Journey of a Girl

A Proper Education: Chapter Eighteen

Credence spent the morning as Sally's shadow.

Running a tavern involved a tremendous amount of chores, and no one else had presented themselves as workers, leaving Sally as the lone overseer of everything. It became quickly apparent to Credence why the woman appeared a little scatter-brained, for her mind had to be in a dozen places at once. By the time they paused for a midday meal, Sally had finally learned Credence's name, having gotten it wrong several times since breakfast.

While slurping through a bowl of lukewarm broth, Credence asked the question that had been nagging her all morning.

"I don't mean to sound rude," she began carefully, "but I was told I would be assigned to a family. I don't see anyone else here—are they at your home?"

Sally shook her head before taking a long gulp from her cup of mead.

"This is my home. Eat and sleep here. I never leave, 'cause I never need to. Used to be a proper inn, but I didn't enjoy the hassle it brought when people took rest here. So I closed the rooms and made it just a tavern." Sally shrugged and drained the rest of her mead. "It's best this way. I don't have to trudge home in the late hours or leave my tavern unattended for thieves and such. I get to stay in the same spot all the time. It's perfect."

Credence wasn't sure she agreed but remained quiet.

Some people must enjoy staying put, she decided, while others, like herself, preferred to wander.

"Where's the rest of your family? Don't they help run the tavern?"

"There is no family."

"You run it alone?" 

Sally tilted her head to the side, considering the question.

"Huh. Guess I do. Never thought of it, really. Mum used to run it with my da, but they're both dead now. Da went first from a nasty fight. Took a long time for mum to fall though, so we had a few years together. Was some sickness took her, oh, I'd say four summers ago."

"You don't have any sisters or brothers?"

"Just me." Sally winked at Credence as she poured herself another cup of mead. "I'd say I got the hang of things well enough."

Credence frowned.

She's lost everyone, just like me.

"What about you, girl? You got parents?"

"My pa and ma died, too. And my brother."

"Brother?"

"Josiah. He was younger. But he...he..."

Credence's voice trailed off and Sally placed a hand on her shoulder.

"S'all right, love. I know the pain it brings. But listen here—" She leaned in close as if telling some great secret. "The way I think it, you can either sit in the mud with your losses, or you can stand up and keep walkin' the road of life. I was in the mud for a long time before I figured out how to stand back up. But dead people ain't to be cried over forever, are they?" She nudged Credence with her elbow. "No! It's a passing thing, like a cough, that hits you hard but eventually passes. Besides—" She drained her cup before continuing, "—I figure da and mum wouldn't want me in the lumps all the time, not when there's work to be done and life to be lived. Best thing I could do for them, best thanks I could give, is to move ahead and see my own seasons through."

If only Credence had given such words to Josiah when Pa died.

They did a world of good to lighten the burden in her heart, and they made complete sense. What use was it to carry such sorrow for the rest of her life? And the anger Credence had been holding for both her parents, what good did it do her? The Headmaster said atrocious things about them—but what good was his "truth" after he was revealed to be a monster?