A story about a Miller, and his family

Will the author ever finish?

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:34:47 GMT

Part 2 - Orson White or Rose White and Rose Red

"Aren't you a little old for fairy tales?"

Sarah looked up from her book, to see a teenager about her age standing in front of her. She smiled at him, because she thought he was handsome.

"I like the romance." She smiled, and closed the book. "But right now, I like the view."

"You're a very blunt person. Aren't you?"

"Only when I see something I want. I'm Sarah." She flipped her long blonde hair behind her shoulders, and moved over a few inches.

"I am Orson." The teenager smiled, and took a seat next to the young woman. "Are you Sarah Miller?"

"Yes. You've heard of me? Sorry to say, I haven't heard of you."

"I'm dating your sister. She's mentioned you."

"You could do better. I'm single, and beautiful." She had to force herself to keep smiling. Her sister always seemed to get what she wanted. Stacy was Daddies little girl, Homecoming queen, and now she had a boyfriend. It wasn't fair.

"Would you do that to your sister? Does she seem unhappy with me?"

"She hasn't mentioned you. Daddy doesn't want us to date yet, we're sixteen, but he's still weird about it." Sarah was annoyed by that. Her father had a few strange rules. No fairy tales, No dating, No sleep overs. Go to church on Sunday.

"I see. Have you seen your sister? We were supposed to meet here for a date."

"Why would I tell you if I have? I want you to stay here with me."

"You've known me for five minutes."

"Stay here with me. Forget about Stacy. I'm prettier and smarter than she is."

"What fairy tale were you reading?"

"We're both beautiful people, so we belong together- Excuse me?"

"What fairy tale were you reading?"

"Oh. 'Rose White and Rose Red' Why? Do you like fairy tales?"

"That's one of my favorites."

"Mine too." After a short silence, he gently put the back of his hand to her cheek. "Thy golden hair and thy comely face- Thy all majestic form of peerless grace. Thy-"

"Is that from a fairy tale?" She knew that she had him, but the poem sounded long, and her curiosity won. She had to know where he had heard that poem.

"It is. Why did you interrupt me as I recited poetry to you?" He removed his hand from her face, and questioned the girl.

"I didn't feel like listening to it. What fairy tale is it from?"

"Nothing you have read, Rose White."

"You called me Rose White. Nobody has done that before. Well, my Mom calls me a princess. That isn't the same as Rose White"

"What princess gets the prince?"

"Rose White. Does that mean you're going to dump my sister?" She smiled. This was a fun game.

"Rose Red is very important to me. If I had met you first, things may have been different."

"No. You're going to be mine. We're perfect for each other."

"We've only known each other for a few minutes. Don't you need more time to know that?"

"No. We've been flirting this entire time. You belong with me, not with my sister."

"You'll find your place in due time. I see your sister in the distance."

"Why do you have to be hers?"

"She's important to me."

"I'm important. She is nothing."

"Wish hard enough, and you will get what your heart desires, Sarah Miller."

"Oh, like I haven't tried that. Don't think I'm giving up. Stacy can't have everything."

"I don't expect you to give up." The young man got up, and walked towards a tall young woman. Sarah watched the two of them, a plan forming in her head.

A fairy Tale, and a not so happily ever after

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:19:27 GMT

6

"Many years ago, a certain miller fell into poverty. He had nothing left but his mill, and a large apple-tree that stood behind it. He went into the forest to chop wood one day, and a young man whom he had never seen before approached him.

"Why do you bother yourself with cutting wood, when I can make you rich?"

"How can you make me rich?" asked the miller. "I have nothing to offer you but my mill, and the apple-tree which stands behind it."

"I will make you rich, if you promise me what is standing behind the mill"

"Is that all that you want?"

"Yes. Give me that, and you shall have all the riches that you desire." The miller was very excited. He quickly signed a promise, and was eager to get his riches. The stranger laughed mockingly once he had the paper in his hands.

