Chapter 21 Visiting the Orphanage

Alan went out for a walk and Jasmine knew he had heard Julia's question by the sudden slump in his shoulders. Sadness knifed through her.

"Sometimes things aren't meant to be fix," she replied, watching Alan closed the gate and wishing she could hold him instead.

"Let's go inside and see what books you want to read." Jasmine took Julia's hands and led her into the library, hoping the distraction would keep her from thinking about the last time Alan touched her. It'd been about twenty-four hours and her lips still tingled.

"We hadn't started on lunch yet," Julia said with all seriousness. "I was going to make biscuits."

"You're good at that."

Julia beamed. "Mrs. Woods and I make the best biscuits in the country."

Jasmine fought to contain her grin. Julia is extremely good at making biscuits. They'd had them every day for lunch ever since Jasmine began working for the Rickmans.

"Do you want to make them for lunch?"Julia asked.

"If you would please." Jasmine watched amazed as Julia dragged her down the kitchen, helping her in the stairs, and finally reaching their destination. Julia climbed to get a mixing bowl and flour. She then slip out the tin top to make room for sugar, flavorings and other ingredients before asking Jasmine if she'd get her the milk.

Milk, eggs, jam, and several jars of apple butter and preserves sat on the fridge, cool as cucumber. Alan's high-end refrigerator awed her, she almost giggled when she felt the temperature of the milk pitcher as she lifted it from the fridge. Gracious, Alan is really rich. The enormous house, library, luxurious cars and a ten-thousand pound chicken.

"Daddy!" Julia's excited greeting took Jasmine's mind away from the fridge.

Alan ruffled Julia's hair in a way Jasmine had never seen him do before.

"I'm making biscuits," Julia announced. She hurried back to her awaiting dough bowl so she could prove her point. Smiling at his daughter, Alan went to the sink and washed hands and with a clean towel wiped them as he fondly replied, "I'm sure you are."

Jasmine began stuffing the turkey with enough spices to make the room smell so delicious. She went beside Julia and began mashing the potatoes manually while the master of the house began setting the table... soon afterwards before Alan can call Lindt and Taylor for lunch Jasmine approached him.

"I was wondering," Jasmine began clearing her throat, "If you'd mind if I spent the weekend in Gloucester Place?"

Alan paused. "What business do you have in there?"

"The orphanage I grew up to was having a mini fair and the Mother Superior invited me for a weekend stay."

"When do you leave?"

"Friday after class. Mrs. Woods and I prepared your lunch you could just re-heat it in the microwave."

He nodded, but Jasmine could tell another question was on its way. "Do you think I can give you a ride?"

Her eyes went wide as she stares at him in utter disbelief and confusion. "You don't have to Mr. Rickman, I've caused you enough trouble already."

"I wanted to," he answered quickly, and she had the feeling he wasn't talking about the ride.

Jasmine couldn't possibly say no to him if he is looking at her like she's beautiful, could it be that he wants her?

They all had their lunch together and enjoyed the food laid in an utter bliss. Taylor and Lindt mainly complimented Jasmine's mashed potato while Julia expressed her intention to acquire a kitten.

"A kitten?" Alan and Jasmine said in unison.

"Mrs. Woods is allergic to cats, she's on a holiday vacation this month and I've always wanted a kitten."

Julia ran from the dining room, apparently in pursuit of a feline.

Alan frowned, staring at the direction through which Julia had dashed. "I didn't know she's always wanted a cat."

"Given her age, this lifelong desire could've come about yesterday." Lindt explains, grinning.

Alan chuckled.

Taylor helped Jasmine washed the dishes while Julia [upon her returning from the feline pursuit] dried the plates and chatted about the new kitty she wanted. "I want one with black and white and yellow and gray spots."

"How about pink?"

Julia wrinkled her brow. "Do they make pink kitties?"

"I don't know, but wishes are free so you might as well throw them as much as you want."

Julia giggled. "In that case, I want a pink and green and red kitty."

"With wings?"

That suggestion sent Julia into a spasm of giggles that continued while Taylor was having a hard time suppressing his laughter.

"You sure know how to spoil a child." Taylor whispered.

"Oh shush."

Jasmine was answered by chuckles instead.

Friday came and as promised Alan gave Jasmine a ride to Gloucester Place they met at a parking area near the Maughan Library where few students roam around, that is to avoid bad publicity to Alan's teaching and showbiz career if ever they were spotted by the paparazzi.

During the drive Alan was entertain by our heroine's childhood stories and how her mischievousness drove the nuns into insanity.

"... but my behavior turned into a 360- degree changed, I became docile and obedient during my adolescence stage."

"That is extremely beneficial to the nuns I suppose."

"I can only agree." Jasmine grins. After twenty minutes or less they arrived in the Griffths Orphanage, the orphanage was built during the World War II to serve as a hospital for the injured soldiers during the war; Alan managed to read the scriptures in the entranced and finally spotted a place to park.

A nun came out of the door holding a lantern above her head and Alan thought for brief moment if they have travelled back in time.

"Jasmine!"

"Good evening Sister Agatha."

The two hugged just like an old friends. The nun patted Jassy's head and began reciting a short prayer of thanksgiving that we arrived safe and sound in our destination.

"Why are the lights off?"

Alan was about to say the same when the nun replied in such a fuss, "Oh Jasmine, we couldn't tell you ahead of time but it's been three consecutive days that the transformers broke down."

"All three of them?"

Sister Agatha nodded and for the first time took notice of Alan Rickman's presence. "Who is this man you were with?"

Alan steps forward and gallantly bowed, "My name is Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman Madam, pleasure to meet you."

"Are you really? Well, glad to meet you too Mr. Rickman."

"Sister, how are the children coping with this unfortunate event?"

