A girls red notebook compelation 2025 version by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

Gurtrude sees hell

We three are in a white room of my own creation. Stanley is in awe but Gurtrude is shaking in her boots, so to speak.

“What is this? What do you plan on doing with me?”

“Time flows differently in here. This is my realm, my domain. I make all the rules in here. For instance, I could leave you here, alone with no reference, no food or water. You would never die but you will feel the pain.”

With that, Stanley and I return to the normal world.

“I want you to tell me your favorite number from one to ten.”

“Eight” he tells me.

“In eight minutes, we will go back to that room. That should be around a month there.”

When we return to the room, we find Gurtrude curled up in a ball hugging her legs in a fetal position. I look at her and for once I knew that this was right. I make her stand up. Looking her in the eyes, I say, in what surprises me, to her in a gentle tone,

“This is what everyone of the orphans felt under your rule. Now, Stanley, I will leave you here for a few minutes.”

I make a chair for him and a few things to occupy him. I turn to Gurtrude. With a now stern voice, I tell her.

“What I now show you is for your own good. You may never tell anyone. I will be with you for this.”

In an instance, we are on a precipice overlooking a dead burnt out planet.

“This is a planet that had a war that completely obliterated life. Nothing will ever grow here again. The water is toxic. There is only one thing alive here.”

April points out a mad man with no eyes.

“That changeling is the one that caused this. He betrayed a child and ended up being the cause for the child’s entire family being killed. He is now condemned to wander for eternity on the planet he created by his actions. He continually gouges out his eyes as not to see but they will continue to regrow.”

Now I again take hold of her, this time by the hands.

“I show you this because I do think that you can change. You must because, in a future where you don’t change, you have created a world just like this. That man never grows old. Feels the hunger and thirst that you felt but never needs to eat or drink. He feels the pain and his mind is filled with regret. That world awaits you. One person created this world and one person crated the world that awaits the unchanged you.”

All three of us are back in front of the orphanage.

“I have an idea. Stanley, why don’t you go back inside and show them what a demigod in training can do. The children could use a very good and plentiful meal.”

We go inside. There are five children there. When April was there, there were ten. The ones there were barely over the one hundred thresholds.

As Gurtrude watched, those faces lit up as Stanley pulled out tray after tray of food and placed it on the table where “the Matron” would sit. Then he says.

“This is all yours. Eat as much as you like.”

In disbelief, the first child came up to the table, grabbed a plate and filled it. Then went over to where they had to eat and, almost like a feral animal, he guarded that plate and ravaged it until everything was gone. The others did the same.

Stanley told them to eat their fill but they need to be careful not to over eat.

“From now on” April told them, “You will not want for food.”

Fed, I now created a large bath. I had Gurtrude wash each child. She grumbled but now I found it amusing. It is almost like those old memories turned to inspirations. The hurt evaporated and was replaced with the single notion that I would work to my death to make sure that this system is destroyed.

“We will take these five with us. They are now the core group for reform. Stanley, you will be their leader. Gurtrude, you will see to their needs. It is my mission to find these children homes, loving homes. Homes where they are wanted. I will either reform this antiquated system or eliminate it all together.”

“I have seen the errors of my ways. You are taking these children with you. I will close this and find all those children that you are concerned about. If you would nullify servitude, I’ll be on my way.”

Gurtrude is trying to get out of her being forced to work for April.

“Sit!” I tell her.

“How quickly do you forget. That means two weeks.”

With that, I send her to this world’s future where she has not changed her ways. After a few minutes, I bring her back.

There lying on the ground is a haggard Gurtrude.

“How did you like your vacation on the world that would exist if I released you from servitude. Now I allow you to grumble but I will not release you, for the sake of these children. If I was to release you, I would have their blood on my hands. Not happening.”

She looks pissed. Her little pledge was not bought. Gurtrude will figure out a way to escape. She does find that the memory of those two weeks are going to haunt her for a long while.

Being able to sense what Gurtrude is thinking, April tells her.

“I cannot think of any scheme that will fool me into releasing you.”

“Fuck you, stay out of my mind!”

“I’m really going to have fun with you. The entity was right. Killing you was not what I needed. Don’t worry Gurtrude. When ever I see you getting too stressed out, I’ll send you on another two week vacation.”