"When it is time, I will come for what is mine." then he turned away, and left. "

Sarah smiled as her Mommy read the story. She liked stories. Her Mommy would read to her, and her sisters and brothers every day. She read fairy tales to them. She loved fairy tales.

"What are you reading to our children, Grace?" Daddy's voice surprised her. Her Daddy never came around when it was story time. He sounded upset. Mommy looked surprised, and got out of the big rocking chair to talk to Daddy.

Sarah watched her parents for a few minutes. They both were upset, and Daddy took the book away from Mommy.

"What's wrong Mommy?" she asked, as her mother returned to the rocking chair.

"Nothing, sweetie. Story time is over. Do you kids want to play?"

"I liked that story, Mommy. Can you finish it?"

"No sweetie. Your father doesn't like it."

"He doesn't have to listen. Please? I like fairy tales. I'm going to marry a prince one day."

"No, I will! You're not even a princess, Sarah! I'm the princess!" Stacy proudly declared herself a princess. Stacy and Sarah were almost twins, and competed with each other fiercely.

"I put a pea under your mattress, and you didn't feel it!"

"Did too feel it!"

"You're not black and blue like the princess in the story, and your hair isn't flaxen like it's supposed to be!"

"But I am a princess!"

"Mommy, is Stacy a princess, or am I a princess?"

"Can't you both be princesses? Why do you two argue so much?"

"I'm the best princess, right Mommy?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, Sarah. You're the best princess.. will you two stop arguing now?"

"But I'm older! I should be a princess!" Stacy hated how Sarah always had to be the best.

"The older sister is always the mean one, so I'm the princess, and you're going to be mean, then the prince will come, and marry me!"

"Nuh-uh! Both of the older sisters are supposed to be evil, and the youngest sister becomes the princess!" Both of the young girls turned to their younger sister, who quietly pretended to be reading a stray book.

"Girls, stop arguing, please."

"She can't be a princess because her hair is dark, so I'm still the princess. My name is prettier anyway! " Sarah crossed her arms, and smirked at her sister. Both of the girls ignored their mother as they argued.

"I want to be the princess!"

"I want to be the princess!" She would play copycat. Stacy hated when she did that.

"At least I don't have a crush on somebody!"

"At least I don't have a crush on somebody!"

"Stop copying me!"

"Stop copying me!"

"I can't handle this anymore." Sarah did not hear her mommy as she said those words. She did not look up as she teased her sister. Her Mommy massaged her temples, and got up to leave the room.

"You're a stupid head!"

"You're a stupid head!"

"My name is Sarah and I have a stupid head!" Two could play that game. Stacy would make Sarah call herself names.

"My name is Sarah, and I have a stupid head!"

"La la la la la laaa" Sarah stuck her tongue out at Stacy, who mimicked her.

"You made Mommy leave." said Samantha, who still held a book.

"You made Mommy leave." Sarah turned her focus on her younger sister, when her Mommy walked back into the room. Her face was a little red, and she walked over to Sarah.

"Sarah, sweetie.. we're going to leave for a little while. Do you want Mommy to buy you a new dress?" Sarah smiled. New dresses were pretty, and fun. She always felt like a princess when her Mommy would dress her up.

"Yes Mommy! I'll be just like a princess."

Grace smiled and left with her daughter.

7

"Caroline, you have to stop having children."

"Theresa?" asked Caroline, as she looked up. "Did you want to hold your sister? She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"No. Where is she going to sleep? You are poor, you don't have the money to raise her. You have me, and that other brat."

"Everything will come out right. You don't have to worry Theresa."

"I'm not worried Caroline. I'm annoyed. You have a husband.. and you're pretending that you have some sort of happy life. You don't deserve this. You didn't earn it."

"I do have a happy life. You're my baby, and you always will be.. but we have a family. You have a sister and brother that love you very much."

"Honestly woman. The kids aren't old enough to love me. They aren't old enough to remember me. They are parasites."

