The Cursed Orphan: V.B.Kettlehouse

Do you believe in curses? Virginia Beatrice Kettlehouse believes she is the victim of an especially cruel joke played by fate.

It began on the little girl's first family vacation to the Swiss Alps, which ended when both her parents died in a violent snowshoeing/moose accident right in front of the poor dear. Badly shaken, Virginia returned home for the funeral where the pastor, coincidentally, was hit by lightening while performing the ceremony.

Adopted by her favourite Aunt Stacey, Virginia had an ominous feeling she wouldn't be living with auntie too long. The feeling was confirmed the next morning when she found Aunt Stacey drowned in her porridge.


Virginia was sent to her grandparents in the country. Determined to make his sad little Virginie laugh like she used to, Gramps announced a family picnic and fishing trip shortly after she arrived. The water was sparkling, the fish jumping and Virginia's mouth even twitched, as she remembered what a smile felt like. Gramps cut sandwiches and Granny Kettlehouse poured everyone some sweet tea. All was well.



Just as the sun reached the middle of the sky, Gramps got a bite on his line – a big bite. The small row boat twisted around suddenly, followed by a thump, then a thud and all went overboard. Virginia was found a day later, hidden in the marshes along the riverbank. She was sitting quietly with the ducks, her mouth a taught, straight line, when they pulled her out. Oh how the trip had soured, Gramps got the hook and Granny the rod...

There was no where else for the wretch to go, no other family's household to curse. That is how fate, the cruel little clown, brought Virginia to the snaking corridors and cobweb covered doors of Mrs. Blathersby's mansion on the hill.

Now Virginia is furious her strange condition, that has managed to extinguish the Kettlehouse name from the earth, seems to have no power over those hateful little orphans who call her names and pull her hair. Alone in the world, save for her old stuffed dog, Sam, Virginia can be found in dark corners, silent and sulking. She has all but forgotten that twitching feeling at the corner of her mouth, what was it, again? Ah. Yes. A smile.