HAZEL IN CASTOR'S LAND
Mother Raises the Cruel

The City of London, 2022

Girl with tiny dimples, but has the nickname ugly.

***

The middle-aged woman screeched, a stressful morning for Hazel. If there is no Tommy in the house, the atmosphere of the house is not calm, always his wife scolded Hazel unreasonably.

"Can you iron more neatly?!" ask Kammy with a snarl.

The face of the woman who always showed anger, the pile of laundry was thrown at Hazel. Bribery by swearing was delivered to his adopted son. The 19-year-old girl could only listen, not wanting to argue with her foster mother, Kammy. Kammy's clothes back she ironed, did it in a hurry, the hours of the course were soon, but her adoptive mother did not want to understand it.

"You're just my adopted son, don't pretend to be a princess in this house" said the umpteenth-time Kammy.

Hazel's eyes were not teary anymore, she was used to the harsh words of her foster mother, all the words did not hurt her anymore. Hazel thinks it's just a normal old man's anger.

After getting ready, Hazel left for college, she didn't get breakfast from Kammy. Hazel is used to not eating breakfast, she will eat if Kammy is fast asleep.

"I'm leaving, maybe I'll be home late, I have to help Mr. Van Hill" Hazel said.

"Go away, look at you I'm sick of it" Kammy said without looking at Hazel.

Kammy sees Hazel coming out of her yard, she sighs, she realizes her treatment of Hazel is inhumane, but still she has anger over Hazel, there is a factor that causes her to be so evil to Hazel.

Hazel pedaled the bike quickly, sneaking in the middle of the walk. At that time he put on earphones, complete his loneliness. But she stopped for a moment in front of the clothes shop, the shop that displayed a beautiful statue wearing a beautiful dress like a royal queen. Hazel dreams that one day, she is wearing a beautiful royal princess dress.

"After I have a lot of money, I will fix everything, and make my dreams come true" he murmured.

Arriving at the college, Hazel, who wants to go to class, gets a surprise from her college friend, she is pelted with flour, Hazel's clothes and hair all white from the flour sprinkles. Hazel again refrained from being angry. The five girls with antagonistic characters shouted at him with 'The ugly girl'. Hazel simply resigned herself, letting the other colleagues watch her in the banter.

"What are you guys doing?! Disperse!" The lecturer who suddenly stopped the scene of the crimes of his students.

They disbanded except Hazel, she was asked by her lecturer to rest, the lecturer knew that Hazel was mentally not okay, not easy to accept ridicule from her colleagues.

Hazel said she calmed herself down in the toilet. Hazel chose to sit on a closet contemplating her life.

'Is this a scene I have to take every day? Is this fair to me?' He muttered.

Hazel looked at the reflection of her face in the mirror, "I'm such a bad girl, indeed" she murmured again. Hazel's skin was covered in chickenpox. It was disgusting in the eyes of his friends.

Hazel is forced off campus, she heads to the library where she works part-time. At that time the library owner was busy arranging books on the shelf.

"I came early" said Hazel, surprising Mr. Van Hill.

"You're going to a place that makes you more comfortable" said Mr. Van Hill, who by then knew Hazel's mood.

"I am not needed from all corners of the world, I am always looked at one eye, rightly they say, I am indeed unlucky," Hazel lamented when she remembered the words of those who made fun of her.

Mr. Van Hill pointed to Hazel, she did not like to listen to the gesture of despair from the girl's mouth.

"You should know, on this earth everything has its own benefits, you don't need to be the main character in other people's stories, be the main character for your own life, you're most responsible for yourself, Hazel .."

"You tired of your life?" ask Mr. Van Hill.

"Confessing it, I think it's pointless, I have to move on with my life, as it should be" Hazel said

Hazel put her bag on the chair, and she took the pile from Mr. Van Hill. His smile grinned his face, Hazel's sadness instantly vanished while in Mr. Van Hill's library.

"Let the book alone, I've made so much breakfast, eat .." said Mr. Van Hill. She loved Hazel as much as her own granddaughter.

Hazel keeps wiping the books, she won't let Mr. Van Hill get tired of doing what's been her job.

"You eat first" said Mr. Van Hill back.

"I finished this first, breakfast is Grandpa" Hazel said.

Mr. Van Hill shook his head with a smile, living in solitude made him lonely, but with the presence of Hazel, Mr. Van Hill had a passion for life again.

Mr. Van Hill saw the look on Hazel's face, and he understood that she harbored a lot of sadness that he did not see. Mr. Van Hill took her to a chair, and she wanted to have a serious conversation with Hazel.

"Do you like this library?" tanyakanya.

There was a man inside the library, the man was carrying a carton. Mr. Van Hill greeted him, opened the carton and checked the contents. There were dozens of blood bags in that carton. Hazel was again surprised to see him, although it was not the first time that Mr. Van Hill had a blood bag delivered, it was still a surprise for Hazel.

"I've sent it to the director, hurry up and go" said Mr. Van Hill. He wanted the man to leave his library immediately.

Hazel didn't stop seeing the suspicious Mr. Van Hill. Mr. Van Hill glanced at Hazel, hoping the girl didn't ask about seeing him. Mr. Van Hill took the carton to the warehouse, Hazel tried to help but was prevented by Mr. Van Hill.

"No need, Hazel. Just continue with your work" said Mr. Van Hill, trying to lift the cardboard by himself.

With a breath of breath, Mr. Van Hill closed the door of the warehouse from the inside. As if showing his activity does not want to be seen by Hazel. Suspicion looms in the girl's heart, she slowly approaches the warehouse with a sneak, Hazel's curiosity taking control of her soul.

From inside the warehouse came the voice of Mr. Van Hill laughing, like he was talking to someone. Hazel knew Mr. Van Hill was alone, there were no guests at the time, but when he heard Mr. Van Hill, the 70-year-old Grandpa was having a dialogue with someone, exactly with a man too.

"Good Morning" said someone at the entrance. A man walks into the library and greets Hazel.

Hazel rushes away from the barn, allowing the student to start looking for the book she wants. Hazel was still stubborn, a question in her mind, so as not to make the customer suspicious, Hazel resumed her activities of tidying up the book.

"You seen Mr Van Hill?" ask the man to Hazel.

Hazel glanced at the warehouse, "He's got business, just wait."

The man let out a nod, began to search for the books he needed, while hearing a boisterous noise from the direction of the warehouse, Hazel heard it too. Not wanting to arouse suspicion in the man, Hazel rushed to distract him.

"Sir Van Hill is watching TV, sorry .. we have a new biography, it's there," said Hazel, who lied to keep Mr. Van Hill. Even though he knew, there was no TV in the barn.

Note: Mr Van Hill Library