"I'm going to name her Imani. It's a pretty name."

"No. You are not giving her a stupid name like that. She's not your kid." Caroline gave Theresa a long stare.

"What do you mean?"

"She's your daughter, right? Didn't you exchange your daughter for something stupid?"

"Where did you hear that child?" She had not told anyone about her encounters with The Man. Theresa could not have known.

"Do not call me a child! You know as well as I do that I am not a child."

"You are my child. Tell me, where did you hear that 'I exchanged my daughter for something stupid'?"

"It doesn't matter. When it is time, he will come for what is his."

"Where did you hear that? Please tell me. Is he here?"

"Does it look like he is here? Pull yourself together woman. Tears and begging are signs of weakness."

"I can't lose my babies. I can't."

"Sob, sob. All he wants is your daughter, and she's not ready yet. Babies are ugly, and this one is no exception."

"You're my daughter too. What if he comes for you in a few years?"

"I am not your daughter."

"Yes, you are. You're my first child, and I love you very much."

"Don't lie to me! Do I remind you of my father? Do you feel bad for keeping me from him?"

"Why are you bringing this up now?"

"Because it's making you upset."

"I'll tell you about your father another time."

"You don't know who he is, do you?"

"I'm your mother, and you have a father. Christopher loves you very much."

"You make him sound like a perv when you say that. You should name your daughter after him. He would like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Name her Christina. It's funny, if you think about it."

"It is?"

"Oh, it's hilarious. It's much better than the name that you gave me."

"You don't like your name? I think it's a beautiful name."

"It's annoying. Why did you pick it?"

"It's a saints name. I wanted to-"
"Honestly woman! You named me after a saint? Did you really think that was going to help?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Are you going to give yourself to him? He still wants you, even if you have soiled yourself with a husband and children. My life will be as it should be if you give yourself to him."

"Soiled myself? Theresa, what is going on?"

"Think, Caroline. I'm sorry, I'm asking too much. I've obviously been talking to him. He's told me all about you."

"You've been talking to him?"

"Didn't I just say that? He'll come for her when it is time, unless you give yourself to him. I'm leaving. I'll see you when you and the brat get home."

Another Deal

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 09:39:29 GMT

"Tell me Samuel, why don't the girls get along?" Samuel looked up, to see the man standing in front of him.

"It's you again." He remained in his seat, not having the will to get up. "Did you do this to my life? Nothing is going right."

"Why are you blaming me for your shortcomings? I did not force you to take the deals that you did. I did not demand that you marry Grace, when you had Anna. Isn't it exciting when you don't know what you are going to lose next?" The Man remained calm, and took a seat in front of the desk.

"Why are you here?"

"You've lost your Anna, haven't you? You've lost Anna, and you've lost your fortune. Is that why you are staring at the gun? Are you upset that the girls aren't getting along? I can fix it. I can make your life wonderful again."

"You can't fix this mess. I'm going bankrupt, and Grace is going to leave me. She'll take the girls. What will I have left?"

"Grace will take her child, but I doubt she will take yours. She hated Anna, and she hates Anna's daughter."

"She can't take our children. I -"

"You won't stand for it? Samuel, that is why I am here. I come to your family when it needs me. How do you think you have stayed so rich, for so long? All I want from you is a small favor."

"If you tell me what this favor is, I may consider it." He said this after a long pause. He had to be careful about what deals he made, or his life could get worse than it already was. The man handed him a manilla folder.

"In this folder is a list of companies. I want you to invest in them. Endorse them to your friends."

"Invest what? I can't break into the trust fund. I want my daughters to have money for college."

"That's funny. You only have one daughter right now."

"What have you done?" His mind raced for a moment. He was almost certain that something happened to one of his daughters.

"Do the math. Once you realize how stupid you have been, use the money from that trust fund, and invest in those companies. Everything will come together after that. Grace will love you, the children will get along, and your life will be just how you want it to be."