And I laugh as I see her cringe. Now on to more important matters. These children were once starving but now however, they are all very pleased at being full and also very sleepy. I make each a very comfy and warm bed to sleep in. That includes the three of us.

I was thinking of making one of those flea infested beds we had to sleep in but I needed to show mercy for cooperating. Gurtrude had a good meal and a soft bed for the night.

In the morning, I got to the business of finding out who these five are. Looking at each, she now has a table appear on her display.

Name Age Score Month taken height Lbs. Hair Eyes

Peter Monday 12 106 May 4’ 1” 50 brown brown George Wednesday 11 112 November 3’ 10’ 48 brown brown Franchesca Sunday 11 109 September 3’ 9” 47 blond blue Edward Monday 13 107 September 4’ 2” 51 black green Charles Thursday 12 103 October 4’ 0” 49 white blue

April is puzzled. If Gurtrude, by law, was able to throw some child out at age ten, why are these five still here? She gets angry at the thought she is having. She makes Gurtrude shake at the look she is giving her.

“Don’t tell me. You are being paid for the number of children you have that have with a score over 99 but they cut off funds for 99 and under. Money?! Get me your strong box.”

“I don’t have a strong box and if I did, I’ll never give it to you. It’s mine!”

“Vacation!”

With that Gurtrude vanishes.

Ten minutes go by and then a almost nude Gurtrude reappears. Haggard, with a lost look on her face, April, now in a polite tone asks Gurtrude,

“Would you be a darling and bring me the strong box?”

You could tell that she wanted to say something but Gurtrude goes into a side room and comes out with a lock box that is one foot square and two foot long. She puts it in front of April and opens it.

All Gurtrude can say, sorrowfully, “It’s mine.”

“Call it payment for your vacations.”

The box is half full of coins of various sizes and metal. Gold, silver and a few coppers.

April looks at it, then looks at the children. Those underweight and ill clothed children.

April puts the box into her item box. Then she tells Gurtrude to sit and sleep until she hears the words “money’s gone.” Which she does.

“Stanley get your troupes together and hold hands.”

He does, they do. I touch the group and in an instant we appear in front of a store in the town that I had my home near. It was the one where I sold my pelts.

I take them in and tell the owner that these six need a complete couple of sets of clothes. Two at their current size and Two at the next size. Shoes the same.

“Franchesca needs at least one dress in each size. Would you please show her the dresses.”

With that, I assuage the owners suspicion’s by pulling out five gold and handing it to him.

“I expect durable quality clothes, shoes and very beautiful dresses.”

The owner and his wife are tripping over themselves to get what is needed and fit each child. That is more than they make in two months. Every thing they brought was of good quality and will wear well.

The owner, timidly looks at April, “That will be three gold for the lot.”

I look at the now well dressed group. They look stunning. Franchesca is in a very pretty dress. She is smitten. She likes the way she feels. For the first time in her life, she was not one of the boys.

Then I got a warm and fuzzy feeling. I look at the owners and feel their emotions. They are childless. The wife, especially, is wishing that she had a daughter like Franchesca. The husband is looking at the five boys and thinking that they would be good sons and heirs of his family’s name and business. They always wanted a big family but for whatever reason never were able to have them.

Sensing no ill intent, no need for cheap labor, the feeling I got was true loving longing for children. As the demigod of fools, I knew what I was about to do is right.

“Keep the five gold.” I pull Stanley to my side.

“My son and I came across this decrepit orphanage. These five were almost abandoned. Their matron had neglected them so we chose to free them. I sense that you are a very kind couple. Would you be interested in taking any or all of them as your children?”

They are almost in tears. Never did they think that the gods would finally smile on them and grant them a family. They did not hesitate.

“We have always wanted a family but I was never able to conceive.” The wife said. Then she knelt down to their level. With tears flowing, she asks them, not for their scores but,

“Would you like to be my sons and daughter? We would love you. You will be our family?”

Now the five have tears also. It is Edward, the oldest, that asks

“You haven’t asked about our scores. Aren’t you concerned?”

The husband looks at all of them, then blows their minds away. They hear something that they never thought they would hear. He, in a not so polite term, tells them,

“Scores don’t mean shit.” He points to his chest, “It’s what is in here that counts. We want you all as our children. Would you like to come with us to the town hall right now and formalize your adoption into our family?’

