Snippets from Lives Entertwined

A First Meeting - #3

She clung tight to her grandfather's hand; the streets were always crowded and at seven years old the throngs of people still overwhelmed her. Grandpa had said that the year was getting into its colder months, so they had to go into the market today to buy food and things to keep the house warm.

As they wove through the crowds, Caera looked from stall to stall, fascinated by the new wares that travelers from overseas had to sell. Yet, despite the ever-changing focus of her attention, she remembered to hold on to her grandfather's hand as he had always told her.

Grandpa eventually stopped at one of the stalls, talking with a woman about some coats she was selling. They looked strange to Caera – not the style of anything she'd seen anyone in their town farther up from the port wearing. She must have come in on a boat from somewhere else. Soon, thought, Caera's attention was drawn from the coats to a man with a real pirate hat! He even had a sword hanging from his belt!

She dropped her grip on her grandfather's hand, the change of weight going unnoticed by the man, now engaged in bartering with the woman. She quickly weaved through the mass of people around the stalls, crouching through openings and dodging purchases hanging from hands. When she reached the street, her eyes once again found the pirate, and she ran until she'd caught up with him.

"Mister! Are you a real pirate?" She couldn't believe that she'd actually get to talk to a real pirate!

The pirate she'd addressed stopped walking to turn and face her, his companions coming to a stop behind him. All three had darker brown skin, signifying that they'd probably been born across the sea, perhaps from Ardel – grandpa had told her that's what the country to the east was called.

The man crouched down in front of her to appear closer to her height, a soft smile on his face. The soft, lilting accent of his home country was evident as he spoke to her softly, "That we are! In fact don't tell anyone one, but we've just come in with a chest full of treasure. But we don't want anyone to get jealous so you need to keep it a secret" he put a finger in front of his mouth, gesturing for her to keep this information to herself. Winking he added "you can do that right?"

Caera, whose eyes had widened at the mention of treasure (actual treasure!) nodded excitedly. "Of course!" Trying to stand up as straight as she could, Caera looked the man in the eyes and added "someday, I'm gonna be a real pirate! Like you!"

The men chuckled at seeing the young girl so serious, and the man kneeling in front of her stood up, adjusting his hat. It was worn, with a few tears and rips that revealed the action it'd seen over the years.

"We'll be waiting for you out in the seas. Until then, here" The man took off his hat, straightening it out and placing it on Caera's head, all three men smiling in amusement as it slipped over her eyes before she pushed it back up. "Why don't you take care of that for me?"

Caera's eyes widened a real pirate! Giving her his hat! "Really? Don't you need a hat?"

"A good pirate always has a spare on his ship." Sharing a look with his two companions he once again looked down at Caera, "Now, I'm sure whoever you're here with is wondering where you are. Why don't you go find them while we continue on?"

Doing her best attempt at a salute, Caera looks at the pirate and says "Yes captain!" once again causing the hat to fall over her face as the pirates continue on, waving goodbye.

By the time Caera moves the hat back out of her face, the pirates are gone, and she stands alone in the center of the street. Looking at the crowded market, she begins to panic, not seeing her grandfather anywhere. Weaving through crowds of people in an attempt to find the last place she saw her grandfather, Caera only succeeds in getting more lost. The crowds around her begin to feel as if they're closing in, robbing her of her breath. Almost hysterical at this point – crying and struggling for air – she pushes through the throngs of unseeing adults and into an alley between two houses, the ground, shielded from the sun, cold against her bare feet. She sat there crying and catching her breath as a dark skinned girl her age with wild curls drops from a ledge on the building in front of her, holding what appear to be leftovers of a meal, covered in cloth.

Her expression is guarded and closed as she takes in the sight of Caera, coming to stop directly in front of where Caera is sat against the wall. "You're not from the streets." Caera can only shake her head 'no', her sobs beginning to subside as takes in the sight of mysterious girl.

The girl still appears serious, but now determined. She grabs one of Caera's wrists and pulls her to a standing position before dropping it. No longer crying, Caera takes in the appearance of the slightly taller girl. She is wearing dirty clothing, resembling rags – what looks like a modified and dirty man's shirt, and pants that end above her ankles, too big for her but held on with a piece of cloth tied around her waist. Unlike Caera's own short dress, the girl's shirt has no sleeves.

"I'm Zoya. Where're you from?" She speaks matter-of-factly, and with purpose, still looking at Caera with her same guarded expression.

Composing herself, Caera answers shakily, "I'm Caera. My town is over the hill. Grandpa took me in the market today but I left to see the pirates and then I couldn't find him." At her last sentence, Caera's lip begins to wobble, remembering the situation she is in.

Seeing this, Zoya momentarily looks down at the bundle of cloth in her arms, uncovering the food and grabbing a small piece of bread. "Here." She thrusts her arm towards Caera, palm up, offering the bread.

Once Caera has taken the bread, Zoya recovers her food, and once again grabs Caera's wrist.

"I know where you can get help." Without another word she takes off, leading Caera by the wrist through the now shrinking crowds of people. The travel in silence, Caera staring at Zoya's back, as she leads them through the streets expertly, taking back-alleys and shortcuts until they finally arrive outside of a home, and Zoya stops. Dropping Caera's wrist, Zoya turns towards the door, illuminated by the now setting sun, and gestures towards the door.

"She'll help you find your grandpa." As Zoya turns to leave, Caera finally puts all the clues together – Zoya's entrance, her clothes, her knowledge of the streets – and makes a move toward her "Wait!" realizing that Zoya had given her a piece of her food – probably the only food she had – Caera tries to think of what to give her in return.

Not coming up with anything else, she removes a button from the front of the vest worn over her dress, "Here." She holds it out to Zoya, who stares at the button, uncomprehending. "For the help. You can sell it or something."

As Zoya moves forward to take the offered button, Caera quickly hugs her, "Thank you." Before stepping back, allowing Zoya to slip away.

*********

In the end, the woman inside the house ran the orphanage, and was able to help her locate her now frantic grandfather. Caera endured his scolding, telling her to never let go of his hand or wander off in the market again. But as they made their way back home, all Caera thought about was the girl who'd helped her home.