Love England

Two days had passed since the hallucination of seeing the real Margaret of "North and South" in the locker room.I told Ginger what happened to me without reservation - she is both my neighbor and my best friend, and she is also my colleague who performed together in the bar, and she introduced me to work in the bar.

Ginger is just like her name, she has beautiful ginger hair, petite and full of charm, any man who sees her for the first time will be attracted by her charm, but she has not yet completed the operation like me. Ginger is a year older than me. She is kind and friendly, and she often invites neighbors and friends to barbecue parties in her yard on weekends.When I first moved here, she was the first person to visit me, she immediately saw that I was her kind, we quickly became best friends, she taught me how to do makeup, how to dress Dressing up, how to protect myself, and how to gain a better foothold in this ever-changing world, she is my good teacher and helpful friend.For most transgender people, Ginger is very lucky. Her family understands her. She accepted the doctor's advice in the early years and followed her wishes to undergo surgery and related treatment. However, because the family is not rich, it is temporarily unable to afford the follow-up The cost of surgery, so she, like me, is saving money while working part-time. Ginger met her boyfriend Lester in a bar. He worked for a long-distance trucking company. He was a strong, easy-looking, manly man.He is heterosexual, but when he attends a colleague's birthday party at a drag bar and sees Ginger perform on stage, he falls in love with her at first sight and falls in love with her desperately. Ginger was hesitant at first. Although she also liked Lester, she didn't know what step he could do for her. However, under Lester's persistent pursuit, Ginger finally accepted his love, and the two are now living together.

"I think you're just too tired Cali, you're so obsessed with your novel!" Ginger poured me a cup of coffee while talking, Lester sat on the sofa in the living room and listened to the experience I just told, She also agrees with her girlfriend.In order to reassure me, Ginger suggested asking the landlord to open the door and confirm what is behind the door.The next day, I took Ginger's advice.When the landlord opened the door, as expected, what we saw was dense pipes and walls lined up in a gap of less than one meter. There was no extra space. like hallucinations.In this way, I convinced myself that life was back to the hustle and bustle of the daily lights, and the only thing I was looking forward to was to go home and pick up my favorite book quietly, with the Hale family in the book. together.

"Clang, clang, clang"

But on the night of the fourth day, I heard the noise coming from the storage room again. I hurriedly put down the book and ran to the storage room, where Marguerite appeared again.She was still fiddling with the light switch curiously like last time, and when she saw me, she greeted me happily.

"Cali, I'm here uninvited again! Can you forgive my rashness?"

"Margaret, I'm so glad to meet you! I'm really not dreaming!" I was more excited than her, and I quickly held her hand to welcome her. It seems that I really didn't dream a few days ago.Margaret smiled at me and looked around the storage room curiously. For a person who lived in the middle of the 19th century and had not officially entered the electrical age, I could understand her curiosity.

"We've been busy helping Dixon pack up our new home for two days, and this afternoon is finally over (Dixon is our housekeeper, by the way) and I really can't wait to see you, so I'm starting from last time. The door I found came through." She pointed me to the false door again.I couldn't believe it, I had clearly confirmed what was behind that door, but when I followed Margaret's direction and opened the door again, there was indeed another room behind the door.

"I learned from you here and used that room as a storage room, so we can come and go easily in the future. Cali, you don't mind if I do this, do you?" Margaret asked with expectant eyes road.

"Of course, I'm glad you did, this door is like our little secret.

"You have a lot of novel things here, I have never seen them in London, it's like traveling through time and space!"

"Margaret, I want to ask a strange question, I hope you don't mind!" I couldn't bear it any longer, she nodded to indicate that I didn't hesitate to ask, I swallowed and said, "Are you really real? Sorry, I mean am I really not dreaming again?"

"Of course you're not dreaming, honey! I'm as real as you, aren't you holding my hand? I'm your neighbor now!" She hugged me as if to comfort me.

"I'm glad you took Mr. Thornton's advice. He's a very nice fellow, as far as I know."

"Cali, do you really think he's a nice guy? I don't think you've ever met him."

Hearing this, I became hesitant, because I couldn't tell her I read it from a book, it would seem weird, "Yeah, I haven't seen him, I just heard about it - so you Have seen him already, Marguerite?"

"Yes, but I don't think this person matches what you heard. I left here to find him in the factory that day. I wanted to thank him in person, but I didn't expect him to brutally beat a worker in the factory. Like a Roman tyrant, I don't think a true gentleman would do that!"

God!This is completely different from what Mr. Thornton described in the novel!I never thought that Mr. Thornton would beat the workers, although I knew from the book that Mr. Thornton met Margaret for the first time. It was as rude as she said just now——the first meeting had such a bad situation, and I couldn't help but worry.Because Margaret and Mr. Thornton are destined, two people must be together, this is something that every reader of "South and North" novels believes, but now there is such a big deviation. "There must be some misunderstanding, Margaret!"