"You only want me to invest in these companies, and do nothing else?"

"If you were to invest in these companies, it will help me a great deal. We're both business men, Samuel. If those companies succeed, many people will be very rich."

"What will happen if I do not invest in these companies?"

"Your life will continue on this path. It would be a shame. You have such potential, just like your grandfather."

"You've mentioned my grandfather before. What have you done with him?"

"I've done nothing with him. He chose what he did with his life, just like you're doing. We were a very good team, and we work together often."

"I will let you know what I decide."

"I'll return, Samuel. This deal is good for the both of us."

The Child

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:31:46 GMT

4

"Please, let me keep my child. She has done nothing wrong." Caroline pleaded with The Man as she held her small child tightly.

"You have a beautiful child, Caroline. I'm sure she's very happy. She's mute, isn't she?"

"Yes. I've been a good mother, please don't take her from me, please. She's all that I have." Tears began to form in her eyes, as she realized that she was about to lose her child. Her life had gone downhill after her last encounter with The Man. She currently worked as a dishwasher in a small diner. Her pay barely covered the rent for the tiny room that she shared with her daughter.

"You signed a contract, my dear. What will I take as payment, if all you have is this child?"

"I can be your servant again." She hoped that he would accept that offer. When she served him, he had provided for all of her needs. She knew that he would not. He wanted her to be more than a servant. He wanted a bride.

"Will you give yourself willingly to me? I will provide for you, and your beautiful child."

"I don't want to give myself to you. I don't want to give my child to you."

"Your child is already mine. Give her to me." Caroline obeyed, wiping a tear from her face afterwards. Her daughter did not fidget when The Man held her. Her daughter had never made a sound. "You've had her baptized." He grinned as the woman fidgeted. "She has always been mine, dear Caroline."

"Please, let me have my daughter. I beg you not to take her from me." She fell to her knees, still in tears.

"You will have other children." The Man handed the child a candy cane, which she began to eat happily.

"No! Don't take my child!" He turned his attention to the woman who kneeled on the ground before him.

"Is it your wish to keep my Theresa?" The child was still enjoying the candy that had been given to her. She did not turn at the mention of her name.

"How did you know her name?" The woman was confused for a moment, before she pleaded for her child again. "Yes, please, I want Theresa back."

"Theresa, Caroline wants to keep you. She thinks that you are her child." He sounded slightly amused, as if this all was a big joke to him.

"She can't understand you. I can't afford to take her to a doctor."

"She has never made a sound, correct? She's never cried, never spoken?"

"Yes. She needs me. I'm the only person she trusts."

"She trusts me. Look at how happy she is." The child was indeed happy. She smiled, as she neatly ate the candy. "But then again-" The man stopped talking, and chuckled. "You underestimate me, Caroline. I can grant your wishes. I can bend time and space. Do you think that I can't make this child understand me?"

"I apologize sir. I was desperate when I first met you. Please, let me have my child back."

"You would take a life of poverty with a silent child, than an eternity with me?"

"Yes. I want to live my life, with my daughter. I love her."

"Stand, Caroline." She obeyed. "I will leave you, and my Theresa. You will not see me again, for several years. When we meet again, I will again ask if you will give yourself to me. Do you understand that?"

"Yes. I thank you." He gave the child back to the woman, and stood back a few steps.

"Theresa, if you continue to remain silent, people will think you are a stupid child. We both know that you are much smarter than that." The child continued to eat her candy, ignoring what went on around her. "I'll return when you are older, child."

"Thank you sir. Thank you for giving me another chance." Caroline was still in tears, as she held her daughter tightly.

"Theresa, don't forget this day. Will you remember the choices that this woman made concerning you?"

"Yes." The child had just spoken her first word. The woman holding her was shocked, and began crying again. The Man raised an eyebrow, and walked away.

A delay -3

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:13:55 GMT

"Hello Samuel" Samuel turned at the sound of the voice. The Man was sitting in a chair. "It's not important how I got here, or how you got here."

