr. Carrisford that they'll find the girl. He himself will go to Paris to search for the girl.
Winter is near already! I don't like winter. For other kids, winter is fun. However, for Becky and I, it's not! We're always hungry and cold during winter. To keep us warm, I tell stories of warm places but you know, it's always better to have a fireplace lit to keep you warm. While running on an errand, I think that it would be really nice to find money and buy some hot buns. Luckily, I found a four penny piece! I am off to buy delicious food for me to eat but before I got into the bakery, I see a little street beggar. She told me that she hasn't eaten in days. So I go inside the bakery to buy four buns but the woman gave me six pieces. Wow, how amazing and kind of her. After I bought the buns, I went to the beggar and gave her five buns and I kept one for myself. After this, the baker woman comes out and asks the beggar how much I gave her and she can't believe I gave her that much. The baker woman invites the beggar to come in the bakery and warm herself. She also gave the beggar food to eat. Aw, how sweet. As I go back to the house, I eat the tiny pieces of my bread.
While I was out, an odd thing happens- only Melchisedec is there to witness it. Melchisedec was just there, chilling and to his surprise, people was walking in the attic. Could it be thieves?! Nope! It's just Ram Dass and the Indian gentleman's secretary. The took a look around at my bed, my bed sheets, and the fireplace. Meanwhile, the secretary is just scribbling things down. It seems that Ram Dass and the secretary have decided to bring many nice things to my room and redecorate it while I'm asleep one night. That is so creepy. Just so creepy.
I pass by the Indian gentleman's house and I see him lonely. I wonder what he's thinking? Oh, I think it's about me...Ralph Crewe's daughter. When I return to the house, the cook tells me that I am not allowed to eat anything but bread. So I get the bread and go up to my room. Then I see Ermengarde. Ermengarde has brought me some books that my papa has sent me. The books are all about the French Revolution and I'll be reading them to Ermengarde. At one moment, I hear something on the roof and Ermengarde starts to be scared. Downstairs, we hear Ms. Minchin scolding Becky for eating half a meat pie- even though I know that the cook was the one who took it.
Thankfully, Ermengarde's aunt has sent her a box full of good food and treats and she went up to the attic with it just to share it with us (Becky and I)! We pretend that we are having a royal feast. It was just time for us to eat the cake but we hear a noise that is not good...we hear angry and loud footsteps coming up the stairs. It's Ms. Minchin, of course. Ms. Minchin said that she's going to kick Becky out and that I will not eat. I wonder what my papa would say if he knew I was like this.Ms. Minchin finally goes out my room and I finally go to sleep.
As I was sleeping, Ram Dass sneaks and goes in my room and turns my room into a magical and cozy place. When I woke up, my room is very cozy and I have my fireplace lit already! There are also lots of fancy things and food! Yay, food! A note says: to the little girl in the attic. -from a friend. I start crying. I call Becky to come over and join me in my new redecorated room.
For the rest of the night, Becky and I drank tea and ate good food. As usual, Lavinia and Jessie, her friend, gossip about school and everyone expects me that I will look very sick and unhappy when I come downstairs tomorrow. Funny. In fact, I go down all happy and healthy and Ms. Minchin is annoyed, as usual. The weather is worse today and everyone is just awful to me. However, I have that magic. When I get back to my room in the evening, it's more magical than before. There's fire and a bunch of new stuff for me. Becky comes over again and we sit, talk and have fun. The next day, the magic adds some pretty stuff to my room again. One day, I receive some large packages that are filled with fancy clothes. There's even a note saying that I have to wear them all the time. Well probably, Ms. Minchin is paranoid that someone is looking out for Sara and would be pretty pet peeved if they found out that I am being mistreated. She lets me go into the schoolroom in my new clothes to learn my lessons with the other pupils once again. There's another person who doesn't like this, Lavinia. When I return to the room, I write a thank you note and leave it so that the person who is behind all of the nice stuff I have so that he will know how much I really appreciate it. After, I hear a scratching on the skylight. It's the monkey from the neighbor! He has escaped once again. I bring him inside. He can sleep here tonight but I shall return him to the Indian gentleman the next day.
