A Vision of Crows

Chapter 1 - Meg

Cling! Cling! Cling!

As the tram signaled its arrival, a hoard of people rushed towards the door, hoping to grab an empty seat after a long day. Men and women, all sweaty and tired after spending all day couped up in some factory, repeating the same routine day after day, each and every single one of them wanted a break, much to the driver's dismay.

At the front of the hoard stood a young woman by the name Margaret O'Keefe. Margaret, or Meg as her family and friends called her, had managed to arrive early. She was extremely tired from another unsuccessful day of job-hunting, and was more than happy to finally be heading home. It happened to be her twentieth birthday, the day on which she would finally be recognized as an "adult", giving her a feeling of joy, with a small hint of dread within her stomach.

Not that that seemed to matter, or at least, not at that particular moment. Upon the tram's arrival, the crowd began to move forward, a people began to frantically push against each other. Against the hands pushing, legs kicking, and arms shoving, Meg managed to find a seat to herself, escaping with only the slight pain of being hit in the nose by a stranger's elbow. She plopped herself in the seat, and quickly set herself to adjust the headband resting upon her raven-black hair and flatten out her clothes. As she rubbed her nose, someone slid into the seat right beside her. Mildly annoyed, she turned around to see a familiar face.

"Helloooo, Meg!" exclaimed Alice Hymain, in a sing-songy voice.

"Ah, Alice! There you are!" exclaimed Meg, before smiling warmly and wrapping her arms around Alice, who patted her back.

"Sooo, today's the day, huh?" Alice said, grinning.

"Yes, today's the day. I'm officially an adult now!"

"Uh huh, and what else?"

Meg frowned, mildly confused. "What, what else" she asked.

Alice shifted excitedly in her seat as she replied, "Well, you know, the thing! The family thing, you know, where you- "

She paused as soon as she saw Meg's face, which had darkened in expression upon hearing her words.

"Where your parents and mine cook up a whole feast, filled with all of your favorite foods!" she finished.

Meg's face lightened up as she laughed, "Oh yes, they'll stuff me up with food. But don't forget, they'll also stuff you up too!"

They giggled and chatted until the tram made its next stop. A couple of people got off the tram while a few old ladies boarded on. A couple of yards away stood a paperboy, dressed in brown trousers, a cream-colored shirt that looked old, and a worn cap was selling newspapers and such, calling out "Newspapers! Newspapers! Get your newspaper and catch up on the latest news! Only 3 Shils a paper!"

Meg glanced at the boy, feeling a bit pitiful towards him. He appeared to be pubescent, around 12 or 13, slightly younger than her own sister. She wasn't particularly fond of reading the news, nor did it often unless her father had brought one on his way from work, but she pulled some money from her bag.

"Excuse me!" she called out to the boy. "One, please."

"That'll be 3 Shils ma'am"

She dropped the Shils into the boy's outstretched hand.

The boy counted the money, and for a split second, his eyes widened before quickly stuffing the money into the pocket of his trousers.

"Here you go, ma'am" he said, handing her the paper, before rushing off to other people who also demanded a newspaper.

Alice raised her eyebrow at her before asking, "How much did you give that boy?"

"45 Shils, "Meg replied quickly. "Now hush and let me read."