Juniper’s hands shook as she set down the tea tray. She knew that her mistress had come home in a foul mood that evening. When that happened, Juniper would be the direction that anger would be directed. A little bit of cream spilled on the tray when she had set it down. She took a corner of her torn apron to wipe the spilt cream off of the silver tray.
A door slammed behind Juniper. She turned swiftly, still holding the corner of the apron. Her mistress stood there tall and regal, but she had a glint of malice when she stared at Juniper. Her mistress’ voice was cold when she addressed Juniper, “How dare you?”
The apron cloth dropped out of Juniper’s hand. “I’m sorry.” Were the first words that always came out of Juniper’s mouth.
The woman crossed the room, lifted her hand and slapped Juniper’s now tear streaked face. “Look at me when I am speaking to you!” Her mistress screamed at her. “I have to put up with such incompetent help. You are a worthless piece of flesh Juniper.”
Sobbing Juniper tried to get around the woman to escape the room. The woman gripped Juniper by her upper right arm. “You will take that tray back to the kitchen. You will get me a clean tray with fresh tea.” The woman let go of Juniper’s arm. “Be quick!”
Ducking past the angry woman Juniper left the bedroom she did not grab the tea tray on her way out of the room. She did not go back to the kitchen to fetch another tray. Instead, she ran to the coat closet next to the grand front door. Grabbing a shabby pink rain cloak, ripped down the center of the back, Juniper raced from the house.
Stepping outside Juniper breathed her first air of freedom in a long time. Several space landing crafts came down in the spaceport off to the right of the home. Juniper decided that this planet was not for her any more so she headed toward the port.
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