Here is a little story I been wanting to write about a Gypsy girl living in Pleasantville. I hope you all enjoy. I still need to finish my other story but this one I wanted to get out of my system. LOL!
A Gypsy story
Chapter one
This story begins in the outskirts of Pleasantville City. On the land that belongs to Gypsy King Don Jenaro and his queen Marisela. They have occupied this land as long as anyone can remember. Here Don Jenaro with the help of his men raise the finest Pasofino horses available anywhere. While his horses earn the Gypsy king quite a bit of money his people's lifestyle has changed hardly at all in this time and age of progress.
Don Jenaro and Marisela use the funds from their horses to bring in tutors to educate the children of both clans and keep social services off his people's back.
He sent his very own daughter Mia away to Pleasantville college to study to become a teacher. Once she had finished her studies and earned a state license she began to teach all the clans children under the age of sixteen for five months out of the year.
The children were learning how to read in English. The Gypsy dialect is a spoken language with much mythology and none of it written. Mia had begun to write down some of their people's stories and myths and hoped to publish them some day.
Don Jenaro insisted that the children also learn traditional Gypsy trades such as blacksmith work and for the female children Tarot and divination.
He was very proud of Mia her work with her books would earn finally some respect for his people. Perhaps people would finally know that not all Gypsies were thieves and scoundrels.
That some such as his own clans were hardworking good people.
Times were changing it was very difficult to maintain his clans traditions and way of life in this new and noisy world. He knew if his people were to survive they had to put away their petty differences and stick together.
Don Jenaro had decided he would unite the clans with an arranged marriage between his daughter Mia and the Bandoleer Alejandro Rani's son Jose Manuel.
Mia was really past marry age as far as Gypsies go. He had delayed making arrangements for her because of her attending college now there was no reason for her to remain single.
Alejandro Rani was a permanent member of the Kris a group of Gypsy judges. He was a fair man and was a distant relative of Don Jenaro.
Don Jenaro had no sons to be the next Gypsy King upon his death. Although his wife Marisela would remain queen for the remainder of her life most probably someone from the Rani clan would step in as the next king.
The more Jenaro thought about the more it made sense if that was what would happen it might as well be his son in law or Grandson then.
Don Alejandro and Don Jenaro made an agreement. Jose Manuel would go to their home tomorow night and begin courting Mia.
All the time Mia slept unaware of the plans of her father and Don Alejandro.
The next morning Mia got her chores done quickly she had plans for the afternoon secret plans...she hated to be deceptive but it was the only way she could see Antonio. Antonio was the love of her life since childhood.
Antonio was a member of the Sabatino clan. His clan was always in trouble being brought before the Kris for this and that. Mia's Father even though he was related to the Sabatino clan had disdain for their Bandoleer Eliseo Sabatino. Don Eliseo had done nothing to help the reputation of Gypsies in this and other communities.
He would not bring the children for teaching. Mia had to falsify records for the social worker so that the clan would not lose their children to social services. Also the Sabatino women supported the entire clan with their tarot readings and divination. Don Eliseo was a lazy drinker who would not work or force his clan to work in blacksmithing.
Never the less Mia could not remember ever not loving Antonio. As a child she saw him more frequently because he lived with her clan. Once she went to college and returned they had resumed their love affair in secret so as not to enrage Mia's father which could be dangerous.
Mia had decided one day she and Antonio would have to leave their families and make a life for themselves outside the Gypsy community. Her Father would never approve of their union and the thought of leaving her mother and sisters to never see them again broke her heart.
As Mia tried to quietly slip away she ran into Berta this was bad Berta was the biggest gossip if she suspected anything she would surely tell on her!
"Mia! Mia! Where are you going in such a hurry?" she shouted as Mia tried to walk past her.
"Oh! Hello Berta" Mia said halfheartly..
"So....where are you off to in such a hurry?" Berta was not letting Mia off the hook.
"Oh I am going into town I need school supplies for the children." Mia lied.
"Oh yes...that is nice deary....Come here Mia I want to see your lovely face...
"What are you doing Berta?" "Quiet the spirits tell me you have a lover Mia...do you?....do you have a lover?"