The next day, the Montmorencys are at Mr. Carrisford's house trying to make him happy because Mr. Carmichael still has not found the girl they've been looking for, me. Mr. Carrisford is almost giving up. At that moment, Ram Dass comes in and says that I have come to return the monkey. Mr. Carrisford tells Ram Dass that he would like to see me since he's been providing me all the nice things. So I come in and hand the monkey to the Lascar. When Mr. Carrisford asks how I know about Lascars, I told him I was born in India. Mr. Carrisford suddenly seems interested in my life now. So Mr. Carmichael asks me how I became a maid at Ms. Minchin's school. I told them that at first, I was a student there but then my papa died and lost all his money. I told them that my father's friend took all his money and I also told them that my father's name is Ralph Crewe. He died in India. Everyone suddenly freaks out. Finally, they tell me that they've been looking for me. Mr. Carrisford is my papa's friend.
Mrs. Carmichael explains everything to me. I ask her if Mr. Carrisford is my dad's friend. She said yes. Mrs. Carmichael explained to me that they just needed the money in order for her husband to survive. They also tell me that Ram Dass is the one who did all those magical things that happened in my room. They decided that I won't be going back to the seminary. When Ms. Minchin was done looking for me at the seminary, she arrives. Mr. Carrisford tells her that I won't be returning anymore. Ms. Minchin says that if it wasn't for her, I would have starved to death. Wow, haha. She also adds that she's been very fond of me. Finally, Ms. Minchin heads home to complain to Ms Amelia. I sent a letter to Ermengarde about the diamond mines and that I will be living with Mr. Carrisford. Becky is really happy for me but she's also sad that I'll be gone. However, when Becky came up to her room, Ram Dass is waiting for her and tells her that she's going to be my servant. Yay!!!!
I tell the children in the Large Family my story- which they actually love. They love the part where there are magical things that happened in my rom. Mr. Carrisford tells his part of the story and says that Ram Dass thought of the idea about sneaking into my room. We all become great friends. Mr. Carrisford even bought me a dog named Boris. Aww how cute! One day, I look for Mr. Carrisford. He asks me what was I thinking. I told him that I was thinking about the hungry day when I found the fourpenc and bought the buns. I want to go talk to the baker woman and ask her to give the bill to me because I want to give bread to the poor children. The next morning, Mr. Carrisford, Becky, and I went to the bakery. I have to remind the baker woman who I was. Then I told her that I'll give bread to the poor children and she'll just send me the bill so that I can pay for it. In my surprise, the little beggar girl, named Anne, now works at the bakery! I asked Anne if she could be the one to give the buns to the childrenin the future. Well, she said yes and we all helped each other.
Well, that's all for now, folks! Remember to stay positive always and be kind to one another! Don't let challenges and problems hinder you from being who you really are and being successful. Bye! Love, Sara.
It was a cloudy day. My dad and I are on our way to the train station. We are on our way to London. I'm not really excited about this because I know that my dad and I are going to be far away from each other because from this day on, I'm going to live at Ms. Minchin's Boarding School. I'm really scared. What would people say about me? Oh well.
After a few hours, we have finally arrived. The house is really big that's why I got scared but I managed to be brave. When we went inside, we saw Ms. Minchin. She was very dull and she looks very mean. However, when she spoke, I got shocked. She approached us very happy and she was complimenting me so much. She'd say I'm really pretty, although I feel I am not. Then my dad and Ms. Minchin talked. They're taking super duper long already. I just want to get Emily. Emily is a doll. Yes, I named her before I even got her. After they talked, my dad bought me a lot of things-including Emily. After buying me things, dad dropped me off and told Ms. Minchin that his lawyers would pay for all my bills. Aww, my dad is the sweetest. As I sit by my window seeing my dad leave, I felt sad. I felt really sad. I tried not to cry because I want to be brave just like a soldier. I'm surely going to miss my dad so much.