"I saw it with my own eyes, Cali, there is no misunderstanding at all." Margaret said angrily.

I know that Margaret will have a prejudice against Thornton at the beginning of the book, but I didn't expect the meeting between the two to be so unpleasant.Although I was skeptical about Mr. Thornton's behavior, in order to ease the atmosphere, I quickly changed the subject: "Margaret, my friend, I forgot to ask you to come in, it's really rude."

"No, Cali, it's time for me to go back. Mom may be looking for me, and Dixon will also need my help. It's a pleasure to chat with you for so long. I'll come back tomorrow!" Margaret said affectionately She hugged me and said goodbye to each other, and then she walked back through the door.I think Margaret and I are already very good friends. If I was dreaming the first time I saw her, I was sure I was awake when I saw her the second time, and the first time not long after. By the time I've seen her three times, I've become completely convinced that what I see and feel is real.

The day of the appointment with Margaret happened to be a rest day. I got up early, washed up and waited for Margaret to arrive.On the rest day, I can finally not have to wear those gaudy and uncomfortable tights on the stage all day long, but I can change into a comfortable and loose white dress with a light A green cashmere cardigan matched it like a normal girl-next-door.When I had finished my breakfast, picked up my pocket copy of "North and South" (I still have a pocket copy, which is easy to carry), and was about to sit by the sunny window to pass the unbearable waiting time, I heard the voice of the reserve. A voice from the living room——Margaret came as promised.

I casually put the novel into the inner pocket of the cardigan and walked quickly into the storage room. Margaret greeted me with a smile, and I also curtsied to her.

"Today I must invite you in for a sit down, we always talk weird in my storage room!" I said while holding Margaret's hand intimately, "But first I want to tell you , Margaret, you must not panic! In fact, this is not Milton, nor is it the England you know. This is the United States, the American state of Kentucky in the 21st century..."

"You must be joking, Cali!" Margaret said in surprise.

"I'm not kidding, you need to see everything with your own eyes." I took her into my house, Margaret was stunned by the modern furnishings and the Kentucky sunshine, and then her eyes showed excitement , "I knew that something miraculous would happen when I came to you from that door, but I didn't expect that what I saw with my own eyes was simply beyond my imagination. Maybe God's guidance, the first time I came here I am deeply attracted to this place, maybe it is all destined! I know you are not an ordinary neighbor, because none of my real neighbors has heard of you, so I realized that I might have come to another world! "

Margaret observed everything in my living room with dignity. She had too many questions, but she didn't reveal her surprise too much. I thought she would panic, but I didn't expect her to be so calm. Instead it made me feel embarrassed.

"Margaret, can I come to your house and see?" I finally made my wish.

"Of course, Cali! You're coming to my house now, and I'm going to introduce you to Papa, Mama, and Dixon. Oh, yes! Papa said last night that Mr. Thornton is coming to our house today, and he's my papa now." student, I really don't like him. Maybe I wouldn't be so embarrassed if you were here!"

At this moment Marguerite turned and pulled me towards the door of the storage room, opened it for me, and let me go in first (or let me come out first).She was right, the room connected by the door is also a storage room: as soon as you walk into the room, you can smell a dusty smell. Clean up the layout of the room.This place seems to be an attic, and there are countless boxes and a few pieces of old furniture piled up in the room.Suddenly, the small window was blown open by a gust of wind. I quickly closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands to resist the sudden wind. Then I heard a "bang" sound coming from behind me. I looked back quickly, The damn wind actually blew the door shut behind me.I hurriedly wanted to open the time-space door again, because Margaret was still on the other side of the door, but the door couldn't be opened no matter what.

"Margaret! Margaret! I can't open the door!" I hurriedly knocked on the door and shouted, but there was no Margaret's voice from the other side of the door.

"Oh my god! I'm stuck here!" I panicked, but it only stayed in my heart for a second, because my previous experience as a soldier calmed me down immediately.I took a deep breath, and my reason began to dominate my mind, telling me to leave this attic now.Then, I walked down the stairs with the faint light, and the scene in front of me was like the scene I saw on TV in a TV series set in the 19th century in England. I was delighted and curious , looking greedily at everything in front of him.

This is a three-storey duplex building with an attic, a spiral iron staircase, and the walls of the aisle are decorated with red wallpaper to show a velvety texture, which looks elegant and generous.Walking carefully along the stairs to the landing on the second floor, I heard the voice of an elderly male speaking from a certain room on the second floor. I followed the sound and saw an old man with a mustache Stand at the door of a certain room and talk to someone inside.

