“The bath is ready.” said Malee. Georgia was lying on the bed, still in her bathrobe. She looked tired. It must have been the jet-lag that Malee had read in books but had never experienced before since she had never been on a plane before. Perhaps, with the money she had saved from the pocket money during the university, she would ask for a short leave to experience that, Malee thought to herself as Georgie got up from the bed with her eyes still closed.

“Damn. I am sleepy.” murmured Georgia as she went back to her lying position on the bed again. Malee waited for a while before going over to her and carried her limping body out of the bed, into the bathroom. Malee tried to get the body into the chair besides the tub and remove the robe from her body before slowly slipping her into the tub full of warm, steamy and scented water. Georgia had grown since they had the bath years ago with her body resembling a fashion model on the runway rather than a little girl. She must have had many suitors scrambling for her hand in marriage, Malee thought.

“Clean me.” said Georgia with her eyes closed. Malee nodded. It had been so long since she had to do that, but she hoped she remembered how Georgia liked to be cleaned. Malee took the soft sponge out from the plastic bag and soaked it with the bath water before running it down Georgia’s body. Both Georgia and Malee could sit comfortably in the tub long ago, but Georgia could barely fit in it. It took a while for Malee to give the rub all over the body before Georgia waved her hand to stop doing so. Malee squeezed the water out of the sponge and placing it back on the holder beside the tub before sitting down at the chair.

She expected to be babysitting a princess she knew they paid her to train with that in mind but she didn’t realize it was such a hard work, especially if the baby was a grown woman instead. She was so lost in her thought she didn’t notice Georgia had turned towards her and one of her eyes opened.

“Remembering the old times?” asked Georgia to the shock of Malee.

“What is going to happen?” whispered Malee. Georgia shifted from her position to upright. She felt more awake than Malee.

“What will happen is that you are going to the kitchen and make me a sandwich and a wine now.” said Georgia, in a slightly lower voice to wake Malee from her thoughts. She should know her place in the grand scheme of things, Georgia thought to herself.

“Yes.” Malee stood up, gave a quick bow and left the room. She felt foolish. What could she possibly do, even if she knew what would happen? She was just a servant for them to order around. And Georgia must have planned for all eventualities on the paper she refused to show to Malee long ago. Her job was to prepare the sandwich and the wine as instructed by her mistress, nothing more. As Malee walked down the staircase to the kitchen, she bumped into Mary.

“How is she?” asked Mary.

“In the tub. She asked for a sandwich and wine so I am going to the kitchen.” answered Malee. Mary nodded and continued her way up the staircase to George’s room. With the sandwich and wine prepared in no time, Malee returned to Georgia’s room as Mary was coming out of it. Another order from Georgia, Malee thought. Malee bowed to Mary and walked into the half-opened door as Mary close the door from behind. Georgia was still in the tub but her eyes were wide opened.

She grabbed the sandwich on the plate and pushed it into her mouth and finished with the wine. It must have been the jet-lagged as Malee witnessed a princess chewing with her mouth opened and wine dripping from the sides of her mouth. Once done, she wiped her mouth with her hand.

“Have you prepared for the graduation?” asked Georgia. Malee was about to ask how could she have known about the graduation but stopped before the words came out from her mouth.

“I hope I had done well.” replied Malee.