Elliot ran crying through the streets of New Rimston. He had lost another bag of veggies as he walked home from the canal market. He couldn’t remember if he had set it down someplace lost, or if the meanies had grabbed it again while he wasn’t looking. He couldn’t tell Mama again. She’d be so angry again. Then she would be sad. She would be both. Elliot had tried to be good this week and not cause problems since he had broken her favorite vase which had distracted her long enough that her loaves of bread in the oven had burnt. She had been so loud as she yelled about how he would be the reason they ate burnt bread that night because they would have nothing but smoke flavored things to sell all day.
Suddenly a Carriage driver yelled as Elliot crossed the road. Voices flew at Elliot, they shouted, reminded him that he still was in the way. He fled further. The street was crowded, people who had plans, who walked with a reason. People who would turn against him if he interrupted their day. He ran on, trying his best to be as small as possible, elbows tucked at his stomach, hands hiding his tear-streaked face. Even if he didn’t touch anyone he could hear them whispering.
“Mommy why is that big man crying.”
“What a waste of muscle.”
“How pathetic.”
Elliot couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted to hide. He shoved through a space in the crowd too narrow for his shoulders, knocking people aside as he moved off the street into an alley. He ran back out of sight along the weaving path until he couldn’t go farther. He curled up against a wall letting his vision blur as he wept louder. He sobbed, hiccups interrupting as his breath staggered and his nose ran. He hated hiccups. He held his breath, puffing out his cheeks trying to make them go away like Mee-maw had told him to do. His lips quivered letting his breath slip past in pressured pufts. The pause let him hear voices coming towards him.
“I think I saw him go this way, heh, big oaf might ‘av something good on him today.”
Elliot was scared. It was Shula and her friends. They were some of the worst meanies. They always took things from Elliot. If he didn’t have anything to hand them, they would pull off his shirt. His aunt wove the nicest shirts. She would always give him one for his birthday or during the harvest bounty festival, but she had also noticed that he had lost several. Mama had prolly told her. Today he was in a green shirt that he liked. A nice girl that had been selling potatoes told him it made his eyes shine. He didn’t want them to take it. He stood up and looked around. The only place to go was the door at the end of the alley that went into the building that didn’t match the others. Elliot didn’t care, he wanted away from Shula. He tried to open the door and it opened easily. He hurried inside and closed the door behind him. Inside there were candles everywhere. Mama had told him to never touch a candle, so he stood very still. If he moved he might bump something with a candle, which was most everything. He looked around. The building was nice. He wasn’t as scared of the inside as he thought he might be, even if there were candles everywhere. He looked over and saw that a man was waiting beside the door. The man was smiling.
“Name?” The man asked.
Elliot was not often asked his name. Most people didn’t care. Most people wanted to just know Mama’s name so they could take him back to her.
“I-I-Itttt’s E-Eh-Eh-lliot.” Elliot managed. His breath still hadn’t calmed yet, and the hiccups were threatening to start again. He wiped his face on his sleeve and snuffed his nose. He became nervous, eyes darting around the floor as he tried to think of if he had done a bad thing coming inside.
“I-I’m Sor-so-sorr-ee” He turned on his heel and fumbled at the latch on the door.
“Wait.” said the voice behind him.
Elliot paused. He sheepishly looked over his shoulder as best he could as his head lowered, his bulky frame stooping as he cowered. He wasn’t sure what to say or do, he just waited for the yelling.
The barkeep pointed at an A-frame sign that leaned against the wall, collapsed and waiting. It had a lot of words under a fancy title, and Elliot could only wonder what it said. He did see though that it had a big arrow for showing people which way to go.
“If you’re leaving again, could you take this sign out to the end of the alley for me? I’ll give you drink or food in return next time you come back.”
Elliot didn’t mind helping someone, and he was pretty sure that he wouldn’t mess up something like this. He was hungry too and didn’t want to go home yet. If Shula was gone it wouldn’t be a problem. He nodded quickly and picked up the sign. He slowly cracked the door open and peeked outside. He was pretty sure there wasn’t anyone outside. He looked back at the barkeep who hadn’t moved, just stood watching him smiling. Elliot liked him, not many people smiled this long around Elliot. He gave a light smile back and stepped through the door, the sign banging on the door as he hadn’t opened it far enough. After a bit of a struggle he and the sign were outside and he walked towards the busy street. Elliot held the sign ahead of him as if it would hide him should Shula suddenly appear in front of him. It was far too small to cover him, but it made him feel better. He came to the street and set the sign down. He looked at it, and turned it around so the arrow pointed back in the alley. He smiled wondering how many other people would go see the nice smiling man today.
“I knew I saw him back there! Look there he is!”
Elliot spun, nearly falling over, his shoe hitting the base of the sign tilting it from where he had set it so nicely. A small gang of youths stared at him with mischievous and ill-intended expressions. Chake had been the one to spot him, a short boy who often would grab and hang from Elliot’s hair forcing him to stoop down as the others would crowd around him to slap him or take things. Shula was there too. Her matted brown hair tied back in a ponytail today to keep away from her ever squinting eyes and teal skinned face. Elliot thought people were mean to her for being a half-orc, and she enjoyed beating up Elliot to feel better. It didn’t make Elliot feel better to think that, but he understood it a bit. He also understood that he needed to run. Hastily twisting the sign back to how he had it originally he dashed back into the alley without thinking. The smiling man might help him, or at least let him hide. He didn’t know why, but he had jumped back into the alley and not planned much further. His long legs got him to the door quickly and he flung the door open and crashed in a heap inside the door with an ungraceful slapping motion to shut the door.
