Hope its going well!
I wrote a story for competition but I ended up never posting it in... don't know why but if you're interested to read it here it is :) Let me know what you think!
I know its long, but if it grabs you read it :)
To my knowledge there are some true facts, like her siblings, her father all the reasons she came here. Other than that I made the story line.
The Short Life of Elizabeth Caroline
2 March 1819
I do not know what is becoming of my family. Sometimes I wonder if
it’s worth being around or running away. I do not understand my Father’s rounds
with women. I dream about my husband, even though I have not met him it feels
like I know him already, he will be trustworthy and faithful. He will be
different, I know it. Women are not respected. We are used and then put to
work, washing their clothing, making their food, watching them act foolish when
they are drunk.
The morning was crisp, and the sun was rising fast, today
was going to be hot. The forest was alive with life, it was exciting. Father
says they were out hunting and found traces of elephants! I have never seen one
before, father says they are dangerous. He says if he ever catches one he will
shoot it and cut it up. I had never had so many nightmares in my life.
I walked out the front door and onto the porch looked up to
the sky and breathed in the fresh air. ‘Hmmm, this is what I love the most of
all, fresh air’ I thought. The cold air burnt my throat, making me regret
taking in that deep breath. I sat on the
porch step with my robe tightly around my waist. Hoping no one would catch my
everyday habit of watching the sun rise. Everyone was slowly stirring, the
kitchen was already full of noise and the smells of fresh pastries for
breakfast were already made, making my stomach growl. I heard the front door
creak, and I turned around to find little Edward standing in the doorway with a
blanket across his shoulders, “Elizabeth” he said softly. He came and sat next
to me and I pulled him into me to keep him warm.
“What you doing up so early, little Edward?” I asked.
“I couldn’t sleep, I had a bad dream and then I saw you walk
past my door”, Edward said. I held onto him tightly. I was the closest thing to
a mother to him, mother died in 1812 and even though he was only two; he missed
her terribly. “We better go back inside before we get found, come on lets go
get dressed,” I said pulling his hand up. We walked into the stylish set
sitting room and everyone was still in their rooms getting dressed. The older
girls all had their own servants to help them dress. Edward found his room and
went inside. I went to mine and so the whole process went my underdress was on,
and so the dress was put on over, made to fit. These were just plain dresses.
Once everything was done at home I grabbed my diary and
rushed out the house shouting “I’m going out, I’ll be back in an hour” before
anyone could stop me from going, because there was always something to do. I
didn’t stop running before I was sheltered by the trees in the never ending
forest. I went and took my usual spot behind a tree that was covered in moss;
it was easily over a hundred years old. I began to write.
3 March 1819
I miss mama, it aches sometimes. Yesterday Edward came and sat next
to me on the porch saying that he had a bad dream. He probably dreamt about
mama again. Father went out again today with the slaves. He said that the
elephants had wrecked the storehouses he built just a few miles from here. He
says if he ever catches one of them and then he stopped as if he was living it
in his thoughts. I tried to forget what he said, but it made my mind work even hard
harder trying to figure out what he was thinking.
I stopped writing to think a while. I stared out to see ferns and
trees, the forest was so alive. I felt at home here, this was the one place no
one could take away from me. Father used to stay in England and he says that
the air was so thick there and that here he felt as if the world was taken off
his shoulders when he came to Knysna. He tells us a lot of stories at night of
when he was younger and the Prince of England. One night I remember him saying
to me, “When I was just about your age I saw the most beautiful girl, it was
love at first sight” he said. “Her name was Hannah Lightfoot and she was eight
years older than me. My father would never have approved of her, her father was
a shoemaker. This is why we took matters into our own hands.”The story sounded
something like a fairytale but it never had a happily ever after. The look in
his eye was pure longing. My eyes were
fluttering closed and I slowly gave
in.
I was awoken by a noise, I couldn’t place it. I was sure I had
never heard this noise before. I looked up to the sky and noticed it was
reaching twilight fast. I had fallen asleep. That noise cried out again but
closer, I was beginning to get scared. “Hello?!” I shouted. I was immobilised
with fear, blood was beginning to flow into my cheeks and my heart was beating
faster than a drum. Leaves were being crushed as the creature got closer, I
shut my eyes hoping this was part of my dream. I don’t know where I found the
bravery to open my eyes but they did and when I opened them I was greeted by
this huge magnificent creature, one of its feet was at least the width of my
body. I looked up to its bulbous body and then got to its face. I looked into
the eyes of the creature and saw a person. When I found myself again I saw my
hand reaching out to meet its trunk, eyes still meeting. I could sense that it
was scared and nervous. There was a moment when our body parts were so close to
touching that I could feel the heat surging from it; that it wanted to turn
around and flee from me. I didn’t blame it, I felt exactly the same but I found
myself glued to that spot unable to move. That final moment came and I touched
it. The skin was hard and dusty; I took a step closer still keeping eye
contact. “Elizabeth Caroline!” I heard from a distance and was suddenly brought
back to reality. I panicked remembering what my father had said at lunch today.
