The Grand Mistress

For a moment, the girl looked Hawk, unable to decide whether she'll be amused or take pity on him. For how can a child, older than her, know none about making apologies. Does he have no parents that teach him good manners?

Perhaps she's lucky, her father never fell short on reminding her how to act and be kind to other people. ​​

"Well not bad," She told him, hiding the amusement inside her. "You are a fast learner,"

"I am?" For no reason, the girl's compliment made Hawk proud of himself. It was like for once, he had accomplished something good in his young life. He didn't know why but there was some kind of need in him to make the girl see him in a different light. He was aware he didn't do well the first time they met and he wanted to change that.

"So we're okay now?" Hawk clarified.

The girl nodded. Then she went on her way. "Well I have to get going. You can tell the boys that were now good so they'll allow you to play with them"

"Hey wait!" Hawk followed her.

"I'm really in a hurry," She said, making full strides.

"Can I tag along then?" He asked, wanting to keep her company. He worried she might keep seeing beggars on the street and continue giving something although she had nothing to give anymore. "I'm afraid some beggars will pester you along the way,"

"For starters, you don't have to be afraid of beggars. They just wanted some money for food. Second, they are not pestering me. If they are, I don't mind at all," She told the boy as she walked along, Hawk was following her. Her tone was like chiding the young Monsanto for having such a negative mindset about beggars.

"But those thugs are only leeching money from everyone. Instead of working, they sat all day in the streets to ask for money," Hawk continued his defense. Growing up, he was not allowed to walk on the streets alone as his parents told him there were many bad people in the streets and beggars. With beggars always being mentioned together with bad people, he sees them as one.

"That's not true at all," The girl shook her little head. "Beggars are just unfortunate people and besides there are other reasons why I always give them something aside from the fact that I pity them,"

"Huh?" Hawk's brow's creased. "If you don't pity them then why take effort on giving them something?"

"Because my papa says whenever you give to one, you feed two," She answered simply as if what she had said was easy for Hawk to understand, but in the end, it only got the young boy confused.

"How come?" He took it literally as he was a child. The girl's wisdom was deep, not something a young Monsanto could understand. The world he had lived in the capital was full of greed and so giving to others without any business benefits was certainly the Monsanto's will never teach him.

"Well, first you feed the person whom you give. The beggar for example," She patiently explained to him. "Second, you feed your soul,"

"Your soul?" That was deep. Hawk thought. He already knew the girl was somewhat weird but then, he was enjoying every moment he had with her and so he went along.

"Yes your soul. And that's what I'm after when I give," She let go a satisfactory smile and went on, "It's not what you give pumpkin. It is the feeling of satisfaction, accomplishment and the fact that you inspire others that comes with it,"

"Satisfaction and accomplishment?" He repeated the words she emphasized more. "Inspire others?"

"Yes. Whenever I give, it satisfies me. It makes me happy. That's why I give more, because it makes me happy more," Her last explanation was widely spoken and clear. Hawk then understood but such wisdom was foreign to him, refreshing and new. He never gets to hear these things in his old home.

"I don't understand how you become happy after people take something from you," Hawk couldn't rationalise it then. He was brought up in a home where giving wasn't an ordinary thing. Also, as a Monsanto young master, he never came to a point where he had to give up something he owned for the sake of others. He was pampered well that he never had to think of other people but only himself.

"You should try it then," The words the girl uttered rang to his ears like a challenge. "You'll be shock to learn how good it feels,"

The girl's last statement was accompanied by a sweet smile that got Hawk awestruck. He swallowed some saliva in his mouth as his cheeks warmed up. The feelings that went on him were something he had never felt before, it was good. Too god that Hawk clung to it as he could.

"Good," He unconsciously uttered while looking at her. "It feels so good,"

"What?" The girl caught his expression and got confused in his words in an instant.

"I mean good...It must really feel that good" He tried to fix his words as soon as he realized his mishap. He certainly didn't want to look like a fool in front of her. Not ever.

The girl just nodded again, trying to convince him into giving. She learned all those words he said from her father and she was just proud she was able to explain it well to the boy in front of him who seemed very ignorant when it comes to proper manners.

"By the way I don't know what to call you aside from pumpkin," It came to her attention that they both haven't formally introduced each other, she doesn't even know his name and so she initiated the introductions, "What is your name by the way?"

"Haw-...Spin, you can call me spin," He badly wanted to tell her his name but perhaps not today.

"That's a nickname the boys gave you," She pointed, "But it's alright if you prefer it,"

The girl lived long enough in Somerset for her to know their ways. It had been a natural habit of the people here not to call everyone with their given birth names rather they make nicknames for them. These nicknames were taken from something that reminded them most of the person. Hawk for example was called Spin, as the boys were impressed at him being good at spin top.

"And your name then?" he turned to ask, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"You can call me Cat," She answered and winked, "That's what the boys here call me,"

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