“Name? Elliot. Welcome back. Do you wish to collect your favor?”
Elliot was breathing large huffing breaths from running. He could only nod which even still choked him. A few coughs later he stood and stepped away from the door, looking for somewhere to sit away from the door. He remembered at once of all the candles and pulled his hands up to his face, biting his thumbnail nervously. The man was in front of him now, motioning to the shelves.
“Drink? food? What would you like?”
Elliot checked the door to see if Chake had caught up yet. He shook his head gently.
“I- I- I’m kind-d-da hungry. C-c-can I eat i-in ah-n-n-nother room?” He glanced back to the smiling man. He was surprised to find a steaming bowl of soup had appeared beside his hand where he leaned on the counter. The man still smiled at Elliot even though Elliot knew he had been acting up. Elliot began to reach for the soup but stopped. He would spill it if he had to carry it. Especially with all the candles he would need to dodge. The door creaked as it opened behind him. Elliot could only hang his head. The chuckling voices were easy to recognize. Chake was commenting on “It makes sense the stupid idiot would pick someplace just as stupid and messy as he is.”
Elliot just stared at the soup as he listened to them, watching the ripples as a tear fell, upsetting the surface. He picked up the spoon beside the bowl and sat on the stool. He couldn’t face them crying again. It would only make it worse, and his new friend would see him crying too. He scooped up soup. It was perfectly warm, and tasted good. He was sad that Mama wouldn’t have veggies to make them soup tonight. He was sad that he had spent his day hiding. He was sad about so many things, and he couldn’t get away. Shula was still here. The veggies were still gone. All he had was a bit of soup.
There was a sudden gasp and stumble of steps. Elliot didn’t want to turn and look should someone see his tears but he couldn’t hear their curses.
“Names?” The smiling keeper asked.
“Buzz off spook, we’re just here to get…our friend.” Chake said to the chuckling of a few of the others.
Shula spoke next, her voice smooth. “We think he might be in trouble, and want to get him home….to his mama.” The last words she spoke sharply towards Elliot. She knew it bothered him when she mentioned Mama.
“If you have no business as customers I must ask you to leave. Elliot is currently taking a break from work and is not to be interrupted.” The man said, his voice becoming sharp and less welcoming. Elliot’s ears pounded. Did he say Elliot was working here? He had taken out a sign, maybe that was all he meant. Elliot probably just didn’t understand. He ate more soup, hoping to finish in case the man couldn’t convince Shula to leave him alone. It was good, and he enjoyed it. He waited, spoon after spoon as Chake argued with the man. Eventually, the door slammed shut and it was quiet. Elliot chanced a glance, to find the entrance empty.
He perked up and found the smiling man behind the counter again, smile unbothered by the troublesome street rats.
“Enjoyed the soup then?” he asked with the slightest tilt of his head.
“Yes, v-very much, th-th-ank you.” Elliot said giving the bowl a slight push toward the waiting barkeeper. His knuckles brushed a thick produce sack that now lay on the counter beside where he had been eating. Elliot studied it, finding it looked just like one he had lost this morning, though much fuller. The man gave a single nod.
“For further help beyond what asked I offer this as we have had no formal arrangement to your payment.”
Elliot looked inside the bag, carrots and potatoes threatened to spill out causing Elliot to jerk it shut by quickly leaning forward which pinned an escaping potato against the counter.
“B-b-but I d-didn’t do any th-thing.”
“You immediately led a group of potential customers to my door who can now go and spread word of my location. Quite a useful service. And if you will return again tomorrow I would like to further hire your willing efforts.”
“L-l-like I c-can work here? You w-want me t-to?”
“Yes.”
Elliot stared at him. He was happy, and wondered what he was misunderstanding. This man wanted him to come back? Come back to the candle filled room where the bullies had chased him into? And he could earn things? He stood quickly shaking his head with a big smile, the stool nearly falling over.
“Y-y-yes I’ll b-be here.”
The man nodded, his smile still steady, not shifting as some joke revealed, but sincere.
“Excellent, now collect your goods here and promise me you will walk straight home for today, ignore those trouble makers if you see them. Tomorrow you can return at the second toll past sunrise.”
Elliot hoisted the sack up, wrapping his arm around its full width and pinning its top shut with his chin.
“Yessir.”
Elliot turned towards the door which swung open as the barkeeper appeared at the pedestal again. Elliot nodded again, happy he didn’t need to try and open it, he might have dropped something. He thought he heard the man say something, but he was only smiling as Elliot looked at him as he passed. He hurried down the alley. Shula and Chake stood waiting at the street. Elliot took a deep breath and kept walking, ignoring them like the man had told him to do. Chake glanced up and looked up right at him.
“You hear somethin’ Shu?”
Shula smacked him on the back of the head.
“I told you not to call me that.”
Elliot hurried past while they bickered. It worked great, they didn’t even look at him again. He rushed home, excited to give Mama more veggies than she would expect. He wanted to get to bed and hurry back to his new friend. Mama would surely be happy to hear he had another job, one that he had even been asked to do. Elliot was smiling wide, a reflection of the smile the man had held all day. Maybe Elliot could be just as happy all day tomorrow.