The elephant started to panic, “Shhh”, I cooed. “You have to leave, go now.” I
said with a matter of urgency. I started to gather my things, and started
running not looking back to see whether it was running after me or not. I just
prayed that it wasn’t.
The next morning I lay in my bed and thought about what happened
yesterday in the forest. That elephant reminded me of someone. The eyes
especially, it’s funny how you can tell who a person is just by looking at them
in their eyes. Father says it’s a gift I must use wisely; I don’t understand
what he means when he says that. The boys would go out today with Father, doing
‘boys’ things he says. John, Edward and Jacob say that they usually just go and
see what Father has planned for this ‘town’.
I brought an apple when I went into the forest today, I wanted to
find that elephant today. I put an apple, my diary and some orange juice in my
satchel and headed out in the same direction as yesterday. I haven’t been
deeper into the forest; I’m scared I get lost. But today I went a little
further, I made extra sure of my surroundings but everywhere looked the same. I
noticed this tree that was particularly large. Just after that came a stream,
the water was a funny yellowy colour that didn’t look too healthy. I walked to a ledge and peered over, it went
down for what seemed ages. Before I knew what was happening the ground
underneath me was giving in and I had nothing to hold onto but the wet mud that
just gave in. I screamed but I was too far out for my voice to be heard. “HELP!” I shouted. I began crying, “No,
Elizabeth this won’t do you any good”, I thought. My breathing was rapidly
increasing and sweat was forming above my brow. I tried pulling myself up but
it was hopeless, my fingers started giving in. I felt something touch my
fingers and I looked up to see a trunk wrapping itself around my arm. It pulled
me up as if I was as light as a feather. I was motionless, my body in some type
of a trance. “What just happened?!” My mind couldn’t comprehend what had just
taken place before me? We just stared at each other, for staring was all I
could do. Suddenly, faintheartedly I fell forward into the rugged embrace of
this mysterious elephant. When I knew I could properly hold myself up I reached
into my satchel and took out the green apple giving it to her trunk. I found
she was a she, and very pregnant. Her teats were swollen “Good girl, thank you
so much” I said. I sat there for the rest of afternoon, amazed at this
creature. She understood me, we understood each other. Puzzle pieces that fit.
When I had to leave it was hard. Although I had no problem finding my way back,
I almost wanted to get lost.
29 March 1918
I have
been seeing my new friend everyday now. She is the most interesting animal I
have ever encountered. I fear for her, she is pregnant and very uncomfortable. It worries me, what happens the
day her baby arrives?
Father has been having more elephant problems, I just hope he
never finds her. I pray to whoever is up there that if they know how much she
means to me, that my father and his men never find her. The kitchen servants
have been curious as to who’s been eating so much. I have been taking food from
home to feed her: rolls, cold meats, and a lot of fruit. All the other children
in the house have been talking about me, I can hear them every night when they
think I am sleeping. They wonder why I am always disappearing, even my father
moans at me sometimes.
When I went to her today, something was wrong. She seemed in pain,
but there was nothing I could do.
That night I was awoken by terrible cry. The sound resonated through
the entire forest. I sat up in my bed and my heart started sprinting. I got up,
ran out the front door. Luckily the moon was shining bright enough for me to
see. There she was, oh no. If father had to wake now...I don’t even want to
think about it. I ran to her, thorns were piercing my feet, but that wasn’t
important. Tears were already running, I reached her. Crying. This was killing
me. She took her trunk and patted her
belly. Oh. “How was I going to do this”, I thought. I went all the way around
her. She was pushing, and with every push she cried in pain. “Shhh, girl you
have to keep quiet, I know it hurts.” I pulled on the baby elephant that was
trying to get out. I looked up to the house and a candle was on. Oh no! Please
let it be John or Jacob! They’re the only ones that would understand right now.
The front door opened and my father walked out onto the porch. Oh God! He had
his rifle with him. He ran to where the action was and there I was stained with
blood on my nightdress. He was pointing the gun at the animal. “STOP!” I shouted.