"Where are we?" He asked, after a few seconds of silence.

"Does it matter? Have a seat. We need to talk." He obeyed. He had not seen The Man since that night a couple of years ago. He thought that night had been a dream, until now. "Have you been happy with your wish? Have the girls been acceptable?"

"Yes." His mind raced for a moment. If he hadn't been dreaming, then this man had actually granted his wish. He owed the man something, and did not know what it was.

"You remind me of your grandfather. "

"My grandfather? You're not old enough to have known him." The Man chuckled.

"You're in a room that did not exist a few moments ago."

"I am aware of that. You'll have to excuse me. This is very hard to grasp."

"It's not, if you think about it. Samuel, I've come to collect what is mine."

"I have money, if that is what you want. I have plenty of money."

"Where do you think that money came from?" The man chuckled again. "You're following in a family tradition, Samuel. What I'm going to ask of you, is no different than what I've asked of your forefathers."

"What do you want from me?"

"I want you to work with me. Your family survived The Great Depression, with all of it's fortune intact. You've always had it easy. Your father rejected my offer, and he did not have to be poor. His life is terribly dull, however."

"I'm not sure I can accept these terms."

"You've got a very beautiful girlfriend. What is her name? Anna?"

"I'm going to marry Anna. She's fun-loving, and beautiful."

"Well, then you're all set to have a wonderful life. You plan to marry her, have a couple of children, and live until old age?"

"Yes."

"What will your father say? I believe that he has a bride picked out for you already. If you work with me, I can make certain that you, and Anna are married happily ever after."

"I'm not certain that I want to work for you. Could I have time to think about it?"

"You want time?" The man smirked. "I'll let you see what your life is like without me, and in a year, I will return."

"That sounds acceptable. Can I contact you if I wish to make a decision sooner?"

"You're a smart man. You will find a way to contact me, if I am not already there."

"I will speak with you in a year." The man winked, then left the room.

No thank you

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:49:52 GMT

2

"I'm here for what is mine."

Caroline turned to face the man that stood behind her.

"It can't be time. It's only been a few months. Please, I need more time."

"My dear, sweet Caroline. I'm not going to ask much of you. You've served me well, and I want to reward you for that." She turned, and looked at the man. He was smiling, always smiling. "Come to me."

She followed the order, without thinking. That is how things were with him. She did not have to think. When he spoke, she obeyed.

"What did you need, sir?" She trembled a bit, she did not know what he would ask of her.

"Caroline, be calm. You can trust me." Caroline still was nervous. She had been employed by the man for a little more than six months. "I gave you a job, and a new chance at life. Don't you remember how dreadful your life was six months ago?"

"Yes. Thank you for helping my family out of poverty."

"Has Samuel swept you off of your feet? Are you happy with him?" Caroline nodded. She knew that he was bringing up all these things for a reason, but she did not know why he brought them up. "I've given you a lot, haven't I?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"All that I want, Caroline, is you. You're a beautiful girl, and you have a very good soul"

"You said that you didn't deal in souls. You're supposed to be reasonable."

"I don't want your soul. It's a good soul, but I don't want it. I want you to be mine. I can make your life a hundred times better."

"I'm happy. I have Samuel, I have a home that is warm. My mother is proud of me."

"Would your mother be proud if she knew the truth?"

"No. Please, let me be happy with Samuel. I'll do whatever it is that you want, but I want to be with him. I love him."

"He doesn't love you. He's writing a letter right now, telling you that he can't be with you anymore. You were part of his exciting life, my Caroline. He was the romantic fling that you so wanted. That part of your life is over."

"No. It just started. Please-"

"Give yourself willingly to me, and none of that will matter. I'll provide for you, and you will never want for anything again."

"I don't want to give you my life." The man sighed, and kissed Caroline on the forehead.

"I'm not as terrible as you think that I am, my dear. Is it your wish to be released from my service?"

