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| A day as my Sister |
Part 1
Written by: Natik
Andr� observed Jacqueline in Oscar�s body sitting astride on Oscar's capricious white horse with a wry smile and light concern. It's unbelievable, impossible, tremendous and last but not least, crazy. What happened to these two girls? Obviously they were not pretending when they said that they exchanged their bodies. He could be wrong, but Oscar's horse would never be! Andr� saw how tense this smart animal became when �Oscar� mounted it and the dismay in the young girl's eyes also couldn't be fake.
�Oscar, are we going or not? What is with you?� the general yelled with undisguised impatience, already riding towards the gate.
By hearing her father's angry voice, Jacqueline became even more strained than she had been before; she just felt her body refusing to move properly. She grasped the rein and looked forward with eyes which looked like two lifeless glass pieces. �Andr� this horse doesn't run!!!�
�It's because you are holding the rein too tight,� Andr� said �but before you release it, try to calm down, you look like a statue, motionless and cold . In the morning you said that you wanted to be Oscar, so now you have a chance to live her life for some time. Use this chance, try to be Oscar, maybe it'll help you understand how you want to spend your life�and�try to speak as little as possible at the court,� he added briskly.
Andr�'s attempt to make Jacqueline feel like herself succeeded; he calmed down a little bit watching how her look was becoming more and more intelligent.
�You are right Andre! If Oscar was able to behave with Fran�ois like a perfectly raised mademoiselle I can be a 10 year old boy!� then she turned to Andr� and asked unexpectedly �How do I look, Andr�? It was marvelously easy to decide what to wear, because all of Oscar�s clothes are almost alike, you don't have to think for hours what to choose�But I feel so strange in these britches��
�OSCAR!!! You'll speak later, when we are back! Move!!!�
Andr�, perplexed by such a question wasn't allowed to answer because of the general's shouting.
Meanwhile Jacqueline released the rein and with a perfect feminine gesture hit the horse with the whip.
Disaster�She holds the whip as if it were a fan, Andr� thought watching how Jacqueline rode to the gate trying her best to hold herself straight and self-confident I hope the king won't ask her to fence with someone for fun. Well, it would be interesting to know how Oscar is doing with �her fianc�
Meanwhile Oscar in Jacqueline's body had her own problems sitting at the table in the gorgeous dining room.
Why, for the everlasting hell, should I sit here? It's ridiculous! I'm supposed to be at the court with my father now; I've been waiting for this day with such impatience. Damn, my sister, that goose, will fail for sure. If she won't behave like a man and disgrace my name at the court I�I�will cut all her favourite dresses into tiny pieces!!! And I hope that after facing father's anger she'll be able to see this!
Oscar picked at every dish brought by the servants, but couldn't persuade herself to eat properly because of the corset which made her ribs ache. The only pleasant thing in being a mademoiselle is the possibility to take off this horrible thing in the evening, she thought Also this Fran�ois staring at me continuously. Does he like this stupid gown?
�Jacqueline you are so silent today and you're barely eating anything. Don't you feel good?" Madam Jarjayes asked considerately.
�Everything�s perfect mother, don't worry I just don't have an appetite today,� Oscar replied. Damn, how could I be talkative in her presence, she'll understand that I'm not Jacqueline as soon as I open my mouth, she thought.
�Well we almost finished now. I should give some instructions to the servants concerning tomorrow's visits. Maybe you want to go to the lounge? I'll order to bring tea there,� Madam Jarjayes said after some time during which �Jacqueline� was sitting without saying a word. �Dear don't you want to play the harp for our guest?�
Oscar almost jumped. Harp? No way� �You know mother I pricked my finger while embroidering so I don't think I'm able to play today,� she lied �Maybe next time.�
Fran�ois could hardly suppress a smile; this young whirlwind and embroidery just don't match!
�All right, then just join your fianc� in the lounge. I'll be back soon,� Madam Jarjayes bowed and left.
This time Fran�ois managed to be right beside �Jacqueline� as she stood up.
�Don't even try to help me again! Don't you see I can walk alone perfectly!?� She warned him. �And besides I need two my hands to hold this damn hem,� she murmured to herself while going to the adjacent lounge.
�But you�ve already fallen once; maybe you do need a helping hand?� Fran�ois said mischievously.
�I don't need help to walk, to run, to ride, to�� Oscar replied furiously, but was interrupted.
�For the things you listed you don't need help of course, but it is obvious you have problems with this beautiful gown. It's inconvenient, isn't it?�
�Oh no, I hope he won't ask me about the latest fashions!!!� Oscar thought He treats me like a helpless creature, damn. I would send him and his help to the hell with great pleasure, but I should hold on for my big sister.�
Meanwhile Fran�ois continued �One writer said that �In the field of a fashion madmen publish laws for the clever�and the best thing you can think of is to follow them. We laugh, looking at portraits of our ancestors, not thinking that descendants will laugh, looking at ours� When I look at you I think he was right, you obviously hate this dress, but you are supposed to wear it.�
Damn, am I not so good? How could he notice that! flashed in her mind. �No, I like this fashion very much,� she said aloud, with an innocent look. �And what's that writer's name?�
�I don't think you should read this book, young mademoiselle won't like it, I think.�
�Let me think and decide whether I like it or not myself!� she said becoming frenzied.
She took her place near the small elaborate table and lowered her eyes trying to calm down and to represent resignation and modesty, which caused young Bouille to suppress his smile.
�Are there any indoor activities you like?� he asked.
�Yes, infuriate my dad and nanny,� Oscar thought, but aloud said �Let�s play Bouts-Rim�s it can be fun!�
If the lighting had stricken in the middle of the room Fran�ois wouldn�t have been more surprised as after hearing this offer. Rather strange chose for a young girl. But she was just incredible, so lively, independent, self-confident, with her own opinion about everything, longing to live by herself. With interests totally different from that which other girls have. She captured his attention for sure.
�I'm really looking forward to see you tomorrow to have a little race,� Fran�ois said leaving the mansion after some time.
�I'll be pleased to see you too,� Oscar said holding both her hands behind her back. �So see you tomorrow.�
She turned abruptly and ran out the lodge towards the stairs lifting the hem of her gown higher than proprieties allowed.
Fencing, horse riding, tree climbing, fishing�anything but these talks and behaviour tomorrow, she thought Damn, I can't stand it any longer!!! It's Jacqueline's life, not mine!
Oscar shut the door to her room behind her and saw Andr� sitting near the window.
�Good evening, mademoiselle, let me hold your hand and escort you to your room, because this one is Oscar�s,� Andr� said smiling. �I never thought you could behave like a mademoiselle, you even allowed him to kiss your hand,� he continued without trying to suppress his laughs.
�Have you spied on us?�
�I couldn�t help. I had to see this!!!�
�Don't you dare remind me about this kiss or I'll kill you!�
�And how are you going to kill me? Using your charm?�
At the next moment Oscar grabbed a porcelain vase and tossed it furiously in Andr�'s direction. He managed to turn aside and hearing the vase break into pieces behind him.
�Now I see your day was terrible!�It is a wrong time to tease her now, but she won't escape from me later, he thought with a grin.
�The day was horrible indeed!� she said trying to breathe deeply, but her corset didn't allow it �I quit this game, damn! I refuse to continue, it is a nightmare!!! And I want to know what happened at the court?!! Where are my sister and father, they should be back already!�
�Calm down Oscar! We'll find it out right now. Look, they are back, and she is still alive, it's a good sign, don't you think?� Andr� asked.
Oscar ran to the window and saw her sister dismounting and moving towards the mansion's entrance.
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