The five agree, so we all go to the town hall where I explain that these are orphans. I produce papers saying that I am their guardian, my powers. The adoption is complete and we return to the store.

With all of us together, I choose to reveal myself and Stanley to them. I open both our display’s so all can see Stanley’s and my titles and scores.

“I am the demigod of fools, Stanley is my apprentice. These children are in my care. I entrust their care to the two of you. You are very good people and the gods have smiled at you. Know this, I will be watching them. Make sure that they grow healthy and are loved.”

I pull out the strong box and place it in front of them. As I open the box to reveal the contents, I tell them,

“This is what the matron had horded. It was meant to support these children. It goes with them. Use it wisely. Give then a good education.”

I touch each and they get a glow for a moment.

“They now have been given the gift I call yearning. It is yearning for knowledge. I have given them each the knowledge to read, write and do their sums. They will be like a sponge, soaking up every bit of knowledge. With the proper care and love, each will be leaders in their field and make your family name known world wide. This is the blessing of the gods.”

With that, Stanley and I vanish and are back at the orphanage. I walk up to Gurtrude and say, with delight,

“Money’s gone.”

With that Gurtrude wakes up and spit venom.

“What do you mean money’s gone. That is mine!”

“You did not even notice that the other children are gone. They are all in the same happy home.”

I put my hand to her ear and she heard laughter and knew that it was those five.

“That money was for their care and it is with them. They will go on to make this world great. Now come on. I’ll let you stew on that for a while.”

I lead her out of the building and then it erupts in an inferno. In only a matter of seconds, that horrid place was nothing but a hole in the ground filled with ash.

A demigod’s mission

With the smell of smoke fresh in our noses and a certain someone grumbling about her money, we start walking. Miles do not mean anything. I am getting used to the sense of children in distress. So far nothing out of the ordinary child being scolded for something that they swear that they did not do. It was their ball that broke the good vase after being told not to throw it in the house. That did end in an “I’m sorry” from the child and then a hug from mom. He had to pick up every piece and they both glued it back together.

Our pace did not reflect time or milage. I could feel a pull in a certain direction. The pace is set by the pull. The more need and or danger to the child the stronger the pull.

We were walking and enjoying the scenery. Teasingly, I make a comment.

“Just think this could look so much different. Is that smoke I smell?” and look at Gurtrude.

Then the pull happened. It was strong in a westerly direction, but a long way away. I tell the two to prepare as I close my eyes and picture the place. Then I opened my eyes and what seemed like a short jump, we were standing on the out skirts of a village.

Later after many of these urgent transports, we all started to call them jumps. Fitting name. It stuck.

The pull brought me to a field that bordered a wooded area. There we saw a woman and three children foraging for wild eatables. I could tell that they were doing this because they did not have the means or money to get food any other way.

Regardless of the time, I made it like we really did not see them.

“Why don’t we stop here and make lunch?”

Stanley pulled out a large amount of raw meat and vegetables. I start a fire, then we start to cook. I then make it a point to notice them. I invite them.

“We bought too much and would like to invite all of you to lunch with us. There’s plenty so if you don’t it will go to waste.”

“Well, if it would go to waste, we would like to join you.”

With that they come over and sit down. The children are looking at the food with an anticipation of a holiday feast. Casually, as we are cooking, I ask her,

“Is the wild vegetables better around here? Where we are from, they are usually tough and somewhat bitter.”

April knows since she had to forage for almost eleven years.

The children are honest. “They are tough but we usually can find enough of them to eat at least one meal a day.”

I see the mother flinch at what they say. I break the ice.

“Having tough times? I know just how hard it is. I was thrown out of an orphanage at age ten. I had eleven years of a meal a day or every other day. Can I help you by at least listening. I promise that you will feel a lot better after telling me your story. Think about it.”

Then I tell the children, “Kids, I think it’s done.”

Looking to Stanley I ask him, “Would you get out the big plates out of your bag.”

I give him the nod then say to them.

“Want to see something amazing?”

Then Stanley reaches into thin air. His hands disappear then emerge for nothingness holding plates and utensils.

The children are laughing at the good trick but mom looks like she is ready to run. I decide that this will be my trademark so to speak. Do something unnatural then reveal what we are.

“Kids, eat as much as you want. I’m going to show mom something.”

I sit right next to her.

“I was a long way away from here and I felt a very strong pull that told me that someone was in need of divine intervention.”