It was my first day of school the day after. I went to my classroom and everyone was staring at me...because I'm the new kid. It's always like that, when there's someone new, everyone stares. My classmates and I don't have the same age. So here is Lottie who is just 4 years old and the other girl, Lavinia, who is almost 13. All of them seems to be talking about me. Well maybe because I have a french maid named Mariette and I have a box full of frilly clothes...or something like that. I'm not really sure. I just feel that that's what they're talking about because I'm the new kid. Ms. Minchin introduced me to the whole class and told me (us) that I will be learning french. I already know how to speak in French. I want to tell Ms. Minchin but I do not know how so I end up looking I don't want to learn the language. So when Monsieur Durfarge comes in the room, Ms. Minchin announces that I didn't want to learn French! How annoying. So I stood up and explained to Monsieur Dufarge in fluent French. "Merci beaucoup." I ended. Now I think Ms. Minchin is embarrassed and at the same time annoyed.
At school, I met a lot of people. One of them is Ermengarde. Ms. Minchin isn't really nice to her...and to all of us. As a result, I felt like she needed a friend. After the lesson, I approached her and I introduced myself to her. I also asked her if she wanted to meet Emily, my doll. I told Ermengarde a lot of fantastical stories about Emily. "Wow! You are so amazing. You are really good in making stories." Ermengarde told me. Well, that made me smile. However, at some point, I thought of my father. I felt really sad and down. Ermengarde asked me if I was alright. I told her I miss my father so much. Ermengarde cheered me up. Then after, she asked me if we could be BFF's. Of course I agreed!
Here goes Ms. Minchin again, complimenting me. Every time parents would come to the boarding school, I always speak to them and tell them how good the school is. One time at school, I met Lavinia. Not really "met" but I just know her, out of nowhere, I know her name. Well maybe because she's popular and things like that. Lavinia is mean...I think. I mean she looks mean. One little girl named Lottie is prone to tantrums. She always cries and she always thinks that her mother is dead. So one time when she was crying, I volunteered to calm her down. I told her I also don't have a mother. I also told her I can be her mommy in school.
As i get out of the carriage one day, I see this girl standing on the stairs watching me. I smiled at her and she ran away. I don't know why. Later that day, I see the same girl once again at the room while I was sharing stories to other students about mermaids. Lavinia pointed to her and the girl ran away. I got super annoyed. "It's not normal to tell stories to servants! Ew!" Lavinia added. After I told stories, I went back to my room and asked Mariette who the girl was. Mariette told me that she was a maid doing all the nasty household chores. Her name is Becky. A few weeks later, I saw her asleep on the chair in my room. I didn't want to wake her up because I know that she's tired. After a few minutes, she woke up horrified. I told her that it was okay and I invited her to sit down and have a slice of cake. I also told her that she can listen to my stories everytime she wants so that she would feel welcome.
One day I got a letter. Wow! My dad is investing in Diamond mines! Glamorous. One time that day, I heard Lavinia telling Lottie not to be a cry baby anymore. As a result, Lottie cries and becomes hysterical. So I came and I went to Lottie. Lavinia said that she would want to slap Lottie. Well if she would do that, I'd slap her, but I know that I now better. Well of course, Lavinia uses the excuse that she would call me a princess. So I come towards her and we are so ready to fight. However, I stop. I tell her "Yeah, sometimes I do pretend to be a princess. Why don't you?". Lavinia is so annoying. You just really have to be patient.
I talk to Becky and I heard a lot of crazy things in the attic - where she lives. There are rats in the attic, ew! I felt bad for her and I give her some food to eat, and of course, I tell her stories.
A few weeks before my 11th birthday, I get a letter from my father that he's buying me my "last doll" and that my birthday is going to be one super duper big party. After a week, I wake up from my bed and I realized that it's my birthday already. I noticed a pincushion on the table and it was from Becky. Aw, how sweet. I gave Becky a hug.
