The days in Summerville had grown shorter as winter approached the small town. Dr. Ricardo and his family were just moving in to their winter vacationing home at the top of Pikes Hill and, of course, were the latest talk of the town. Each year during the middle of September, the doctor would migrate his family of two to the mansion perched on top of that hill, and each year the town of Summerville would wait with baited breath for a chance glimpse of the elusive family. But each year, the townsfolk would be disappointed and at the end of February, when the first buds began to bloom, the house would be empty once again and once again the Ricardo family would slip quietly back into the world outside the small bubble of Summerville.
As the movers began to unload the fine furniture and precious valuables into the mansion, a boy of roughly 19 stood at the bottom of the hill and swore that this would be the year he would glimpse the rumored Shava Ricardo. She was said to be the most beautiful mistress to have ever graced the town, besides her mother, and he was determined just as any other boy would be to see for himself if this were true.
'Oye! Luther Ulrick! Is tha' you standin' down thar?'
The boy looked up in surprise to hear someone calling his name in a thick irish accent, someone from the other side of the rot ironed fence. Standing at the top of the hill amongst the bustling men was a short and stout burly looking man. He had a fiery red beard that hung down to the middle of his chest and an intense gaze that could send even the firmest man into quivers of fear.
Luther stared as his own green eyes met that gaze and he felt a chill run up his spine. The man held it for a good second or two before a smile broke out onto his rugged face and a deep, hearty laugh rolled through his body. He was indeed your stereotypical Irish man.
"Come on now, boy. Don't just stand thar with your mouth open like a half drowned fish. Come 'elp me with unloadin' these things and I'll pay yah 'alf a days wage."
Luther's heart leaped into his throat as he stared up at the man, his mouth falling open a little bit more. "A-Are you sure, Mr. O'Brian? I'm not really a professional, you know."
"Aye! I'm sure. Now get up 'ere, and make it quick! I don't 'ave all day," commanded the man.
Luther quickly scrambled over to the main gate and fumbled with the latch for a few seconds longer than he wished he had before he managed to push his way through. He then quickly dashed up the long drive way and was by Mr. O'Brian's side in no time, his chest heaving up and down from the distance ran.
O'Brian looked the boy over, an incredulous look on his face as an amused glint sparkled in his eye. "Took ya long enough," joked the man as he gave him a hearty smack on the back. "Now then, I'll need your 'elp bringin' in the smaller boxes for the bedrooms. I don't trust your gangly arms with any of the major stuff." He chuckled as he lead Luther over to one of the U-Hauls and opened up the back hatch. Luther winced a little as the sight of boxes upon boxes greeted his eyes. "These all belong on the third floor. You'll take a left in the 'all way and it'll be the last room on your right. Did you get tha'?"
"Yes, Mr. O'Brian," replied Luther. He was still trying to soak in the daunting task ahead of him and wondered whether or not it was still worth it, half a days pay or not.
"I'll need yah to be quick about it though. The Ricardo family will be 'ere in three hours and the doctor 'as asked us to be either done or close to finishin' by the time he and his family arrived. And thas what I plan to do."
Luther looked down at O'Brian and blinked. "Wait, they'll be here in three hours?" Definitely worth it.
"Aye," said the man as he heaved one of the boxes out of the truck and into the boys arms. "So you better get to work now. And don't be snoopin' around the 'ouse either, yah hear? If my boss hears that i let a non-mover into the Ricardo Mansion then you can bet your sweet potaters that I'll be hunting your ass down." With that, the man turned and resumed his post down with the other men.
Luther nodded a silent "OK" as the short man walked off and quickly headed into the house through the double door entrance, clutching the box in his arms tightly. As he entered, he was instantly struck breathless by the stunning entranceway of the mansion. A three tiered diamond jeweled chandelier hung majestically from the domed ceiling, illuminating the intricate pattern made by the spanish tiles on the floor. A double staircase sloped gracefully up and curved to meet the second level hallway where Luther was able to get a glimpse of the entrance to what he assumed was a spiraled staircase, disappearing after the first curve up into the house.
"That must lead to the third level," Luther mumbled to himself.
"What'd ya say," grunted one of the men as he passed by the boy, a rather intimidating look on his face.
"N- Nothing," Luther stammered in response. He gulped and quickly crossed the floor, making his way up one of the staircases before stopping at the top to catch his breath. The box in his arms was starting to feel like a heavy metal weight and Luther was beginning to doubt his capability of completing his task.
'Keep going. You might get to see this Shava chick.' His heart flipped in his chest as his silent reminder sparked his adrenaline. He strode over to what he assumed was the spiraled staircase and slowly started to make his way to the third floor.
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Everyone wishes they had a short, burly, generic Irish man named O'Brian to call their own.
I know I do.
