Lady in Waiting Part 1

It was oh so lonesome in this big house by myself, with my well-to-do parents in Europe for the summer and school out of session. Being 18 can be such a drag.

The only company for me being the hired live-in staff and the stable hands, and of course mean old Stella, the Cook, that makes me eat her slimy steamed brussle sprouts *ick*.

When you have people hired to do everything for you that leaves you with nothing to do but walk the grounds and lay on your bed dreaming of a life more exciting, more thrilling.

I was currently doing the latter, laying on my bed in my white satin day robe day dreaming of some thrilling adventure when there was a timid knock at my door. It was Ming-Lee, the newest addition to our staff.

Ming-Lee is Chinese, 23 yrs old (though she looks much much younger), and in my opinion very pretty for an Asian girl. Very long pitch black hair that she usually keep pinned up with wooden bamboo pins. Her parents live in poverty so my parents made an arrangement with her family on their last visit over-seas. My parents are providing Ming-Lee with room, board, and American schooling in exchange for being what my Mother calls my “Lady in Waiting”. Basically being my shadow was more like it, she followed me everywhere.

I protested greatly at first as I adore my privacy but it soon spoils you having someone run your bath, lay your clothes out, and take all your phone messages correctly. Gradually I became accustomed to having her follow me around the house and watching me with those dark almond shaped eyes. She is a very shy girl so she didn’t speak much to me the first few weeks, but her English improved and soon she started confiding in me as I was the only girl even close to her age.

Ming-Lee told me of her home country, and how difficult life is there for her family. She expressed how happy she was to be living in such a nice big house and to have a friend like me to talk to. The more she talked the more I felt closer to her.

Ming-Lee’s quarters were right next to my Master Suite. Mother and Father let her move into our nicest Guest Suite complete with a grand bath, and a large balcony. She had burst into tears when Davidson, the Head Butler, carried her one small bag to her rooms the day she arrived. I didn’t pay much attention when Ming-Lee first arrived, I had hoped it was one of my parents short-lived arrangements. I am now glad it turned out differently.

I answered for Ming-Lee to enter, and she informed me her cab was here to take her to school for the afternoon, and was there anything I needed before she left as she wouldn’t be back until the dinner hour.