Mia became flustered Berta was an incredible medium she could be frightening with her spirit revelations at times especially now.
"NO! Berta your spirits lie!" she shouted and walked off in a rush.
"Berta! Have you seen Mia? I need to talk to her and I cannot find her."
"Well...yes I saw her earlier this afternoon Marisela she said she was going to town to buy supplies for her lessons with the children."
"But my queen may I die right here and now painfully if my spirits did not tell me she was meeting with a lover" Berta whispered to Marisela.
Marisela became enraged at Berta's insinuation. "Look Berta if you repeat this nonsense to anyone I will personally arrange it so that you and your bigmouthed spirits can be together literally! Do you hear me? you gossip" she spat between her teeth.
This was serious Marisela knew Mia was slipping away to see Antonio but up until now it didn't much matter. But now that Jenaro had arranged this marriage it was a big problem. Marisela looked for Mia everywhere but couldn't find her she wanted to tell her what her Father had done. How Jose Manuel would be coming to dinner that night to ask for her hand and court her. But it appeared destiny wanted this to be a surprise for Mia as she could not find her.
Meanwhile...
Mia: Antonio it is getting harder for me to get away to see you. I don't know when I will be able to do it again.
Antonio: I think the time is coming for us to leave Mia. I don't want to hide anymore I want to marry you and live our love in the open for all to see.
Mia: I think so too Antonio it breaks my heart to leave my Mother and sisters but it is time for us to begin our lives together. I will tell mother tonight about our plans to leave. Do we have enough money for a place Antonio?
Antonio: Yes Mia I have found a small home for us the owner is a friend and offered me a discounted rent. I also have found work in town I begin next week if we leave tommorow we can have a few days of honeymoon before I work.
Mia: I will apply also in the local school as a teacher so we will be ok.
Mia and Antonio had made up their minds it was time to move on and begin their lives together as man and wife.
"Jose Manuel I have picked Mia to be available for you to marry. I hope you understand that of all my daughters Mia is my favorite. It is my hope for her to be Queen for our families once her Mother and I are gone. Of course for you that means being King at some point and having children with true royal Gypsy blood." Jenaro wanted to see what kind of man this was who would be next in line once he and Marisela were gone.
"I will do my best to make Mia happy and treat her as not only my princess which she is but as my queen once we are married. I promise you this Don Genaro." he said.
Jenaro was satisfied with his answer. Hopefully this would work out Jose Manuel was a fine looking man. He seemed gentle and considerate Mia should be happy to have such a husband. He didn't understand why Marisela was so opposed to the idea. She kept mumbling about love and how no one should be forced what was wrong with that woman? Arranged marriages were common amoung Gypsy people their own had been arranged by thier parents. Silly romantic ideas thats all!
That evening....
When Mia arrived she found her Mother and Jose Manuel Rani at the table waiting for her. Father had not yet arrived from the stables. She greeted them and apologized for being late.
"I'm so sorry if I had known we had a guest I would have not been so tardy to dinner. How are Jose Manuel?" she asked politely.
"My love Mia Jose Manuel is a special guest of your father tonight I tried to find you today to let you know about this special night but I didn't find you. Jose Manuel is here to ask your father officially for your hand in marriage Mia."
Mia was stunned...Jose Manuel had never even looked at her before he was very popular with the gypsy ladies but word was he was only interested in his work and horses. What was she going to do? How could she let Jose Manuel down gently without making an unpleasant scene? Also he was her fathers special guest??? What did that mean?? Did her father want her to marry Jose Manuel?? Her head was swimming and spinning and her throat dried up so that even if she had words to speak they would never come out of her mouth.
"Mia...I know we don't know each other very well. I understand it will take time for you to accept me. I would like to court you for as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable with me. I promise I will be a kind and gentle husband to you. I will do all in my power to give you all that you desire so you may live in the way you are acustomed to living." he said with a big smile.
Mia looked at Jose Manuels handsome face in shock. She started to speak but just then Father returned from the stables and joined them at the table. She looked at Father's face how could he? How could he do this to her?
