Mother and daughter

Mother & Daughter
The Fourth Somerset Adventure
By Susan Waterflower Bell

Sunflower wore a large smile upon her face as she strolled through the wooden doors of what was suppose to be the finest steakhouse in all of Somerset, the fable ‘Porterhouse’. Standing beside her was her mother, the middle age women stood as proud and as tall as a oak tree as she walked step in step with her with daughter. The young girl could not help but feel like a princess as she stood shoulder to shoulder her mother. Both women wore a simple solid black dress that reached down to there knee-cabs.

“Sunflower,” Her mother said smiling as she brought her daughter to her side. “Your quickly becoming a young women. And as a young women, one of the social skills you are expected to master is knowing how to properly conducted yourself in a public place.” She added as she peered toward her daughter.

Sunflower blinked and blinked again as she felt her mothers hand being placed upon her shoulder. A strong and powerful feeling of being loved and cared for filled her shouldered before flooding through the rest of her. Since her little misadventure down ’Hemlock Lane’, her mother had taken a more active roll in her life, as a result a bond was starting to form between the two women. The bond seemed to be growing stronger and stronger each day.

“Yes ma’am.” Said Sunflower as she moved into her mothers hold.

Isabella smiled as she lifted her shoulders from her daughter and reached down and took hold of her hand. A little smile graced the bow of her lips as she peered toward the blonde hair girl standing in front of her. Though no poet, she could swear she could feel her heart starting to become inflamed as she watched her child develop before her very eyes. The rising of each sun, held the promise of another adventure to be had, and another day of discovery to be unfolded. And best of all as her mother she was invited to journey along with her.

“So, I’ve heard a certain little girl would like to host a sleep over with her best friend.” She said offering her daughter a small smile as she took a seat at there choose table, word always traveled fast,  and the proposed sleepover with Elizabeth’s Graces daughter a young tomboy named Rachel had reached her ears. Settling into her chair, she could feel her smile grow as she memories of her own sleeping parties flowed through her head. She could only pray that Rachel had no taken after her mother. And if so, she was sure both girls would find themselves over her lap before the night was over.

It was Sunflowers turn to smile as she peered toward her mother. Despite the large amount of texting, the exchanges of emails and notes passed in and out of class and during the lectors of Fr. Brown during there confirmation Class, no real headway had been made as to setting a date and getting the permission of the parents.

But just the mere mention of the party by her mother caused her heart to flutter with the possibility that such a thing could be taking place in the foreseeable future.
“Yes ma’am, A certain little girl would very much like to have that happen. The little girl in question has been doing a lot of extra chores around the house, and if I might be so bold, I can honesty say she been a model student both in her schoolwork and in her confirmation classes.” Sunflower knew she was taking a big risk her, but her mother had been the one to bring the question up. She was only doing her best to well, tip the scale in her favor if you will.

“Isabella blinked and offered her daughter a little smirk as she pulled off her faux leather jacket and draped it over the back of her offered chair. She knew what her daughter was trying to do, and if the truth be told, she had already talked to Rachel’s mother, Elizabeth about the event and a date had already been set. A veteran of a dozen or so social seasons, she knew it paid to be at least a dozen or so steps ahead of the crowed when the ‘Game of Houses’ was afoot in the among the village women and gentry.


“Indeed, this little girl has been quite the shinning example, Turning in her homework on time, doing her chores without one bit of lip and minding her manners around her elders,” Said Isabella smiling as she lavished the praise down upon her daughters head. She’ll give her honey soaked words a minute or two to sink in before she’ll press on with her attack.

Sunflower looked up just in time to catch sight of her mother, giving her a little smirk, a shadow seemed to pass over the whole fiber of  her being as she took the seat and soothed out her dress. Rolling a pair of mental dice she looked up to greet her mother in the eye.

“I know right, said little girl should be given a reward for all of her hard work right? Maybe a few more shilling at the end of each week?” She offered as she settled into her chair and crossed her legs. Folding her hands in her lap she drew back to her full height.

Isabella could only smile as her daughter played right into her hands, part of her was jumping with glee, another part was disappointed, she had hoped her daughter had developed a better sense of how the game was played. Inwardly signing she chalked it up to her young age and vowed to spend more time with her. But then again another part of her was savoring the soon to be won victory. Taking her time she reached down and picked up the small glass of glass of water, that she waiter had brought to there table during the course of there playful banter.

“Oh, I have no doubt that the little one in question does indeed deserve a raise in pay. I think I should talk to her father about increasing her weekly pay a few bobs, though I think her twenty quid a week is already more than enough to meet the needs of a preteen girl.” Her mother said winking a little. She took another sip of her water and cleared her throat.