I go to the schoolroom for my party and I got Ms. Minchin's approval to let Becky stay. Well, she was just there to watch. Ms. Minchin gives a speech about me. Then after that, I get my last doll with a box full of fancy clothes for the doll. During the party, my father's solicitor comes and demands to talk to Ms. Minchin. I don't know why but I believe it's important. After they talked, Ms. Minchin calls me and tells me that my papa is dead and that I will have to make myself useful around the school. I won't be able to keep all my things anymore. Plus, I'll be living with Becky from now on- in the attic. I remained calm for some reason. I just went up the attic and I lie down in the dirty little room. Then Becky comes in and we both cry together.
Ms. Minchin sends Mariette away and with her, all my things. I now help the kids with their lessons, I run errands, and I do all sorts of other things. Now that I'm a maid, I don't have time to speak to my friends and a lot of the people I used to hang out with treat me differently now. Of course, I believe Lavinia is delighted. To be honest, I am really having a hard time but despite all of it, I don't want to complain. I'm very lucky to have good friends like Becky and Ermengarde. At night, I feel comfy because Becky is just in the other room and she's always there to make sure I'm alright. My relationship with Ermengarde is a little complicated. At first, things were awkward because I assume that she is ignoring me like the other people. Then one night, I went to the attic to sleep and I saw a light coming from underneath my door. Creepy. So I went to my door and opened it and to my surprise, it was Ermengarde.She asked me why I don't like her anymore. What?! I actually thought Ermengarde was shunning me. We both say sorry to each other and I tell her that I pretend I'm a prisoner in the Bastille when I'm locked up here in the attic. Then Ermengarde asks me if she can come up at night sometimes and hear my stories. Well of course!
Lottie, the other person who helps me get through some rough times. She went up to my room and starts crying because it's so bad. I tell her that the room isn't so bad and that I can still see all sorts of things here from the attic. We look out the window and the house next to us is empty and I wished someone would live over there so that I will have someone to talk to- a new friend! We feed crumbs to the sparrows. I also pretend I have pretty things inside my room. Just then, a large rat comes out of the wall with its eye on the crumbs Lottie dropped. Well, I didn't scream as much as the other girls would. I just watched the rat. I even encouraged it to come out! Hmm, he seems pretty scared. Finally, the rat comes and takes the crumbs and then goes back inside the wall.
A week later, Ermengarde comes to my room and overhears me speaking to Melchisedec. Who is Melchisedec? Oh, he's the rat. Yep, I named him.
I know it's dangerous for Ermengarde and Lottie to come and visit me because I know that they'll get in trouble if ever Ms. Minchin finds out...scary. So I just do my errands all alone. Sometimes, when I walk on the way to the school (my home), I see the large family that lives near us. There are eight children in that house. The family is obviously rich and happy because they are many. I make up stories about them and I give them names. I call them the Montmorencys. One evening, one of the Montmorencys are going to a party, a kiddie party. This little kid, named Guy Clarence, stops and approaches me. By the way, he's just five years old. So I see him reaching into his pocket, pulling out a sixpence and gives it to me. I try to give it back but he insisted that I should keep it. Yes, I kept it. I felt proud and a little ashamed. I wore the sixpence around my neck.
One night, I tell Emily that I can't take this anymore. I can't take everything. I can't take Ms. Minchin, all the chores, all the hardships, all the things I do, EVERYTHING! Well of course, Emily doesn't respond. She's just a doll. I knock Emily off the chair. She's nothing but a doll. NOTHING! She can't do anything for me. After a while, I feel bad and I pick Emily back up again.
On my way home sometime, I see someone is moving in to the house next door. The furniture being brought in the house is from India. I got so excited. I see the father of the Montmorencys walk up to the house so I realized that he must know the person who has just moved in. That night, Becky says that an Indian gentleman has moved in and he's very sick...and ill. The Montmorencys' father is his lawyer. Turns out that the new neighbor doesn't have a family, only a nurse and two servants.
