Daniel returned to the utility room, kicked off the slippers and pulled on his socks, then removed the apron followed by the jet black housekeeper’s dress. He hung it on a hanger and recalled the moment Mrs Haverthwaite suggested he wore it whilst his clothes dried. I seemed horrendous at first but after a while, it wasn’t so bad. He pulled on his jeans which were still warm from the radiator before buttoning himself into his shirt. His jacket is still a little damp around the cuffs but it’ll do, he figured. “I expect you’re feeling much more like yourself again.” Mrs Haverthwaite smiled when Daniel emerged wearing his own clothes.
“Yes… all cozy and warm,” he replied. “Well I’ll see you on Friday,” he said as he grabbed his bag.
“Haven’t you forgotten something Daniel?” Mrs Haverthwaite asked.
The mystified youth glanced around his person and the kitchen. “Erm… I don’t think so.” he cautiously replied. Mrs Haverthwaite stepped to him and removed the white lace-trimmed headband. “Oh blimey! I’d completely forgotten about that!” he exclaimed before thanking Mrs Haverthwaite.
Daniel felt bashful as he left. Imagine the shame if he’d made his way home with a dainty little maid’s cap on his head!
On Friday he returns to Mrs Haverthwaite’s and knocks on the back door. She opens it and invites him in and after a little small talk, she says “I’ve washed your uniform but it needs an iron… it’s hanging in the utility room.”
“Oh er… do I have to wear it again?” he asked.
“Well… I’ve been having a think,” she replied. “You don’t really want to risk ruining your own clothes with a splash of bleach or something… new clothes are expensive and you are living on the breadline,” she explained.
“I know but… it’s a dress.” Daniel gulped.
Mrs Haverthwaite smiled and told him that it’s the housekeeper’s uniform, adding that it’s hard-wearing and stain resistant, particularly to bleach. “Wearing this makes a lot more sense than wearing your own clothes.”
“Yes, I get what you’re saying Mrs Haverthwaite but…” Daniel replied.
“You wore it on Tuesday with no issues.” she reminded him. “Plus it’s a very good fit and perfect for the task at hand.”
“I know but… I did feel a bit silly on Tuesday… especially that lacy head-thing.”
“You forgot you were wearing that, remember,” she replied. “And you did seem much more focused on Tuesday. You’d got round to doing the ironing much sooner than I thought and I figured you must have cut corners elsewhere… but after a thorough inspection, I couldn’t find anything you’d missed,” she informed him. “I noticed that as well as polishing all of the doorknobs, you also polished the hinges and latch plates too… something I don’t recall asking you to do.”
“Sorry.”
“Oh don’t apologize Daniel. Your attention to detail is meticulous.” she complimented. “There’s an old saying; dress the part, play the part,” she said. “You surpassed your already high standards when properly attired, and like I say, I hate to see you ruin your own clothes.”
“Well… I’d rather not wear it but… you’re the boss Mrs Haverthwaite.” Daniel glumly replied. And that was that. He spent ten minutes ironing the uniform and apron before donning it and the lacy little cap.
“That’s much better.” Mrs Haverthwaite said when he emerged from the utility room. “May I see your bow?” she asked. Daniel turned to show her the back of his apron. “Perfect.” she smiled. “That’s a much nicer bow than Jolanta ever tied.”
“Thank You.” Daniel bashfully replied. He set about his chores and climbed the stairs, getting one quick glance in the hallway mirror and another in the mirror at the end of the landing. He entered Mrs Haverthwaite’s bedroom and being a Friday, his first chore was to change her bedding, but first, he had a good look at the bow he’d tied in her dressing table mirror. Daniel hadn’t especially tried to tie a ‘nice’ bow. He did try to get the two bows the same sort of size but other than that, its apparent perfection was a fluke. He stepped back to look at himself from the front, but being a small dressing table mirror, he could only see his reflection from his midriff down to his calves. He lifted the skirt a little above his knees and sighed. “It may be appropriate to the task at hand but it certainly looks ridiculous on me,” he muttered to no one but himself.