“But alas, word has reached me of some naughty things the little miss has been up to. I’ve heard she been caught passing notes during Fr. Apples lectors, also it seems been having a hard time finding her way to class on time. Something about her taking too long to socializes with her girls during the changing of class’s.  And I don’t mean to talk bad about this little one, but you think she could find time to do her history homework.” She said giving her daughter a knowing wink as she sipped upon her water. The best way of learning tack was through observation. Not that she was a master of it by any means, she just knew how to employ it to a measure.
Sunflower grew still as she noticed her mother peering toward her, a smirk proudly displaying upon her face. Her only course of recourse open to her was to offer her a little smile and fold her hands into her lap and just smile. Her mother had forced her into check.

“Good evening ladies.” Said a young man who then placed two leather covered menus down in front of the pair. The young man then offered a brilliant smile toward the two and even went as far as to send a wink toward Sunflower. He was quite handsome, tall and narrow as a beanpole that staked the spring and autumn gardens in Somerset.

“Yes, I’ll be ordering for myself and my daughter. Both of us would like your sixteen ounce boneless Delmonico Steak, I will like mine with a little thin strip of pink in it and daughter how would you like yours?” Her mother said with a small smile as she watched the young man write down the order in his little notepad.

“Oh, Well don please.” She said blushing as she settled into her seat. Before she could catch herself, her eyes started to look at the handsome young man up and down. Her blood started to boil a little within her veins and a deep blush started to color her cheek bones. Quickly she forced herself to pull her eyes away from the young man. Turning toward her mother quickly she offered her a small apology smile.

“Very well.” Said the waiter writing down this information on his notepad. “And before I leave, is there anything else I can get for you two lovely ladies, something to drink maybe, we have a fine selection of locally brewed beers and fermented wines.” He said placing the tip of his pen upon the surface of the paper.

“Yes,” Said Isabella smiling a little as she placed her menu down upon the table. “I would like a glass of your house wine and my daughter would like a glass of sparking water with lemon.” She said peering toward Sunflower.

“Very good,” Said the young man as he wrote down the additional items upon his notebook. “Just give me a few minute ladies and I’ll bring out your drinks along with your salads.” He said with a small smile as he offered a formal little bow and hopped away to the kitchen to place the orders.

“So, tell me more about this Richard.” Her mother said with a little smile, Isabella was not as blind as some of the mothers in the village. She knew her daughter was just starting to develop feeling for a certain boy in the village. Not that she minded her daughter developing those feeling, in fact she would be worried if she did show a slight interest in the rougher sex.

Sunflower blinked and blinked again as she peered toward her mother, her cheeks flushing with color and she quickly turned from mature tween to a shy and confused little girl as she shifted her eyes away from her mothers gaze and zoomed in at the silverware set before upon the white tablecloth.

“Its nothing but a passing thing, I mean I like him, he danced with me at the Poppy Fete and we both took part in the production of ‘Gold in the Hills’. And I mean he is kind of cute and all. And kind of strong too.” Sunflower said still wearing a blush upon her face as she fumbled with her words.


“Well he is kind of cute, and kind of handsome too, like a mix of the two you know what I mean.” She said musing a little as she gave her daughter a little smirk. Teasing came as natural as breathing to her, a skill she employed most effectively when she was in the company of those she enjoyed spending time with. It was a good ice breaker she found, though she was always careful not to over do it.

Sunflower blinked and blinked again as she peered toward her mother, a deep blush was now coloring her cheeks. Part of her wanted to counter with some short of playful banter of her own, but part of her knew that would only result in her getting pulled over her mothers lap. Her was good at dishing it out, but was not so good at taking it, that or she often crossed the fine line that divided teasing with cheek. And once that line was crossed there was no turning back.

“I don’t really think Richard likes me too much.” She said as she looked down at her placed and sighed. True enough she was starting to like Richard and in the last or so she had taken to writing him at least a dozen or so times, but most of her letters had been answered and it was only yesterday that a few scarce line had returned to her. Looking up from her plate she looked her mother dead in the eyes. It was the only jester that could really convene the feeling of despair she was feeling.

Isabella was taken back by the sudden change in her daughters tone of voice, frowning a little she reached over and placed her hands down upon her daughters shoulder. Giving her hand a little squeeze, she started for formatted her words, teenagers where tricky in the best of moods, and down right unreadable in periods of doubt and frustration.

“Maybe not, but I’m sure there is another boy out there who does,” She said after a short pause, “Though I know how tempting boys can be, and I know its hard to avoid those feeling of temptation that come with being a young women. I mean boys are starting to change and so are you.” She said pausing in midsentence to give her daughters shoulder another little squeeze.

