Tanmei Fairy Tales

【Shelette's Perspective】

Mr. DeVry is really a good man!

And that donut is really delicious too!The crispy skin drenched in chocolate sauce should have been roasted on the fire, with a warm temperature, it melts in the mouth, and it also smells of cherry sweetness.According to Mr. Duffery, those are cherries grown on his own estate.If possible, I would also like to help pick when the next season is ripe.

But Mr. DeVry gave me a better job.Casey, can you believe it?I actually have a job in Mr. DeVry's private library!

I like to stay alone in the basement where no one will come in, touch those yellowed pages secretly, smooth the curls at the corners with my fingertips, close my eyes and inhale the faint fragrance of those inks into my lungs.I think it brings me peace, a sense of safety in isolation, but the comfort of being connected to the good thoughts in the world.

It's a pity that Kathy is not here. If she knew, she would be happy for me too.

I'm slowly starting to like this place.

Another thing happened today, strictly speaking it was a disaster, but I think it was a blessing in disguise.

I was standing on a tall ladder sorting out the books on the top floor. Mr. Duffery walked in, maybe he was worried about me, and he shouted: "Be careful, stand still!"

But it was because of this sudden cry that I suddenly turned around and lost my center of gravity.Fortunately, Mr. DeVry rushed over and caught me in time.He held my head anxiously, and asked me "is there any injury?" in a concerned tone.In a daze, I seemed to see the father role I had been waiting for, rushing out from the shadow of life and bringing me a ray of light.

But Mr. Duvery is not my father. He is younger and more handsome than the father I imagined. His shoulders are broader and his tone is gentler. His arms around me are stronger than I imagined.At that moment, I felt that there seemed to be something more in my heart, and I didn't dare to think about it.

"Didn't I say that you don't need to tidy up the bookshelves on the top floor," Mr. Duffery said angrily, "Oh, I should have asked someone to remove the ladder earlier if I knew."

A book with a thin cover fell to the ground, which I accidentally grabbed in my hand just now.The pages of the book were opened immediately, and an ink illustration caught my attention.

Mr. Duvery confirmed that I was fine, walked over to pick up the book, and said in a nostalgic tone: "I read the books on the top floor when I was a child, and I haven't touched them for many years, so I said no You sort it out. Look at this one, it’s still a fairy tale—"Andersen’s Fairy Tales". My father used to tell me bedtime stories, and this is the one he used..." But then the expression on his face changed to embarrassment , It seems to be embarrassing to think of something.

I guess he finally remembered - I don't have a father, and the ordinary father's love that ordinary children can enjoy is a hopeless luxury here.

"Shelette," he looked at me with serious starry eyes, "how about I tell you a bedtime story if you'd like to listen?"

In the attic, a bright moon hangs outside the window in the dark night.I hid in the bed, and Mr. Duffery's melodious voice rang in my ears.

"Once upon a time, there was a swan egg that was hatched by a duck in a duck's nest. The little monster that ran out of it was called the 'ugly duckling' because of its distinctive appearance. Therefore, since he broke the shell and died After he came out, he was beaten, ostracized, and ridiculed. Not only among the ducks, but also among the chickens. Everyone wanted to drive this poor ugly duckling away. The ducks pecked him, and the chickens beat him Even the maid who fed the chickens kicked him. So he had to fly over the fence all night and escape..."

Oh, what a similar experience to mine.I felt that I was that unpopular ugly duckling, despised and ridiculed everywhere I went.Did Mr. DeVry mean to tell me this story?

"...He came to the wild ducks and was asked not to marry the wild ducks. He went to the swamp again and met two mischievous ganders, who asked him to be a migratory bird with them and fly to another swamp In the field, there are some lovely geese, and the ugly duckling can also try their luck. While they were talking, they suddenly heard two gunshots. Unfortunately, he fell into the reeds and died under the aimed shooting. He had to escape from the swamp again and came to a small farmyard..."

Small farmyard?For some reason, this reminds me of Duvry Manor.

I really want to know what happened next.Has the ugly duckling found a place to stay in the small farmyard?But Mr. DeVry's story stopped.