Song of a Glader

Chapter Five

I find my way to the Homestead for some breakfast, all the Gladers were awake now. Frypan smiled at me as I reached his serving counter.

"I'm sorry you had to sit through that, Gally's just... well..." Frypan trailed off.

"Mentally disturbed?" I asked if that was what he was searching for.

"Exactly!" Frypan snapped his finger. "The poor shank has been through a lot, we all have." He sighed as he put together a plate of eggs and bacon for me.

"Thank you, Frypan. For everything." I smiled at him as I gently took the plate he handed me.

He smiled and did a fake little bow that caused us both to laugh.

I decided to sit beneath a tree, the same one I ate supper under last night. The sun was just rising now. I heard a loud noise and watched as the giant Doors slowly slid open. There was a group of boys, the Runners, that stood by the Doors and as soon as they opened wide enough, they ran out. I watched them vanish in awe. I admired the Runners.

When I had finished devouring my food, I saw Newt walk up to me.

"Hello there, Greenie. Ready to find a job?" He asked.

I stood up. "Actually, yes, I am." I could use the work. It will take my mind off my family, the Runners are doing their best to get us all home.

I followed the boy through the Glade. He wore a leather strap that held a sharp machete around his dirty, white long sleeve shirt. He was still limping, but I didn't ask about it. Not yet.

"Welcome to the Blood House." Newt announced as we entered a large, stick structure. The place reeked of animal scent and I stared at all the pens full of chickens, cows, pigs, and many other animals. A black collie dog came running up to me. He put his front paws up on my stomach to greet me excitedly.

"Well hello there, Pal." I smiled at the sweet pup that enjoyed my strokes on his head.

"That's Bark. He's usually not this friendly with Greenie's. Dog person?" Newt said.

"Yeah. He reminds me of my furry friend back home." I held back tears as I scratched the mutt's bottom.

I think it would almost be better to have my memories wiped.

A boy in a blood-filled apron came up to us. It was Winston, keeper of the Slicers.

"I see Bark has takin' a liken' to ya." The smelly boy said with a smile. I smiled back.

"So, the Greenie's usually start work here, first. I'll come get you halfway through the day, take you to try out another job." Newt smiled at me, nodded at Winston, gave Bark a pat, and then left the building.

"Ready ta chop up some animals?" Winston asked grinning.

"Sure." I shrug. Winston's grin turns into a look of surprise. He probably didn't think a girl would be up for such a thing.

This girl is different.

I was about to tell the boy that I was raised on a farm and helped my father butcher turkeys, but I realized I had to keep my mouth shut. The only person I had told I still had my memories to was Alby and Newt. I didn't know if they told anyone else, but just in case they hadn't, I'd better 'shut my hole', like the Gladers say. I might get thrown into the Slammer if I don't, or maybe sent to a worse fate.

Winston led me to the back room where everything was covered in blood; tables, knives, towels, the floor.

"So, I sent someone to wrangle a turkey. Let's see how ya do with choppin' it up." Winston said.

I continued to surprise him when the turkey was brought in. I felt bad for the creature, always did, but we had to eat. I held the turkey's legs while Winston plopped him in a cone on the wall and slit his throat. When the thing was dead, I knew what to do without Winston even having to tell me. I boiled it in burning water, plucked all its feathers, chopped off the head and legs, and pulled all the guts out. I hung the thing up with the rest of the meat and cleaned up my station, disinfecting my hands.

"What's next?" I asked. Winston and all the other Slicers stood, staring at me.

I spent the rest of the morning shoveling cow 'klunk' and feeding the chickens. Bark hadn't left my side since I entered the Blood House and I enjoyed the pup's company.

I knew it was halfway through the day when Newt appeared at the door. He chatted quietly with Winston while I finished feeding the cows.

"Come on, Greenie." Newt called to me after a few minutes. I joined the boys at the door and thanked Winston right before we left.

"Maybe Gally was right." Newt said as we collected a couple sandwiches from Frypan.

"What do you mean? Right about what?" I asked. We sat under our usual tree.

"Maybe you are seducing us with your girly charm." Newt busted out laughing and I playfully pushed him over.

"Oh my goooosh!" I laughed.

A moment of silence.

"I lived on a farm. Helped my dad butcher turkeys." I told the boy beside me.

"Full of surprises, aren't ya?" Newt smiled.

"Oh you have no idea." I smiled back.

We finished our sandwiches and I began to follow Newt to another building.

"You will work as a Track-hoe the rest of the day." Newt explained as we reached the Gardens. Zart, the keeper, met us at the beginning of the fields.

"She's all yours, shank." Newt said. He smiled at me as he walked slowly away.

"Thanks for standing up for me this morning." I smile at him. He smiled back.

"Ya. Let's see how you do with weeding."

Zart led me to one of the fields and someone handed me a hoe.

"So with the hoe you just want to—" Zart began, but I knew what I was doing. Like I said, raised on a farm. I dug the thing lightly into the ground and quickly flicked up the weed, pulling all of the roots out with it.

"Do that." Zart finished in surprise.

I spent the rest of the day pulling out weeds in the hot sun. The outfit I wore wasn't exactly the coolest. I wore a pale, grey hoodie over a white t-shirt. My jeans were tight and a dark black. Boots covered my feet and my brown hair sticking against my neck from sweat. I pulled my hoodie off, tied it around my waist, and continued to work until Newt came back once again.

"This girl weeded a whole field in just half a day. This Greenie's got some skills." Zart told Newt, slapping me gently on the shoulder. I let him.