"My dear lady, where is Margaret? Why can't I find her? She told me yesterday that she was going to visit a friend, but I didn't expect her to leave so early. Mr. Thornton said today that he would come to visit us, He was introduced to me by my friend Mr. Bell, and I wish Margaret would come back soon." Then he turned and came out, his eyes falling on me, and he was as surprised as I was, He didn't expect that there would be a strange woman appearing at the top of the stairs. Obviously he was taken aback, but he quickly returned to his gentlemanly manner. He looked me up and down, bowed to me politely and said: "Miss, you surprise me! Who are you?"

"Hello, sir! I'm Margaret's friend, and my name is Calpernia Addams!" I quickly replied with a curtsy.

"Hi, Miss Addams, I'm Margaret's father, nice to meet you, Margaret mentioned your name to me yesterday." He bowed to me as he introduced himself return gift.Mr. Hale, with a warm countenance, greeted me with a kindly, amiable smile, and invited me into the room where he stood by the door.This is a living room. The light green wallpaper painted with orchids makes the tone of the whole room very elegant. There is a landscape oil painting on the wall that I can't name the author. Several comfortable sofas and cabinets complement each other. , The white porcelain vases placed on the cabinet make the whole room full of a mood.At this time, there were two people in the room. As soon as Mr. Hale and I appeared here, the two of them looked at me with the same eyes that Mr. Hale saw me just now: a pale, thin figure but full of energy The lady sitting in a comfortable armchair - this must be Margaret's mother Mrs. Hale, and standing next to her is a neatly dressed woman wearing a cap and a large white apron. , a slightly obese middle-aged woman—this must be Dixon, the loyal servant of the Hale family.

Mr. Hale spoke first and introduced us enthusiastically: "Oh! My wife, we have a visitor. This is Margaret's friend, Miss Calpernia Addams. Miss Addams, this is Mrs. Hale, The other is an important member of our family, Miss Dixon!"

"Hi, nice to meet you, Mrs. Hale, Miss Dixon!" I was so nervous that if Dixon hadn't curtseyed me to show politeness, I would have almost forgotten to curtsy.

"Hi, Miss Addams! Judging from your accent, it seems that you are not a local." Mrs. Hale nodded politely.

"I'm not really a local. I'm from Tennessee in the United States and I just arrived in the UK."

As soon as I heard the word "America", the eyes of the three people focused on me at the same time. Mr. Hale asked in surprise: "Margaret didn't mention your name to me until yesterday, and I didn't know she was still there. There's a friend from America! I'm amazed! How did you meet?"

"I'm her pen pal. We have been in touch with each other through letters for several years." I lied and replied.

"I'm sorry you've come so far and Margaret is not here, Miss Addams," said Mr. Hale, glancing at his wife for more explanation as to why Margaret was not at home. , and this is what he has been concerned about since just now.Of course I knew why Margaret was not at home, but I couldn't bluntly tell the Hale family in front of me where Margaret was.

"Actually, I might know where Margaret went." I interjected, and the eyes of the three fell on me again. This was really a difficult explanation for me, but in order to dispel their concerns, I had to force myself Scalp and take the initiative, "I wrote a letter to Margaret as soon as I arrived in London, England, hoping to see her, and she wrote back to me immediately saying that you have moved to Milton. In order to eliminate the discomfort of moving to Milton, I suggested she come to London for a few weeks and I know she's been wanting to write a novel, she can't write it at home, go to where I live and be with my parents, she can get inspired and can Let's relax, so the two of us did a swap."

"However, her aunt and cousin are also in London, and they have invited her to live for a while, but she still refuses to go, why?" Mrs. Hale expressed doubts, because she had never heard Margaret say that she would write novel thing.

At this time, Mr. Hale suddenly realized: "I kind of remembered it! Last night Margaret hinted that I would go out for a few weeks. At that time, I just agreed and didn't pay much attention to it, but I really didn't expect it to be It was so sudden. Thank you for explaining it to us, Miss Addams. Now that your parents are with her, we must be relieved. You also know that we have just moved to Milton, although the humble house is not as old as Hellstone. Comfortable, but we will take good care of you during this time as we would take care of our daughter, and I welcome you again!" Mrs. Hale's worries were also relieved by my explanation, so she also agreed with her husband's words and said to me Nod with a smile and say "Welcome".I breathed a sigh of relief, and thanked the two kind and kind old people and Dixon, who stood by and maintained his majesty, from the bottom of my heart. Then I asked Mrs. Hale to let me go upstairs to rest to relieve the fatigue of the journey.Mrs. Hale asked Dixon to take me to Margaret's room to rest. I finally curtseyed to Mr. and Mrs. Hale and followed Dixon out of the living room.Dixon asked me if I had any luggage while walking. I just shied away that the luggage was still on the way and might arrive in a few days. The shrewd old maid just glanced at me and stopped asking.

When I was lying comfortably on Margaret's bed alone, thinking that I had finally temporarily resolved the embarrassment about Margaret's disappearance just now, I hadn't really realized that the story of "The South and the North" was because of me. There is a change.