Alice’s desperate night.
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The market was deserted at this time of night, silent, but for the squeaking of rats and the swish of the wings of the owl that hunted them. The stone floor was cold, and hard. Alice’s stomach growled, adding a new sound to the silence of the night. She was hungry.
Her master had emptied the few coins from the jar when he left. There weren’t many, times were hard, and the services of a slave girl, even one as willing and winsome as Alice, were a luxury few could afford. “Something to eat, master?” She had begged, as she realised that he was going to leave her there for the night. “I’ve had nothing solid all day, master, nothing except for a few mouthfuls of…”
He shook his head, sadly. He was not a cruel master. “My children are hungry. Business has been bad, and you have earned little today.” He showed her the few coins he had taken from the jar. “I will leave you here tonight. Perhaps some soldiers from the palace will come by, after the taverns close. They may want some relief, and might even have a coin or two to spare, if you do your duty with enthusiasm and diligence.”
There was a sigh of wings, a startled scream as talons gripped a careless rat! The owl would eat. Alice was jealous. She would happily eat a rat; she was so hungry. Somewhere, in the distance, she heard singing, revellers returning home. “Come this way! I’ll give you a good time!” Her voice echoed from the arches and domes of the market. The singing faded.
Alice stretched out on the cold floor. Times were hard, she was hungry. Perhaps, perhaps, tomorrow, someone would want her, someone would drop a few coins in the jar. Perhaps, tomorrow, she might have something solid to eat. Perhaps?”
Times were hard. Alice was hungry.
Image by Julie & Melissa