A small smile played across Sunflowers face as she felt her mother squeeze her hand and felt her soothing words wash over her. Soon she felt herself smiling softy as she peered around her, quickly though her eyes fell on there waiter, who by chance was taking another order at this time. Blushing a little she shifted her eyes up and down his body, her pale blue eyes seemed to really zoom into his nice round bottom. Before she could catch herself, she wondered how it would feel to have the palm of her hand smack his bottom.

Isabella gave her daughter amused look as she noticed her eyes traveling toward one of the waiters. Taking another small sip of her water, she cleared her throat and spoke up. “Honey, that’s another thing we gotta talk about, you can’t just ogle boys, I know there cute and I know looking at them can be fun and all. But you gotta remember, there kind of a double standard here.” She said signing as she took another sip from her water.

“One one side, the boys can look and drink in there fill of eye-candy, because its expected of them. There boys after all, and some like to think with there nether regions more than there brains.” Her mother said with a clear frown. Looking up from her water glass she locked eyes with her daughter, she wanted to use this rare one on one time to its fullest.


“Your father is not like that though, he uses his head a lot and at times can be quite stern. Look for a boy like that my daughter. One who can rule his emotions with a iron fist. True they like to think themselves kings of the house, but behind every great king, there has always stood a strong and loving queen.” A little smirk crossed her face as she finished off her water and gently placed the glass down upon the table.

Sunflower blinked and blinked again as she felt a sudden burst of color, color her cheeks as she peered toward her mother. Titling her head a little to the side she offered her mother another blink as her blush turned another shade of crimson, as the full weight of her words started to sink in. Was her mother offering her dating advice? Or was she offering her some words of wisdom? The young teen could not tell, though being offered dating advice did seem a little odd. She would more prefer the ‘Official’ and trusted sources for advice on dating. Those being ‘Sweet n’ Bold’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’, and jewel in the crown ‘Venus’.

“Thank you mother.” She said, flashing her mother a small smile, as she tried to avoid the guilt at the fact that her advice had entered one ear and left the other. Though she did make a mental note to check the paper stand to see if the newest Issue of ‘Sweet n’ Bold’ was in stock. Along with the newest ‘Campfire Girl’.

Isabella gazed toward her daughter for a good long minute or two, something told her that her daughter was paying little to no mind to what she was saying. Cracking a little smile she could only shake her head, she would learn in due time, she just wondered how many of those whom wrote articles for those magazine, her daughter seemed to enjoy reading in free time had been though the whole courtship tradition, married gone through the joy and often nail biting nine month trial of growing a child in your bell, then giving birth in one of most pain and joy filled nine hour periods of her whole life. And then endure the following fourteen years of bringing that little child up, molding and shaping her into a young women. One who you hoped would go on, get a solid education, then become something of herself who might go through the whole cycle again, just as you did.

Sunflower had little time to ponder what her mother was thinking about as there meal was soon brought out to them, allowing Sunflower to once more get a good eye full of the handsome waiter who was there server. Biting down upon her lip she gazed toward his bottom. Part of her wanted to reached out and give his bottom a little pinch or a quick smack.

The waiter blushed a little as he noticed Sunflower gazing toward him, offering her a little smile he placed there plates down upon the table. A well seasoned steak was placed in front of Sunflower, followed by one being placed in front of her mother. Once the plates had been placed safety down upon the table he stood up and smiled softy toward the two.

“Now,” The young man said placing the check down upon the table. “If you two lovely ladies need anything else, just give me a holler.” He then reached down his apron pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. With careful tack he placed the paper down upon the table.

Isabella blinked and blinked again as she gave the waiter a odd ball stare. His choice of wording was a little informal for her taste, such a refined and esteemed place. Signing she just rolled her shoulders a little as she started to cute into her steak, maybe she was just nitpicking a little to much.

***

“Mom..” Said Sunflower cutting into her steak and popping the bite size piece of meat into her mouth. A little smile formed upon the bow of her lip as she savored the tender piece of beef.

“Yes daughter?” Isabella said looking up from her meal and offering her daughter a little smile, carefully she reached down in her lap and picked up her napkin. Carefully she cleaned her lip and her corners of her mouth.

“Thank you for taking me out.” She said softy as she looked down at her plate. Lifting her face up she peered into her mothers eyes, “Its been nice you know, getting to talk with you about things, knowing Rachel and I now can move ahead with are sleepover and well, getting served by a cute waiter, its really been a good night.” She said finally, the words finally seemed to line up in the correct order in her mind.

“Hey, no problem sweetheart.” Isabella said smiling as she peered toward her daughter. “Just remember its okay to look, but kissing and touching must wait till you know the guy a little better.” She said blushing a little as she took another sip of her wine. “I mean you have to have a little fun after all.”

