Anne of Survivor

Chapitre Trois: Masks

"Helo, deary, ya lookin' for sum compny," the half-naked blond asked. She was not very clean, her makeup was enough to paint murals, and she smelled of rotten fish.

Anne covered her nose with her sleeve and tried not to lose her breakfast. Then realizing what she was doing wasn't at all polite, she put her sleeve down and did her best not to breathe in too deeply. "No, ma'am, but thank you for the offer," Anne really wasn't sure what to say to the lady. She just wanted her to go away.

"Yer quite a nice boy, ya are." The woman touched a dirty-gloved hand to Anne's cheek. "Is there anythin' I can help ya with?"

Anne really looked at the woman now. She had to be in her twenties. Her hair was curled but matted at the same time. She had big beautiful brown eyes and suddenly, for some strange reason, Anne had the urge to help her. "What is your name, miss?"

Anne's question clearly startled the lady, who began to back away. "Why?"

"Just wondering. You see, I am hoping one of these ships will offer me employment. I thought if I knew your name, I might be able to send money to you. Then you would no longer be forced to do this sort of work." Anne imagined herself walking up and down the dock selling her body to stay alive and again almost lost her breakfast.

"Go on. Ya won't send any money ta me," the woman ignored her with the wave of her hand.

To that, Anne merely reached into her pocket and pulled out one gold coin and one silver. Not many things in the market could be bought with a mere silver, but Anne believed the gold would help the lady get away from the dock long enough for her to send more. Anne opened her hand for the lady to see. The older woman's eyes grew to twice their normal size and yet again she backed away. "I'll give this to you under several conditions," Anne began. "You must agree to all the conditions if you desire the money." The woman looked at her suspiciously but no longer backed away. "First, you are going to have to tell me your name and your place of residence. Second, you must promise to stay away from the docks. Third, you must do as I tell you to do with the money I provide. Do you understand?" The woman nodded. "Well, then, what is your name?"

"Laveda, sir," she curtsied, and her language and tone changed. "I live in Swinfen's Bar up the road with my sister, Sophie. The address is 11 Rampart."

"Does your sister work the docks as well," Anne hated to think of saving two people when she barely had enough to save herself.

"No, sir. She doesn't much like me doin' it as it is. But I can't take care of her and me if we don't got any money. Ya see, sir, my sister is only eight and she can't walk because of a sickness she had when she was five. We ain't seen our parents in three years, and I don't rightly know if we ever will again." The lady seemed so tired then and so sad.

Anne couldn't imagine life if her parents had left her and still couldn't believe that she had left them. But to wake up one morning and find the people who are supposed to care for you, gone... that would be awful. "Laveda," Anne spoke trying to keep emotion from her voice, "I want you to take this money and use it to buy food and shelter. I do not want you coming to the docks, nor do I want you to wear all that paint on your face. You are to go home now, wash your hair, body, and clothes. Take care of your sister in the same manner. If anyone asks where you got the money, tell him or her you found it. Do not spend it like you're mad because I don't know when I will be able to send more. Along with the money I send, I will send lessons; you will read and learn all that I send. Do you know how to read?" Anne suddenly thought to ask. When the girl nodded, she continued. "Good. With any hope, eventually you will be able to obtain more respectable work. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir, but what do ya want in return," Laveda seemed weary.

"Nothing." Anne replied and then had an urge to question the young lady again. "Laveda, how old are you, and how much do you make walking the docks?"