It was not a very big town where I was born. Not small either. But all the marigold plantations scattered around made it look like a 18th century pre-industrial revolution scape. Hence, giving it a feel of small town which had all the essentials of a big one. Anyway, back to my life's story. Actually I was not even born there. Just conceived. Conceived on, ironically, one of the numerous marigold plantations. Owned by Madeleine's dad and her old grandmother. Madeleine's mummy, sadly, left us even before I was properly born. Thanks god Madeleine had all the marigolds to her after she was gone. She loved them, running happily amongst them, touching as many, getting lost in their colors and bloom. Marigolds, all of them in all their colors, loved her too. Bright yellow ones, burning red, fading orange, sundust colored mauve - all sort of colors those came in. My favorite- sundust colored mauve. It amazes me how gods, rain, time sun and dust worked together to create such a magical color. I had never seen anything like that before and time would tell that never ever would I, through my many travels alongside miss Dinihan.
Oh!talking about these marigolds is such a distraction. So I was telling you about how I was born. My mother was a mystical animal, they say. She would often come down from the jungle to Madeleine's marigold farm. She did not like humans but she was always kind to Madeleine and baby Madeleine was so fond of her. Every day at the dusk,right before the moonrise and before my mother would head back, she would shed a part of her and Madeleine would keep it. I don't know how long it went for before my mother stopped coming down to the marigold farms altogether. But lil Madeleine who was growing into a fine woman still kept her treasure. That is before her old grandmother and father chanced upon it. They were poor farmers and had hit a jackpot when they found my mother's sheddings. One fine morning Madeleine's father bargained for Madeleine's treasure in return for a few sea shells. And thus began my journey to Targe. Targe was a town 50 miles up the road, across the woods. Named after a kind of shield called 'Targe', used in medieval times. the word is late old English, deriving from the old Franconian shield. People in Targe still make that shield, lots of it, hence the name. They also have lots of tanneries. Targe is all about shield crafting, leather tanning and drinking. That is where Madeleine's dad took my mother's shedding, to one of the tanneries. And I was born.
When I came out of their works, I saw myself in the mirror. I was very much curvaceous, just like Madeleine's mother from the marigold farms. But she was white and I had this beautiful soft, mahogany wood colored tan that just glowed. I was very pleased with how I looked. then began my journey. Journey out of beautiful marigold fields, crowded Targe and into this wide world. I had never sailed before. Packed in a water-proof bag, I sailed for days and weeks before I reached a distant land where many people lived. More than Madeleine or I could have ever imagined existed. I marvelled at the sight that lay in front of me. Crowd, noise, people, music, pace, rush - everything was new to me. I was already missing Madeleine, marigolds and the farm. Hell, even Targe was much better. My journey continued.they unloaded me from the ship and transported me in a four-wheel driven carriage. I peeped outta carriage's window to say hello to the horses. Surprise,surprise! No horses drawing that carriage. How is that even possible, a carriage moving on its own? I was baffled. I slept throughout rest of my journey. I woke up to my new home - a glass covered window. I could look at the entire world and they could look at me from the outside. That was the idea. this would not be my home forever. I saw many other window mates being packed away to new places. I waited my turn. I just hoped my new friend would be as nice as Madeleine. I knew I would never see Madeleine again. She was far far away! In the lands of sundust colored mauve marigolds and horse drawn carriages.
Then one fine day in came Miss Dinihan. I had not met her before but she reminded me of Madeleine. She was nice, gentle and very caring. She had the most beautiful pair of eyes I had seen and they were kind. I already liked her and peeped anxiously hoping to draw her attention. It worked. after looking at so many other things, she finally settled on me. I was happy again. I knew good things were waiting for me.
I must tell you how I got my name. I was on my way to Miss Dinihan's house. She told me some amazing things. She told me how there were only seven Dinihan's in this world because one of her ancestors misspelt his last name. Funny! How do you misspell your own last name. She also told me how they don't need horses in this part of the world to draw these carriages. They have something called an 'engine' that propels it. I told her my story - the story that had Madeleine, marigolds, Targe and horse drawn carriages. She loved it so much so that she named me after them - Marigold Madeleine. Thus began my journey as Miss Dinihan's Marigold Madeleine. A journey that will see many more lands across the time span and tell many more stories. Through my journeys I hope to, some day, visit my old land. I would love for Miss Dinihan to meet Madeleine, her father and see all those marigolds.
Madeleine must have grown finer and flowers would still be retaining their beautiful colors I am sure. I am waiting to see the surprise on miss Dinihan's face when she sees those marigolds-specially the sundust colored mauve ones. She never believed me when I told her those existed. And then there is Madeleine's old grandmother. I just hope she is still alive. Oh!I just live in hope with dreamy eyes. Of all the travels and stories to come.