When ever I have a free time, I'm just up in the attic looking out onto the roof and into the sky. One day, when I was watching the sun set, I see a Lascar with a monkey. The monkey climbed up the roof. We smiled at each other. The monkey suddenly runs over to our roof and it landed on my shoulder. I volunteered to help capture the monkey. The Lascar told me that the monkey was very disobedient. The lascar's name is Ram Dass and he works for the man next door. He comes over to the attic and he catches the monkey. After he caught his monkey, he leaves. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed about my room is because it barely has nothing but a hard bed.
The next day, I was in the classroom and I started laughing. Nope, there's no joke. I was just thinking about how Ms. Minchin would react and feel if she finds out I'm actually a real princess. When Ms. Minchin saw me laughing, she asks me what's funny. I told the truth. Well of course, I was sent out of the room. How mean!
I like to imagine what's going on in the Indian gentleman's house. I became fond of him even though I don't know him. I figured out that he's actually an Englishman who had lived in India and he has something to do with diamond mines. The Montmorencys goes to visit the gentleman and they found out that the man (Mr. Carrisford) has been looking for a child. He's convinced that the child is in Paris because her mother (my mother) is French and her (my) father is.......Ralph Crewe. Yep, he was looking for me. He wants to find me and give me money because he is my papa's business partner. Mr. Carmichael (the Montmorency's father) assures Mr. Carrisford that they'll find the girl. He himself will go to Paris to search for the girl.
Winter is near already! I don't like winter. For other kids, winter is fun. However, for Becky and I, it's not! We're always hungry and cold during winter. To keep us warm, I tell stories of warm places but you know, it's always better to have a fireplace lit to keep you warm. While running on an errand, I think that it would be really nice to find money and buy some hot buns. Luckily, I found a four penny piece! I am off to buy delicious food for me to eat but before I got into the bakery, I see a little street beggar. She told me that she hasn't eaten in days. So I go inside the bakery to buy four buns but the woman gave me six pieces. Wow, how amazing and kind of her. After I bought the buns, I went to the beggar and gave her five buns and I kept one for myself. After this, the baker woman comes out and asks the beggar how much I gave her and she can't believe I gave her that much. The baker woman invites the beggar to come in the bakery and warm herself. She also gave the beggar food to eat. Aw, how sweet. As I go back to the house, I eat the tiny pieces of my bread.
While I was out, an odd thing happens- only Melchisedec is there to witness it. Melchisedec was just there, chilling and to his surprise, people was walking in the attic. Could it be thieves?! Nope! It's just Ram Dass and the Indian gentleman's secretary. The took a look around at my bed, my bed sheets, and the fireplace. Meanwhile, the secretary is just scribbling things down. It seems that Ram Dass and the secretary have decided to bring many nice things to my room and redecorate it while I'm asleep one night. That is so creepy. Just so creepy.
I pass by the Indian gentleman's house and I see him lonely. I wonder what he's thinking? Oh, I think it's about me...Ralph Crewe's daughter. When I return to the house, the cook tells me that I am not allowed to eat anything but bread. So I get the bread and go up to my room. Then I see Ermengarde. Ermengarde has brought me some books that my papa has sent me. The books are all about the French Revolution and I'll be reading them to Ermengarde. At one moment, I hear something on the roof and Ermengarde starts to be scared. Downstairs, we hear Ms. Minchin scolding Becky for eating half a meat pie- even though I know that the cook was the one who took it.
Thankfully, Ermengarde's aunt has sent her a box full of good food and treats and she went up to the attic with it just to share it with us (Becky and I)! We pretend that we are having a royal feast. It was just time for us to eat the cake but we hear a noise that is not good...we hear angry and loud footsteps coming up the stairs. It's Ms. Minchin, of course. Ms. Minchin said that she's going to kick Becky out and that I will not eat. I wonder what my papa would say if he knew I was like this.Ms. Minchin finally goes out my room and I finally go to sleep.
As I was sleeping, Ram Dass sneaks and goes in my room and turns my room into a magical and cozy place. When I woke up, my room is very cozy and I have my fireplace lit already! There are also lots of fancy things and food! Yay, food! A note says: to the little girl in the attic. -from a friend. I start crying. I call Becky to come over and join me in my new redecorated room.
