Hypnos

Watch Where You Step

Marena Le Garcia was playing happily in last bits of slushy snow on that fateful February morning. It was February thirteenth of the year 1493. Her whole town was celebrating Christopher Columbus finding a route to India. The news had reached them by letter before he and his crew returned. The air was nippy outside, but it was slowly getting warmer in the town. (A/N I forgot which hemisphere Italy is in. Bear through it and assume it's the Northern Hemisphere.)

Marena had been trying to make people out of the squishy snow, but they kept falling apart. Even though she was only seven, she would laugh every time one of the people went splat against the ground. She had been doing this for an hour until Mama Garcia called her inside.

"Marena! Come in before thee freezes to death!"

"Mama! Look at my snowman! I made him especially to look like papa!"

"Davvero child, thy snowman looks nothing like thy papa. Sbrigati before I must call the apothecary!"

"Yes, mama," she replied meekly.

The Le Garcia's lived in Genoa, Italy. Her father was a cobbler, and they had seven children; six sons and one daughter. In order it would be Alonzo, Gaetono, Giovanni, Ottavio, Tobias, and Marena. All six sons excluding Tobias would be cobblers alongside their father. They agreed that Tobias could find another occupation if he desired. 

The Le Garcia's were very excited upon hearing that Christopher Columbus had found a way for Italy and many more countries to find an easier way to reach India. Mama and Papa would often speak of all the money their shop would get if they could possibly sell some shoes or something in India. Marena didn't really know what they were talking about, but she still thought it was nice to celebrate with all her town.

Mama had made some soup in a large cauldron as the whole family gathered around the table. She happily swayed from side to side as she filled their bowls with hot soup. It was delicious. Mama had bought meat for their soup this time. She hardly ever spent money for meat in anything. The only exception was on Christmas day. 

The whole family was chattering excitedly around the table. Marena wanted to tell everyone about her snowmen, but none of them were interested. Usually Tobias wouldn't mind listening to anything she wanted to say, but today he wanted to talk about his interest in becoming a merchant. The many benefits of traveling the world would be immense. Plus, the adventure would be worth everything. 

Marena was becoming very impatient with everyone trying to say something regarding India. There were other lovely things in life. Apparently, no one else thought about this. She was trying to tell everyone how beautiful it looks when the sun hit the snow at the right place, but no one was interested in what she had to say. She pouted as she finished up her soup.

Her papa had finally noticed how unhappy she was.

" Chi cosa Marena, what is it thee desires?"

"I wanted to say that I made snow people today. I even made one that looked like thee, papa!"

"Oh, Marena that is very nice. Has thee finished thy soup yet?"

"Yes, papa. It was delicious."

"Don't tell me, tell thy mama," he smiled down at her.

"I shall," Marena replied.

Upon telling her mama how excellent supper was, her mama told her to go outside in the town square. There would be firecrackers. Marena was excited as she rushed out the door. She had forgotten all about her coat and mittens. 

She ran all the way from her house to the town square. She laughed along with all the dancing, joking, and laughing people. She was stopped temporarily by the miller's wife.