"Tommy and other men came just this afternoon to take a look at the broken transformers, they are at the back fixing it as we speak but the problem is, we still need help in making food stands for tomorrow's fair."

"I'll help." Alan volunteered.

"That's great news!"

The bustle of activity at Griffths Orphanage only escalated Alan's enthusiasm. It looked like half the men in the neighborhood had shown up, all laughing and teasing one another as they carried lumber and raised [food] stands. Alan grabbed a set of tools handed by Sister Agatha and headed toward the men, while Jasmine made way to the women sitting under the old shed roof near the construction site.

Seeing the transformers had already put in their proper places and electricity has returned, Jasmine saw Tommy lifting a beam over his head to the men working above him, they were on their second food stand at the moment. He'd removed his shirt, leaving on only his undershirt despite the cool evening air. His muscles bulged with the weight of his task and several of the younger girls swooned at the sight. The nuns shook their heads and began lecturing the young ones about proper courtship and decorum.

Jasmine knew the ladies in the shed as her former mentors and guardians, Sister Mary, Sister Modesty, Sister Bless, Mother Superior Fatima Grace and her playmates from their neighborhood before. They all chatted for a moment and then decided to start preparing dinner for the laborers. The women began cooking beef stew, some pasta Jasmine was behind to watch the beans. She really wanted to watch Alan and couldn't help noticing Tommy was giving Alan a hard time, teasing about his hammer and 'old bones' and asking every nonsensical questions if he needed to rest. But Alan didn't give in. If anything he worked harder than most of the men and hours passed by, it was starting to show.

As soon as the women had the food ready, she filled a plate and went in search for her employer. She found him standing by the corner, hands on his hips, sweat dripping from his brow. The sleeve of his new shirt had a tear, and his canvas pants were stained and soiled from top to bottom. He was staring off at nothing in particular, and she figured the only reason he was still standing up was it would take too much energy to sit down.

"Would you like something to eat?"

He lifted his gaze from the ground and gave her a nod. Just one, but she suspected that was all he had left. Leading him to a nearby food stand, she took a seat, making sure to leave him the seat in front of her so he could lean on something for support. He did and it was a good two minutes before he finally reached for his plate.

"You know you don't have to stay all night if you don't want to," she said, taking a bite of beans.

His fork stopped halfway to his mouth as he turned to face her. "You don't think I can work like the rest of the men?"

"They were raised working like this. Were you?"

Not only was he not raised working like this, but he hadn't been aware that other people were. At least not since the Egyptians built the pyramids, but he wasn't about to admit that to Jasmine. Every limb of his body weighed five tons, and damn fork weighed at least thirty and that was without the beans.

But he wasn't about to admit that to Jasmine either, so he straightened his back - which hurt - and dug into the godforsaken beans.

"I can work as hard as any man," he said, wondering if he could talk to her into chewing his dinner for him.

"I'm not saying you can't work hard. It's just that - "

"I'm fine."

And by the time the clock strikes ten in the evening, the fifteen food stands were finished, banners were raised and Alan was exhilarated.

He'd made it.

He'd kept up with the other men, working like a borrowed mule. To make things better, as soon as Tommy stopped his teasing was getting to nowhere, he ceased trying and the men were laughing and joking with him like he was one of them.

He was dirty and grubby and sore, and never felt better in his life. Dropping onto a monoblock chair that had been bought outside by the nuns earlier for seats, he examined his work with pride. He recognized every board he'd nailed in place and every beam he'd help set.

"Tired?" Jasmine handed him a glass of cold water.

"A little. How are the others?"

Jasmine gestured at the other men where each of them had paired up with the young ladies-in-waiting, but still the nuns are on the lookout for improper behavior. Alan chuckled at the scene.

Alan's laugh stopped when Jasmine gently touched the back of his hand. "Looks like you got hurt too."

He glanced down at the dried blood on the gouge that crossed the back of his hand. "Just a scratch," he said. It hurts like a son of a bitch, but Jasmine would never know that either. Even though he liked the look of sympathy in her eyes.

"Everyone, you need to finish up, now," an old man shouted as he walked to the center.

Alan dragged his gaze away from Jasmine to the man. Few men began walking in the center carrying sound equipments; lights of different color were switched on giving the place an ambiance for a dance hall.

"It's time to commence with the fun part of the night," Tommy said placing headphones on his ears and began operating the sound system like what DJs would do. The crowd began shouting and hands clapping, the nuns smiled at the crowd and shrugged. Maybe they will let the youngsters do what youngsters do, since the children were fast sleep in a sound proof room to leave the party going.

"Everybody pair up!" And the crowd went wild.

Upbeat music started playing and everyone was enjoying the dance floor. Laughing voices, clapping hands, heads swinging led Alan to a whole new way of dancing. Groups were made and members of it were moving like their pants were blazing but none of them had Jasmine's spirit. Her face glowed and her smile sparkled as she laughed and twirled around the dance floor. His enjoyment of her enjoyment was more than satisfying, but Jasmine had other plans. Before he knew what was happening, she was dragging him to the floor.

"I don't know how to dance in this kind of music," he protested a bit shouting because of the noise, but it was too late.

"I'll show you!" she shouted back, and then the head swinging, hands raised in the air and the shaking began.

She pulled him close to her and started guiding him to the sound of the upbeat song he had never heard in his entire life [in case you are wondering it was Good Time by Owl City feat. Carly Rae Jepsen], but even when he ended up almost falling down and smacking his head on the pole, he couldn't remember ever enjoying an evening more.

Until it was time to go back home.

When Alan arrived at midnight in his home he was struggling to make his legs move. Up the four thousand steps that led to his room. Unbuttoning his shirt as he walked straight to bed, he managed to remove his shoes before finally falling face-first into his pillow.

No wonder the ancient Egyptians were all dead.