Forgotten Wonders

Chapter 3: 5 Years Later...

"Hello sir, I'm Amber, I'm fourteen years old and looking for a job!" I said, the wind was blowing strongly and I was so scared when it pulled my hood off, he looked in shock at my hair,

"I'm sorry, It's too dangerous for you to work here," he shook his head, his hair was graying and he had bright red wings that were folded neatly across his back, his face full of sympathy for me, I didn't understand why, "You're a black cat, my bakery would lose sales faster than the fish run in the river" he said shaking his head, "I'm sorry, I wish I could but, you understand, don't you?" I looked at him,

"No, no I don't" his face showed sympathy,

"Of course you don't," he shook his head "Why do you want a job at fourteen anyway?"

"Oh," I stared at him, "My little brother and I have nobody to provide for us," he nodded curiously, "so I'm taking that spot for us," I added bitterly,
"I wish you could work here, but you'd have to clean up after everyone had left, or work in the kitchen, and both are still risky," I felt my ears flop and my tail sit flat,

"Oh, ok"i said as I tried not to cry, I pulled my hood on, "I never got your name, sir,"

"My name is Simon," he replied,

"Alright Mr Simon," I uttered, almost unable to speak for fear I'd burst out in tears, "goodbye now," I raced off before he could respond, I sprinted to the alley Jayden and I lived in, and broke into tears the second I was hidden. Around ten minutes later, Jayden came back with a watermelon, one of my favorites. "Wow, Jay, the lady at the fruit stand must be very kind to give you that." Jayden shifted his feet and avoided eye contact

"Yeah, something like that," he mumbled, I didn't give any suspicion to his response. As we ate the watermelon, which I had cut into pieces, we talked about things, where we were that day, what we did, then Jayden brought up the one thing I dreaded, "Did anyone you spoke to hire you?" I sighed and shook my head, but he wasn't looking at me so I had to speak,

"No, nobody did," as I spoke I held back tears, "One guy, Mr Simon, said he can't hire me because I'm black cat," I shook my head, "It makes no sense," I added with a frustrated sigh, Jayden looked at me and gave what I hoped was supposed to be a reassuring smile, even though it looked forced.