I Only Need Two More Miracles [Solo]

I had gone into the town square, a stop on my eternal journey in order to get some supplies. It had been bustling with people moving to-and-fro, on their ways to getting where they needed to go and buying what they needed to buy. The scent of fresh-baked bread wafted through the air and I inhaled the wonderful smell. I was drawn over to the bakery, in the window of which the baker was laying out frosted cookies. On my way past I had seen the butcher laying out meat strips to smoke over a fire. From the smell, I guessed it was hickory branches that he was burning. The few coins I had in my pocket clicked together as I grabbed them in my fist. I slid them between my fingers, trying to remind myself of how much I had, and that I couldn't overspend. (That would only lead to problems later.) The frosted cookies, a rare delicacy that few could afford on any kind of regularity, were something that I had to pass over, for all I wished I didn't have to. But I did, in order to be able to buy the bread, meat and fruits I would need for the next few days.

Having turned my back on the cookies I made my way through the many people, watching bemused as they clutched bags to them while rushing from store to store. I always enjoy how much time I have on my hands, now that I don't have a permanent job, or place of residence. Time is such a nice thing to have, it's what keeps me so relaxed, no due dates or meetings and no worries. (What was it that they said in that one kid's film? Hakuna Matata? Well, that's my life.) The smile flicked across my face at the thought, and also because of the smell that floated to greet me as I entered the butcher shop. The scent of hickory-smoked meat made my mouth water and I had to take a moment to just breathe in the wonderful smell. The butcher, a tall man with short-cropped brown hair, smiled at me in a friendly way. It was as though he knew the power of the smokey hickory scent, or he was just amused at how it affected me. Casting a side-long glance at the meat strips, I stepped up to the customer side of the counter. Placing the appropriate number of coins on the counter, I asked for ten strips of jerky.

With a smile, he nodded to me and swept the coins from the counter into his hand, counting as he did so. Then he flicked open the cash box and dumped them somewhat haphazardly inside. Amusement filled me as I saw that, and the butcher gave me a small grin when he saw I had been watching him. Then he went about getting me the jerky strips. Pulling out a brown paper bag, he shook it so it opened and grabbed a pair of barbecue tongs. Using the tongs, he picked up ten strips and placed them in the bag, then chose another five and placed them in the bag as well. Confused, I had only asked for ten right?, I continued to watch as he carried the bag over and handed it to me. He smiled at my confusion, seemingly amused. "I had some extras," he said, leaving that as his explanation. I didn't argue, free food is good, but it didn't feel right. Then again, it's not like I hadn't stolen a thing or two, and he had given it to me for free. (Not stealing, not technically.) So I merely said my thanks and took my prize and myself out of the shop.

Next stop was the fruit vender, with her selection of apples, berries and other fruits. I had to keep myself from taking one of the jerky strips and tearing into it right then and there. (I may have gotten extra, but I should save it.) Knowing me I'd end up eating all of it if I wasn't careful. Better not wet my appetite and cause me to end up with nothing for later. Turning my focus from the jerky, with some difficulty I might add, I began to survey the fruit in an attempt to distract myself as well as get more of the supplies I would need. I found three apples, a small carton of blueberries and a handful of strawberries to my liking. I went over to the vender and placed my goodies before her on a small wooden plank that was just big enough for the few things I had picked. She placed them carefully in a brown paper bag and watched as I dug out the money to pay for it and handed it to her. Then she picked out a banana and placed it in the bag as well. Here again, I was getting something for free that I had no reason to be getting. I was bemused and confused and a little scared I was being set up for something. But nothing happened, the vender just handed the bag to me, complete with the banana, with a smile and told me that the business had been slow so she wanted to have people enjoy the fruit before it spoiled. Still, I was a bit wary, but I said my thanks and took the bag, tucking it into the crook of my arm carefully.

Lastly, I had to buy bread from the bakery, the same place I had basically rubbed my nose on the glass at. (Yeah, that one.) Back to be tempted by those frosted cookies that looked oh-so-good but would be oh-so-bad for my budget. The two “gifts”, if you could call them that, from before had both set me on edge and put me in a good mood. This made me a bit unstable with my emotions, but the happiness overrode the wariness enough to make me all smiles as I pushed open the bakery door. Taking a deep breath of the fresh-baking smell that filled the little building, I meandered over to the counter, my eyes being always drawn back to those delicious-looking cookies. The baker, a kindly woman with red hair and a constant smile, asked me what I would like. Returning her smile with more genuine feeling than I normally portrayed, I asked for two loaves of bread, which would hopefully last me the week. I dropped what money I had left on the counter and counted it so I piled the total that she had given me in front of her. I had a couple coins left over, but those would go straight into my emergency funds. I always needed to have at least a bit in there, because living in the wilderness meant you never knew what could happen. I think I had something like fifty or one hundred bucks in there, but in an emergency I wouldn't know how much I would need. Besides, money is not exactly easy to come by. More than once I have had to stoop into that little pouch in order to be able to feed myself. (It was not something I overly enjoyed having to do, but it beat starving.)

The baker had gotten my bread loaves by the time I had stuffed my coins into their new lodging and straightened again. My third brown paper bag was what held the two loaves, and as I went to grab it and be on my way, the baker stopped me. By my hand she placed a small paper bag, and shook her head as I went to reach for my money. Slowly, I picked up the little bag and had a peek inside. There nestled about four cookies, the frosted ones I had drooled over in the window. I gave the baker a big smile, and my thanks. She just chuckled and turned to greet the next customer. I knew then she must have seen me in the window as I had stared down the cookies, and my smile only broadened at the idea of it. That was, until I saw the man who had just bought the bread being handed a little bag of cookies and I was knocked of my high horse as I realized that everyone was getting a little bag of cookies. A goofy, abashed smile spread over my face and I pushed open the door with my shoulder, doing my best to protect the bread and cookies from being crushed as I did so. Going over to a bench, I set my armful of food down so I could attempt to organize it. I rolled up the bag with the jerky in it and stuffed it into the bag of fruits, then did something similar with the cookies, though I made sure to be a bit more gentle with them. (Again, I had to fight the urge to have a snack.) Later, I scolded myself, I'll have lunch in a bit, and then I won't be so hungry anymore. I just have to get back to my pack and then I can have a peaceful picnic out in the woods. Like always.