A deadpan look dawned upon Sunflowers face as she peered toward her mother, a tiny invisible oak leaf passed in front of her. Okay the conversation was quickly becoming a little too personal for her taste, Rachel or Alice the quirky and often perverse Physical Education Teacher
would be better conversation partners than her mother.

“Love you.” Her mother said smirking a little, And so the two passed away the rest of there evening, in quiet conversation.

The End.

A Sketch of Somerset
By
Albert S. Johnston

The city we now know as Somerset can trace its origins in the humble collection of cottages built by the first Anglo-Saxon settlers to brave the three week voyage from ’Mother England’ to this, then remote outpost of the new world. The readers must remember this was before the puritans had braved there crossing to settle in the rugged coastline in the land that is now called the ’United States of America’.

The dwelling of these first peoples was nothing grand. Nothing but simple wooden box house’s made from locally produced lumber and hammered in with nails that where brought from home. Records from this period are scarce and hard to find. Indeed what little we do know comes from private dairies and letters.

The letters and dairies paint us a picture of a collection of houses that seemed to center at a large wooden building. This building is often referred to as the ‘Meeting House’. Here the first charter naming collection of houses and the few shops the village of ‘The Village of Somerset’.

At the time of the Charting the village could boost a population of around five hundred people. Most of whom where Anglo-Saxon. Once the settlement had been reward the statues of a village. A mission from the ‘Church of England’ arrived. The group of four monks, two laymen was lead by a young Priest by the name of Fr. Burns.

Fr. Burns played a critical in not only building up the newly created Parish of ‘Somerset’ but also devoted his time and effort into schooling the young men of the village in the classics. One might even say the foundation of proud school system was birthed in the cold, one room cabin that was donated to the church by a unknown benefactor.

Doctors, layers, and skilled workers followed the mission. After all building a church required a number of skills, stonemasons where needed to lay the foundation and build the walls, silver and blacksmiths where needed to forge the tools, and above all men where needed to handle the other task that are to many to list here. These men where all paid in ready cash. And many of those workmen spent there hard earned money at local shops, thus keeping the money in city if will.

Though vices follow people, and once such vice is the love of drinking and women. Now some miles from the booming settlement was a low laying area. Here the first taverns where built, these first taverns where nothing more than shacks, some where a little better than others but for the most part they where shacks.

The area was given the name ‘Hemlock Lane’ due to the vast amounts of Hemlock leafs that could found growing in the area. Its also a play on words. Becomes Hemlock is a poisons plant, and the area was so filled with vice and sin, the name hemlock seemed to suit, because in words of one Fr. Burns, ’The place is nothing but a collection of sin and vice, a open wound that will one day poison the youth of this city and become a stain that will not be cleansed from its moral fabric’.

Now a article on the history of Somerset would not be completed dear readers without a look at the origins of the small, but noticeable Scot-Irish population that has added so much Celtic charm to are little community over the years.

Following the defeat of Charles Edward Stuart at the battle of Culloden in the year Seventeen forty three by the British government who was then ruled by the House of Hanover caused a number of rebel Scotsmen called Jacobites to fall under there care. Fearing another uprising the Hanover Government ordered a large number of them to be transported to the new world. There far away from there native land they hoped to ‘Reform’ them and make them into half decanted members of the budding British Empire.

The first boatload of these transplanted Scotsmen landed in the spring, they where marched off the boat and right out of town. They where not thrown to the dogs as one popular poetic as put it, in fact if I might so bold I think they where treated quite well. Records from the time show that small tracks of land was given to them, course they had to clear and built there own homesteads, but that is after all the natural order of things.

As the seasons passed, the new settlers tried to built a new life for themselves. Crops where sewn and harvest, small dirt roads where laid, and the few tradesmen among them returned to there calling. Soon a little hamlet was charted, the hamlet was christened ’Scotia’ In honor of there native land.

Even now the little hamlet is a thriving little point of commerce in the rural lands north of Somerset. The town at present can boost a population of seven hundred people living within the two square miles that make up Scotia popular. The main business section can boost a Methodist Chapel, a tavern called ‘Bucks’ and small Laundromat and two little shops and at last a little café called ‘The Dove Café’. The Great Western Railway even has a small halt in the village. The local farmers use the branch line to ship crops to local a local farmers market.

One of those Farmers Market is of course the semimonthly ‘Manchester Bazaar’ that held the first and fourth Saturday of each month down at the Triangle. Here as the readers know local craftsmen and farmers gather upon the green common to pedal there goods. Anything from vintage books to locally grown produce can be found and brought and let us not forget the fine selection of homemade cakes.

Now dear readers it seems that I’m about to reach the end of my allotted words. I hope this little article as painted a brief sketch of ‘Somerset’ and the parish of ‘Manchester’.