Gray light slipped through the cracks in the thin sheet Wendy had nailed down across her bedroom window. The noises of the street below had begun an hour earlier, but she had stayed in bed, listening to shopkeepers set up their wares and sweep their fronts steps, and the drunks being kicked out of the pubs to hobble home.
Her bed was warm and she didn’t want to get up, but she had something important to do today and she couldn’t put it off any longer. Even though she wanted to continue to hide under her covers, she had to get up and face the day. She pushed back the patched quilt and hurried to go to stoke the small fire in her room. Fortunately, there were still some embers burning and she added a few pieces of kindling.
“Gwendylon? Are you awake?” A raspy voice called from outside her door.
“Yes, Tim. I'm up!” She called as she began brushing the tangles from her long, curly auburn hair.
"Breakfast is ready, wake up your brother."
Wincing slightly as she tugged at a particularly stubborn knot she called out for her younger brother, "Michael! Wake up!" Then she rapped the brush against the wall.
The walls in the tenement building were thin and not insulated, so she knew he could hear her. A slight mumbling and rustling came from the room, but then silence. "I know you heard me, wake up or else!"
"Or else what?" a groggy voice snapped back.
"Or else I'll throw a bucket of water on you!"
"You wouldn't dare."
"Go ahead, call my bluff and see if I don't."
More grumbling was heard, then the sounds of a boy dragging himself about his room made her smile. She quickly braided her hair and tied it with a silk, blue ribbon, one of the only nice things left from her mother, and dressed in a white cotton button-up and thick navy, wool skirt. Her boots pinched a bit when she tugged them on over her stockings, but at least they didn't have any holes. There was no money for new ones. Michael comes first, she thought. All of her spare change was being saved for a big coat for him, he was growing so fast and the winter had been especially bitter.
Downstairs in the large common room, a few of the building tenants were up drinking tea and reading the morning paper. Wendy stoked the fire in the common room and added wood from the log rack, Old Tim must have refilled it earlier that morning.
Loud thumps reverberated through the room as someone stomped down the stairs. Michael rounded the corner, coming through the archway. "Good Morning lazy-bones," Wendy laughed at his sullen expression.
"I was having a wonderful dream of raisin buns and hot chocolate, and you ruined it." He grouched as he headed to Old Tim's rooms and kitchen at the back of the building. Wendy rolled her eyes and followed him. Oatmeal was bubbling in a large pot on the stove and a loaf of bread was warming in a pan next to it. Wendy served her brother a large portion, then herself a significantly smaller one. Michael dug in; she savored hers.
Old Tim stomped in a few minutes later and set a basket of eggs, a jar of preserves, and a glass bottle of milk on the table. "I traded one of yer fine scarves for these at the market, they should last us quite a while." He eyed Wendy's bowl, bushy eyebrow raised, then he scooped up another ladle full and dumped it into her bowl. Wendy tried to protest but he waved her off, "I already et, yer nothin but skin and bones you is."
Then he tromped off to make his everyday repairs to the building.
Wendy knew he was lying, but she cleaned her entire bowl.
"Whatcha doin today?" Michael asked once his mouth wasn't full of bread spread thick with preserves.
"What are you doing today?" Wendy enunciated as she cleared the table.
"That's what I said."
She chose not to argue with him, "I have some errands to run." Her stomach lurched a bit at the thought of them. She swallowed and turned away from Michael to place the plates in the cracked porcelain sink.
"Can I come with you?"
"No!" She hadn't meant to yell at him, but the anxiety had begun to creep into her throat. "No," she said again, softer this time. "Why don't you go visit mom? I'll give you five pence to buy some flowers at the little shop where dad used to get her bouquets."
At that, his quivering lip turned into a smile. "Okay! I'll see if they have yellow ones. Those were her favorites." He swiped the coins from her proffered palm, allowed her to wrap a scarf around his neck and button his too-small jacket before he raced out the door.
Wendy swallowed back her tears and finished cleaning the kitchen. She did so slowly and methodically. She knew she was wasting time. Gripping the edge of the table, she sighed.
"Those must be some heavy thoughts," Old Tim walked into the kitchen with his box of tools.
Wendy smiled, "Oh no, if my thoughts were any lighter I'd float right out the door."
Old Tim chuckled at there long time joke and sat down at the table, "I'm serious this time, Gwendylon. I'm worried. Yer too young for such heavy thoughts."
Wendy patted his shoulder, "Please don't worry about me, I'll be fine. We will be fine."
Old Tim stared at her–unconvinced.
She turned away from him, like she'd done with Michael, her face was an open book. "The rent is due next week. I think we'll be on time this month."
Old Tim snorted at that, "Unless Mr. Danglar decides to add some new tax or other nonsense like that. Stupid fool."
Wendy forced another smile and took her coat off the hook near the door. "Well, I'm off to the market. I'll be back later."
"But I already went to the market?"
Wendy hesitated for a moment, "I...I had a few orders for scarves and hats, so I need to get yarn."
"Oh, well that's good. Be back before dinner. It's not right for a girl your age to be wandering around at night." Old Tim soon lost himself in puttering with some mechanism he pulled from his wooden toolbox.
Wendy stared down at the grizzled old man with fondness. Then she stepped outside onto the cobblestone streets. The buildings on this side of town were dingy and graying.
Wendy pulled her jacket tightly around her and turned right. She forced one foot in front of the other. After two years, she knew the way by heart.
The way to The Rose and Crown Tavern.
ns 18.68.41.179da2
