#1900spence

Little Amos had grown into a child, still lacking in social skills like he did as a toddler but confident with the assistance of his elder sister. Amos began to brace himself for the dreading school that lay ahead.

Claudia had since broken the news of her pregnancy and the whole family was excited. For Jemima's 10th birthday, Elmer and Claudia gifted her a violin in the hopes of distracting her from causing any more mischief to her family and peers.

It'd worked - but the scratchy notes the thin walls echoed weren't much of an improvement either.

A new century had arrived but no such fuss was made and Jemima's utterly boring routine of school was to be continued. This time was different however; A boy had caught her attention and he seemed to be on her mind 24/7 - she couldn't even concentrate in class!

His name was Edward Corrigan. Jemima knew his sister and brother, Emma & Samuel, decently well but she hadn't dared approach Edward - what if he thought she was dull? Or worse, what if he commented on her skin?

Cedric, whom she loved dearly, and a friend of his were always in Edward's sphere; so was Leonard, though he wasn't as involved. Jemima would've offered him company if the lot hadn't been advised to stick to their own gender outside. Though Jemima couldn't see it, Leonard looked between Jemima and Edward with a sort of melancholy jealousy one couldn't put a label upon.

In the later months of 1900, Claudia found herself pregnant once more. There was going to be a new addition to the household - and only she knew it.

For Elmer Pence the new century had nothing to contribute to his mental well-being. Every day was the same: Elmer would go to work in the morning, finish at six o'clock and set off to the pub where he'd stay and drink his worries away, returning home anytime between eleven o'clock and some untimely hour of the morning. Naturally, the man got barely any sleep and when he did it was via passing out.

Claudia hated this side of Elmer and often tried to talk some sense into him. The couple who'd gone years without any arguements suddenly found themselves in the midst of one almost every day. After both Claudia and Elmer had finished their fair share of shouting, the latter would break down crying about how he didn't want to end up like his father and thus the fighting would end.

Claudia didn't know what she could do to help him, but she knew the Elmer she was used to wasn't gone. Her husband was still there and she tried to offer all the support she could possibly give.

After Cedric stood up for Jemima in front of his brother on her first day of school, the pair remained as close as can be. The Harringtons were a strict bunch and it was rare Cedric ever got to come over, but in the autumn of 1900 Cedric was given permission to come over to 'study'; both didn't particularly feel like studying and instead explored Jemima's wardrobe.

Naturally Jemima's clothes consisted pretty much exclusively of dresses, but Cedric was unusually keen to try them on anyway. As she cheered and giggled and the sheer silliness of the boy, Cedric glowed with a sense of belonging for what seemed like the first time ever.

'My father would kill me if he saw me like this.'

Jemima couldn't understand what he meant, but something felt wrong and her heart ached for her friend.