Having felt unwelcome in the rose garden, Charles set his mind to coming up with some other activity to entertain himself. Finding recreation and companionship was a daily challenge for Charles. Fortunately, he was not lacking in imagination or ingenuity. He regularly innovated quite a number of diversionary pastimes. Though seeing them through sometimes proved to be difficult.
This particular morning he came up with a novel idea that he was sure would prove to be great fun for all concerned! Relishing his ingenious plot, Charles thought to himself, “Andrews will love it!” and scampered off to the wide front veranda of his home.
Having reached the stately and somewhat intimidating front door, Charles stood on tiptoes and reached up, the tips of his fingers barely grazing the large brass doorknocker. Stretching with great effort, Charles managed to give it a flip; just enough to cause a gentle rap. Proud of his efforts, Charles then stood patiently waiting with his hands behind his back, savoring his expectation of the pleased expression that the sight of him would surely bring to the family butler’s face. Charles giggled to himself in anticipation, “Andrews will be so surprised!”
The said Andrews was at his late morning post in the front hall, ready to greet any expected visitors. Having heard the faint tap, he calmly crossed the expanse of the tessellated floor to his butler’s closet, where he put on his coat and most formal air, as was his custom when answering the front door. Andrews was always a picture of impeccable formality, as befitting his role as the first member of the household any visitor would set eyes on. His attire consisted of a black tailed coat and white shirt with stiffly starched winged collar and cuffs. His pomaded dark hair was perfectly parted in the middle. He was always on his guard, needing to be alert to the activities of the numerous staff over which he had charge. On the rare occasions that any missteps should occur, he could bring any one of them into line with no more than a raised eyebrow and stern expression. He was a portly man of proud appearance and carriage.
Andrews, expecting an eye-level, adult-sized visitor upon opening the door, looked straight ahead in his usual dignified manner. Given his straight-backed, chin held high, nose in the air attitude (especially when answering the front door) along with the preponderance of his ample midriff obstructing his view, Andrews might be forgiven for not having seen the small boy waiting expectantly on the doorstep. Due to his own haughty air and the faintness of Charles’ knock, Andrews missed seeing Charles altogether and concluded that he must have been mistaken in thinking that anyone desired entry. Frowning in perplexed disgust, the busy butler turned quickly on his heel and reentered the hall, abruptly closing the door behind him.
Charles was very disappointed at having been overlooked in this way and also surprised to see a frown, rather than the smile he had expected, on Andrews’ face. It set him to pondering about times he had spent in the butler’s company. Usually the only time Andrews tolerated Charles’ presence was occasionally in the late afternoons when he “rested his eyes,” or “meditated”. At those times, Charles was allowed to sit nearby if he was sure to keep very still and quiet. Once in a while, before Andrews slipped into his deep “meditation point”, Charles was allowed to make small, quiet comments. Thereupon, Andrews would respond with a “hmph!” or “hmm”, soon to be altogether unreachable, emitting soft purr-like sounds. At this point, Charles would invariably sigh and slip away quietly.
Andrews was so portly, Charles wondered at his polishing his shoes so brilliantly; he surely couldn’t see them except when sitting down. Charles admired them so; he once stooped down to see his reflection and lost his balance, bumping his nose so hard that he wailed aloud, which was rare indeed. Andrews had quietly bent over to pick him up with unaccustomed gentleness. Not saying a word, he reached into his pocket for a small sweetie and popped it into Charles’ open mouth, immediately ceasing his crying. This unexpected, considerate gentleness from the usually austere butler had shocked the onlooking members of his staff and set them to grinning and snickering. Of course, one stern look from Andrews, with that raised arched eyebrow, sent them all scurrying back to their daily household chores.
These memories of the more pleasant times spent in Andrews’ company led Charles to think that perhaps the butler was just “under the weather” (an expression Charles had picked up from Mathilda, the cook, who voiced it frequently) and really did just need some cheering up. Charles decided, then and there, to try one more time to brighten the butler’s day and rapped again at the front door.
This time, his suspicions having been aroused by his recent fruitless experience, Andrews went immediately to the door, opened it and quickly scanned the breadth of the doorstep with a thorough gaze, only to find little Charles standing before him grinning ear to ear, as if to say, “Hello Andrews, it’s me Charles!”
To Charles’ surprise, not only was the butler not happy to see him, but he looked down his nose, scowling fiercely and remonstrated, “Young Master Charles! Stop this foolishness! It’s nearly midday. Instead of dawdling about on doorsteps, you should be thinking about getting your lunch. I’m sure Mathilde is expecting you. Now get along and don’t keep her waiting.” And sure enough, at that very moment Charles heard the church bells ringing in the distance, signaling the noon hour.
Charles did not have to be told twice, as he eagerly anticipated lunch time. Not so much because he was greedy or even hungry, but because he looked so forward to the jovial company to be enjoyed below stairs in Mathilda’s kitchen. With this pleasant thought in mind, he swooped down the veranda steps and ran full throttle around to the back of the house toward the kitchen, leaving Andrews standing with the door agape to “tsk, tsk” and shake his head, albeit with a barely perceptible smile as he did so.
