Meeting Anna

Time for another weekly recap.  Most of this has been shared through our daily progress reports, but since you all enjoyed last week's "Story format" I wanted to do that again as well.

Last week, we had Eve telling about the new content from her perspective as if she had lived those events.  This week we'll be doing the same kind of thing with Anna.

Since last week's post was so well received, I'll be planning to do these weekly recaps every week.  Each week, I will use someone from the story I was working from and talk about the work from their perspective.  This can be anyone, or maybe even more than one character, who comes and talks with you all.

Without further adieu, I believe that Anna is ready to talk with all of you.

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Anna stands perfectly straight, her eyes closed.  She takes a deep breath then lets it out slowly before opening her eyes.

There's just a hint of panic in her eyes as she sees you, not quite able to meet your gaze.  She clutches at her dress with both hands, then forces herself to let go before smoothing the garment back into place.

"My Master has requested that I come talk to you all today,"  Her voice is soft and pretty, but there is also a barely detectable tremor in it.  She takes a deep breath again like that is somehow going to steel her resolve, "He wished for me to tell you all about our week."

Her head tilts to the side as if she is looking at something just outside of your field of vision, then she continues, "Perhaps I should build up to the happy events?"

With barely a pause she continues, "We spent a lot of time this week enjoying the weather, many people don't really appreciate the beauty of rain, of the leaves in the trees turning to reds and oranges before falling from the branches, or that of falling snow.  And at this time of hear, it seems as if everyone is decorating for Christmas, . . . . but I'll speak more about that momentarily,"  A wistful smile pulls at the corner of her lips for just a second, "Its in moments like that where I feel like the world is a live and vibrant place."

Her expression darkens, "My Master met a girl named Claire a while back in town.  My former Master used to employ her from time to time to, . . . find slaves who had tried to flee,"  She shudders visibly, clutching the front of her dress again, "My new Master must have made some kind of business arrangement with her because she came to the house this week.  She spoke with my Master for a while then she left.  A couple of days later she came to the house again, only this time she brought a blind girl with her.  The new girl is very pretty,"  There's a ping of jealousy in Anna's eyes as she continues, "And she was very flirty with my Master,"  Something about how she says it makes her sound just a little possessive of her Master, "And she went into his room for a long time.  She came out several hours later, and when Master exited his rooms he was walking funny,"  Her voice is very small as she says the last of that, her eyes seeming unable to look anywhere but the floor at her feet.  

The silence lingers just long enough for it to become awkward.  Forcing herself to let go of the front of her dress again, she wipes her hands on her skirt and sighs, "But I said I would end this with happier things,"  Her expression takes on a serene quality as she recomposes herself, "We have never had a Christmas in the mansion before.  Sometimes I would sneak a cookie for or some other sweet for Eve, but we've never been allowed to celebrate.  Or former Master said that only people were allowed to celebrate the holidays, and that since we are slaves, we can hardly be considered people,"  There's something haunted in her eyes for a second before she regains her composure again, "But our new Master is different,"  There's a bit of hope and excitement in her voice though she is nearly able to hide it behind her stoic expression, "So I decided to ask him if I would make something," She quickly adds, "In my free time, for my sister."

Anna sways slightly, the hem of her dress swaying though she seems completely unaware of her own behavior in that moment, "You know what he did?  I was hoping he would say yes, but instead he offered to take me into town to go shopping,"  The emotion in her voice starts to crack her carefully maintained composure, "It was like a dream.  He took me off the grounds, I haven't been off the grounds since, . . . . "  Her voice becomes very soft for the next few words, "Since we came to the mansion."

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath again, but the excitement is clear in both her expression and her voice, "He took me into town, the streets were lit up with Christmas decorations, we could smell so many delicious things,"  Her excitement falters slightly, "And there were so many people."  The last three words are a breathless whisper. 

For the first time since starting, she meets your eyes with an unwavering gaze, "I thought we were just going to find something for Eve, but then he took me to a book store.  There were so many books I've never read.  I wasn't able to get any, but it was still an amazing experience.  Master bought something while we were there, but I didn't see what it was.  I expect it was a book,"  She half smiles, a little color touching her cheeks, "Maybe he will allow me to read whatever he bought when he is done with it?"

She seems to focus herself again after a short pause, "Then, he asked me if I wanted to have lunch with him.  I was careful to pick out something that wasn't too expensive, but it was still very nice,"  She smiles sheepishly, "It may be bold of me, but I daydreamed that it was a date.:

Realizing that she spoke out loud, she blushes suddenly, "I think maybe I should finish this up and get back to my chores."