With a flare, I bring up the three boards for us. Mom is now having her eyes roll up so far that she is now looking at her own brain.

“Those are true.” I say out loud and it caught the children’s attention.

“I am the demigod of fools. Stanley is my apprentice. Gurtrude is our servant. The meaning of the title, I wish I could change it but only a god can change it, but I digress. The meaning of fools ifs that my charges are those who other’s consider fools. Mainly children but those who are in deep trouble.”

Now I am holding a weeping woman and her children look as if they want to kill me. Before they could say something. I tell them.

“Your mom has had a terrible burden on her shoulders. She realizes that someone has come to lift that weight off of her. I am here to do just that. I want to show you that we are the real deal. I want mom to think of your home table.”

In an instant, we are sitting at that table in their house. Kids love magic tricks but mom knows that this is not magic.

“Why? My husband left to find work but has not come back for almost a year. I know that he won’t come back. He told me, many a time, that this was just too much for him. I know he ran out. In a week, we will lose the house. The mortgage is due but we only have a few silver.”

My hand disappears then emerges. The bag of golds hits with a thud. I tell her one problem solved.

“Why don’t we discuss the remainder of the problems after lunch. By the way, check your pantry.”

It is full. For some reason she now can’t think straight. I get her to sit down and have Gurtrude get her some food. She ate and the children had another round.

Not looking up from her plate, she softly thanked us. Then just as soft she said that she wished she could take the children and go back home. There was a knock on the door and her mother walked in.

“I see that you have company, so I won’t stay. I just wanted to make sure that you’re moved in properly. You were a slow poke at unpacking but I see that you’re done. Stop over when you have the time.”

Then she leaves.

I pat her on the back and tell her to look out the window.

There before her was her home town and she was right next door of her parents.

“You moved here a week ago. You were tired of being a lonely widow in a strange town. You have come into money and had them buy this place outright.

Next. The childhood boy that you had a crush on when you were ten, had moved away. He has returned and is trying to rekindle that spark. He will, by this time next year, marry you and adopt these children.”

Now I tell the children that I am going with their mom to pick up something from the store. I have Gurtrude watch the children and had Stanley watch Gertrude. With that we go out the front door.

It is the house that the boy lived in. Next door neighbors and childhood friends. She is beside herself. Without waiting, we are in my white room.

“I am going to show you something really good. First of all, your children and every one that is in this area now only have the memory of you moving back here. Only you will remember being in that field today scrounging out something to eat. You tried your best and now this is your reward.”

We are again in front of the home but this time she is seeing both her and her new husband, sitting on the front porch swing and holding hands.

“Look at yourself. See that smile. You deserve that and much more. That smile is because you are going to have a daughter. You are pregnant by your new husband and both of you are ecstatic. You earned that and you two will live a long and happy life together and will be buried at a ripe old age with all your faculties as good as they are now. One day your children will find you both, in your eighties sitting on that swing on that porch. You both will have, within minutes of each other made your jump to the next and eternal like.”

Now we go back and I get a cake out of my bag and give it to her.

“When you go through the door, your new life will begin. Make sure that you tell your mother that these clothes are for the moving. The children and you have really good clothing inside.”

“How can I ever repay you? I know that this is real but have my feelings of dreaming. If this is a dream, don’t let my children and myself wake up.”

“This is no dream, but it is from your dreams. Ever since that man left you, and maybe before, you have wanted this. It is security. As far as repayment, live, love and above enjoy. With that I will only leave the memory, in the children, that something wonderful has happened. They will never remember the hardship or that man who was your husband. You have told them that they were too young to remember him. As far as he is concerned, in his memory, you never existed so he will never show up here.”

I call out Stanley and Gurtrude.

“Your mother is watching the children now. As far as anyone in that house is concerned, we already have left. One last item to mention. You are now under my protection. I will be watching.”

With that we three are back at that field and the lunch is ready for us. Gurtrude in her usual manner says, snidely.

“You enjoy messing with people, don’t you.”

“Did you see their faces. Did you see that amazement in her eyes when she looked out the window and when her mother came in. Yes, I got a high on it and I will continue.

One thing I know is that you too will someday delight in it. Now choke on that and get me a plate of food.”

For a moment, just for a moment, Gertrude contemplated what she was just told. Inwardly she had a little hope.