"Yes."

"You are released. I'll take your daughter as payment."

"I don't have a daughter. I don't have children"

"Then you have nothing to worry about. Enjoy your life." The man smiled, and winked at her. Then he turned, and left.

The Deal

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 08:21:52 GMT

"It's cold out tonight."

Samuel turned, and looked at the person who spoke. The man had not been there a moment ago. He was tall, with fair skin and hair.

"Yes. It is. The bus should be here soon." Samuel did not add that the bus was late. He had been waiting in the cold darkness for what seemed like an hour. He only wanted to get home. His father called earlier that day and said that it was really important that he get home. Tonight was Homecoming. He was supposed to play, and help bring the team to victory.

"The bus isn't due for another hour. Why don't you wait inside?"

"Inside?" He frowned, and looked to where the stranger pointed. A small diner, that looked warm and inviting. He did not remember seeing that diner earlier, but it was dark, and he had not been paying attention. "I suppose that would be okay."

The man smiled, and led the way into the diner. Samuel carried his suitcase, and looked around. It seemed like any other diner. It had a few customers sitting in booths, and two bored waitresses dressed in peach uniforms.
"Have a seat" He smiled, pointing to a booth. "This diner has been in my family for years."

"It's a very nice diner." Samuel took a seat, feeling a little bit uneasy.

"Caroline! Come over here and meet our guest!" Caroline was one of the waitresses. She was young, with olive skin, and dark hair.

"Hi.. I.. can take your order? Please?" The girl stammered, and looked down as she spoke.

The man laughed.
"Caroline is new... Get us some soup." He winked at the girl, before she quickly walked away.

"Thank you. I didn't notice the diner earlier." spoke Samuel, glancing out of his window. It was still dark, and there was no sign of the bus,

"Not many people do. It's a shame, really. We offer a lot here."

"You do?"

"Yes. We can get you whatever you want."

"Oh, really? You can get me whatever I want?" Samuel was disbelieving of this, but decided that it would not hurt anything to pretend to go along.

"We can provide anything that your heart desires."

"What-" Samuel stopped speaking as Caroline approached the table again. She served the soup, and handed a few pieces to paper to the man.

"Do you need anything else, sir?" asked the waitress.

"No. Thank you Caroline. You have been an excellent servant." The waitress smiled at the compliment. "Why don't you have a seat with us?"

"Really? But.." Caroline looked at Samuel, and blushed.

"Yes. Sit with us." The girl obeyed, and quietly sat next to the man. "Caroline, meet- I don't believe I caught your name."

"Samuel Miller. I'm a student at Pinehurst."

"Ah, yes. Caroline attends a nearby school, if I understand it correctly."

"Yes." answered the girl "I go to Saint Anne's school. I've been working here after school for two months."

"She does a very good job. Caroline, what do you wish for?"

"I want to meet a man, and be swept off my feet." The girl smiled, then blushed.

"That's a good wish Caroline." The man smiled at the girl, and handed her a piece of paper. "You've seen this before. Sign, and your wish will be granted."

Samuel watched with interest. He was certain this was not a dream, but he hoped that it was.

"Samuel, what would you like?"

"I want an exciting life." He spoke, before thinking. That was something he hadn't told anyone.

"You don't want the life your father had."

"Yes.. How did you know? I want to have romance, and excitement. I don't want to waste my life like my father did." The man held a paper out to Samuel.

"Agree to my terms, and I can make that happen."

"Your terms?"

"It's a simple contract. I grant your wish, and you live.. ever after."

"Those are the only terms?"
"No. The price is very, very small. All I ask for is loyalty."

"He doesn't ask much... Last night, he requested a car from a man.. and he was free of the contract"

"This is only a dream, right Samuel?" The man smiled again. Samuel signed the paper, almost certain that this was a dream. The man smirked, and got up from the table. "I'll come for what is mine. Enjoy your wishes."