For the rest of the night, Becky and I drank tea and ate good food. As usual, Lavinia and Jessie, her friend, gossip about school and everyone expects me that I will look very sick and unhappy when I come downstairs tomorrow. Funny. In fact, I go down all happy and healthy and Ms. Minchin is annoyed, as usual. The weather is worse today and everyone is just awful to me. However, I have that magic. When I get back to my room in the evening, it's more magical than before. There's fire and a bunch of new stuff for me. Becky comes over again and we sit, talk and have fun. The next day, the magic adds some pretty stuff to my room again. One day, I receive some large packages that are filled with fancy clothes. There's even a note saying that I have to wear them all the time. Well probably, Ms. Minchin is paranoid that someone is looking out for Sara and would be pretty pet peeved if they found out that I am being mistreated. She lets me go into the schoolroom in my new clothes to learn my lessons with the other pupils once again. There's another person who doesn't like this, Lavinia. When I return to the room, I write a thank you note and leave it so that the person who is behind all of the nice stuff I have so that he will know how much I really appreciate it. After, I hear a scratching on the skylight. It's the monkey from the neighbor! He has escaped once again. I bring him inside. He can sleep here tonight but I shall return him to the Indian gentleman the next day.
The next day, the Montmorencys are at Mr. Carrisford's house trying to make him happy because Mr. Carmichael still has not found the girl they've been looking for, me. Mr. Carrisford is almost giving up. At that moment, Ram Dass comes in and says that I have come to return the monkey. Mr. Carrisford tells Ram Dass that he would like to see me since he's been providing me all the nice things. So I come in and hand the monkey to the Lascar. When Mr. Carrisford asks how I know about Lascars, I told him I was born in India. Mr. Carrisford suddenly seems interested in my life now. So Mr. Carmichael asks me how I became a maid at Ms. Minchin's school. I told them that at first, I was a student there but then my papa died and lost all his money. I told them that my father's friend took all his money and I also told them that my father's name is Ralph Crewe. He died in India. Everyone suddenly freaks out. Finally, they tell me that they've been looking for me. Mr. Carrisford is my papa's friend.
Mrs. Carmichael explains everything to me. I ask her if Mr. Carrisford is my dad's friend. She said yes. Mrs. Carmichael explained to me that they just needed the money in order for her husband to survive. They also tell me that Ram Dass is the one who did all those magical things that happened in my room. They decided that I won't be going back to the seminary. When Ms. Minchin was done looking for me at the seminary, she arrives. Mr. Carrisford tells her that I won't be returning anymore. Ms. Minchin says that if it wasn't for her, I would have starved to death. Wow, haha. She also adds that she's been very fond of me. Finally, Ms. Minchin heads home to complain to Ms Amelia. I sent a letter to Ermengarde about the diamond mines and that I will be living with Mr. Carrisford. Becky is really happy for me but she's also sad that I'll be gone. However, when Becky came up to her room, Ram Dass is waiting for her and tells her that she's going to be my servant. Yay!!!!
I tell the children in the Large Family my story- which they actually love. They love the part where there are magical things that happened in my rom. Mr. Carrisford tells his part of the story and says that Ram Dass thought of the idea about sneaking into my room. We all become great friends. Mr. Carrisford even bought me a dog named Boris. Aww how cute! One day, I look for Mr. Carrisford. He asks me what was I thinking. I told him that I was thinking about the hungry day when I found the fourpenc and bought the buns. I want to go talk to the baker woman and ask her to give the bill to me because I want to give bread to the poor children. The next morning, Mr. Carrisford, Becky, and I went to the bakery. I have to remind the baker woman who I was. Then I told her that I'll give bread to the poor children and she'll just send me the bill so that I can pay for it. In my surprise, the little beggar girl, named Anne, now works at the bakery! I asked Anne if she could be the one to give the buns to the childrenin the future. Well, she said yes and we all helped each other.
Well, that's all for now, folks! Remember to stay positive always and be kind to one another! Don't let challenges and problems hinder you from being who you really are and being successful. Bye! Love, Sara.