Chapter One (Mary)

“Good morning, Mary.” I open the window, and then hear this gentle voice. Louis is standing in the yard and waving his hand to me. His golden hair and charming smile are shining in the sun. “Morning, Louis.” I smile to him.

Louis is my new tenant. I used to live alone in this big house. Then one day, he knocked on my door at twilight. He asked to rent my house. How could I say no to a handsome man like him?

England is always wet. A sunny day like today is really rare. I wear my new white dress with an appliqué border. My golden hair is styled into an elegant upsweep, topped by my pearl hairpin. I look myself in the mirror and feel satisfied with my beauty. I walk to the dining room. Louis prepares breakfast for me: mellow black tea and beautiful cakes on the wooden table with roses.

“Thank you, Louis. The cakes and tea are really tasty.”

“It’s my pleasure to serve a gorgeous lady like you.” He smiled tenderly like a gentleman. His blue eyes are so charming and filled with love. I turn my head to cover up my bashfulness. Then I see a little shadow hiding in the darkness with shining eyes. That’s my cat, Nancy, my only friend.

 

Chapter Two (Nancy)

I am with her for three years.

She is Mary, but Mary is not her.

It is kind of confusing. But that’s the truth.

Mary is new in this town. She is beautiful and wealthy. She is more ravishing than Medea, holier than Artemis and more beautiful than Helen. She has pearl skin, ruby lips and long hair like liquid gold. Her eyes are better than perfect. They are violet and shinny, like gems under sunshine. She likes new clothes. Tailors send new clothes to her mansion nearly every day.

But she has no wooers. Every person in the town always talk about her with pity, “That’s so sad. The young beauty has that kind of strange disease.”

Do you know catalepsy? It’s a strange disease which makes her stiff like a puppet. That’s scary, right?

So Mary lives in the biggest house in the town alone, never goes out. I am the only audience to see her new clothes. That’s the reason why she is so pale, like the shadow of a white rose in a mirror of silver.

Then she met Louis, who is like sunshine in her eyes. She always talked about his gentle voice, beautiful eyes like ocean and charming smile with me. I think she fell in love with him.

“Nancy, I will have new clothes again.” She said to me last night, gently stroking my fur with smile.

 

Chapter Three (Mary)

I haven’t gone out for a really long time. I only go out because Louis invites me to watch a play. I accessorize my ivory fishtail gown with silver pumps, diamond earrings and diamond bracelet.

I get off the carriage.

“Mary is so lovely!”

“She is like a princess.”

I hate these kinds of praises, because the tones are always full of pity.

Louis is walking next me. I slow down to make my movements seemed less stiff.

“You are not happy, are you? My darling.” Louis is so close to me, with his breathe on my earlobe. I shake my head with smile.

The plays are always boring and long in this small town. I can hardly bear, but Louis is interested in the play today. The only thing here can make me happy is Louis’s handsome profile.

The play is finally ended. On the way home, Louis massages my stiff shoulder thoughtfully in the carriage. Suddenly, he kisses me. His lips are so warm and soft. But I pushed him over, “You know my illness…”

But he holds my hand, taking a ring from his pocket, “I love you. Marry me.”

I become Louis’s wife. He says he will love me forever. I think I have everything now: beauty, money and a perfect husband.

But I need one more thing.

I need new clothes.

 

Chapter Four (Nancy)

Mary married Louis.

Louis now is a part of aristocracy. Although Mary doesn’t like any social events, he is a fan of them.

Louis comes home later and later. Mary tries to talk with him. But he gets angry and slaps her. Then he slams the door really hard.

Mary eats her dinner calmly.

I go out with Louis. His carriage is in the garden. I can hear his conversation with another woman, “Why you come to find me again? You have such a beautiful wife at home.”

“How can she compare with you, honey? I just married her because of money.” His voice is gentle as always.

“But she is still alive. We can’t do this stuff in the carriage every time.”

“I know. But she is about to die of illness, my honey.” His voice becomes a little husky. I have no interests to hear them having sex. I see Mary. So I come back to the house with her.

She sits in the faint light of a candle that night, gently stroking my fur with smile. “Men are really changeable.” She says without any surprise, “I think I need new clothes, Nancy.”

 

Chapter Five (Louis)

I come back the house after a cocktail party. I hate this house because of the boring woman in it. I’ll kill her tonight, I think.

I open the door. Mary is sitting in the sofa. She wears black lacy lingerie, showing her plump and smooth breasts. She is so beautiful. She stands up and walks to me. “I’m sorry for not having sex with you because of my disease, Louis. I was so selfish. Let’s have a charming night together.”

Her voice is so sexy. I kiss her neck which is smooth like silk. Let me enjoy myself tonight first, I think. I take her to the bedroom.

 

Chapter Six (Nancy)

Mary died.

“Poor lady…” People in the town say sadly.

In her funeral, Louis cries heartbrokenly. After the funeral, he sells the house, taking all the money Mary left. He leaves the sad town with me. We are now in a hotel in London.

It’s bed time. He takes off his tie, his suit, and his skin.

Yes, he takes off his skin.

I told you, she is Mary, but Mary is not her. She is a lovely puppet who is good at acting. She loves to wear different clothes and pretends to be different people.

Now, she is Louis.

Her whole life is a magnificent play, right?

Louis becomes famous in the world of aristocracy and the rich really fast. He is handsome, rich and has charming blue eyes deep like ocean. He is just a little stiff.

Elizabeth, the daughter of an Earl, falls in love with him and doesn’t mind his disability.

The night before wedding, Louis strokes my fur gently, “I will have new clothes again, Nancy.”

(The End)