Perils of Peppermints

Chapter 1: Terrifying Arrangements The black cab rumbling through the city at nightfall swayed and shook with every gust of icy wind that blasted down the streets. Its roof was piled so dangerously high with bundles, boxes, and baggage that the cab further distressed its three occupants by very nearly tipping over each time it rounded a corner.Inside the cab, no one spoke, each one being deep in thought. The only sounds heard were the drumming of the horses' hooves, thechink-chinkingof their harnesses, and the clicking of sleet hurling itself against the windows.Emily Luccock, one of the three inside the cab, sat rigidly by one window, clutching the seat in fright with each lurch and shudder of the cab. Why was she not the one seated in the middle between her Aunt and Uncle Twice, their arms aroundhercomfortingher?Did she not deserve that now when within the hour she was to be abandoned to who knew what fate? Had they chosen to dismiss from their minds all recollection that she was a young girl of still but eleven years, and that they were all the family she had left in the world? It seemed so to Emily, because it was Aunt Twice who sat in the middle of the seat, with Uncle Twice's arm abouthershoulders, his arm tightening protectively each time the cab seemed in danger of turning over.It tightened again when suddenly Aunt Twice began to tremble. "Oh, William," she moaned, "if it is this bad here, how will it be on the high seas? How will we be able to abide it?""My sweet girl," replied Uncle Twice, "I've been assured that we are sailing on the most modern of ships. Our cabin will offer every comfort. As for this weather, why, when we reach India it will be so warm you'll soon be longing to see a snow-flake!"Uncle Twice's attempt at humor to cheer his "sweet girl" was clearly not very successful. She only sighed deeply and shook her head. Emily, for her part, could only think,India...with the warm sun, the elephants, the tigers, and the temple bells. India, where they are going without me!Was it possible that at the very last moment, when the time for parting actually arrived, Aunt and Uncle Twice would have a change of heart, would relent and tell Emily she could go with them? She would cling to that hope until they reached the very docks, though it was a fast-fading hope. After all, had she not pleaded with them endlessly all the way on the train trip to New York? And what had that availed her? Nothing!Why was all that Emily had already suffered not enough to persuade them that she should accompany them? Was it not enough that her mama and papa were no more, lost in a terrible boating accident? Orphaned once, was she to be made to feel orphaned again? And what of all the horror that had happened afterward? Was that not misery enough? Perhaps they did not see it all as clearly as she still did, each scene in her mind so terrible and real.She saw herself, an orphan arriving at Sugar Hill Hall, the grand mansion in San Francisco that was home to Aunt and Uncle Twice, so named because Aunt Twice was sister to Emily's own mama, and Uncle Twice brother to her papa. With the loss of Mama and Papa, Emily was to live with them.Then there she was in that terrifying moment, stepping through the doors of Sugar Hill Hall. In the parlor were standing those who turned out to be two of the most wicked, cruel, evil ladies ever to be met in this world, Mrs. Meeching and Mrs. Plumly.The parlor itself had become shabby and desolate, for Sugar Hill Hall had been turned into a home for sad old people abandoned by their families, with Meeching and Plumly, Inc., the proprietors. Aunt Twice herself had become shabby and downtrodden as well. No longer the golden-haired, sparkle-eyed beauty she once was, she was now their servant. And there was no sign, not then, not at any time, of handsome, dashing Uncle Twice!The scenes marched grimly on. There wasWallace, Barbara Brooks is the author of 'Perils of Peppermints', published 2003 under ISBN 9780689850431 and ISBN 0689850433.