Desperate Times (Open)

Marody Cunningham
Today was supposed to be better than most days, atleast to begin with. It couldnt get much worst than the last day or especially the day before that. It wouldn't because she wouldn't let it, Marody promised herself today was going to be a good day and nothing could change that.
There would be nobody around to make her feel out of place or unwanted, she could be all Alone with her thoughts. Marody's mom and dad were going fishing for tomorrows dinner, leaving her home to prepare today's meal. Cooking was something she had wanted to try for awhile, her mom looked joyful enough throwing spices and food into a bowl but could it really be that fun she wonders.
A large recipe book sat in the corner of the closet underneath piles of dirty rags and dust, her parents like to go by memory. Looking through dozens of fish recipes she finds the only one that she has all the ingredients for to make, fish sandwhich very simple. Step one- chop up fish meat into tiny pieces, add mayonase, spices and a small drop of lemon juice.
She didn't really need the recipe it was so easy plus she had watched her mother make it so many times. The recipe didn't mention needing to do it but her mom had always toasted the bread in the oven before putting the fish on it so she heated up the oven and threw the bread in to cook. About 5 minutes later she took the bread out and it was half burnt. "Just my luck" she thought.
Steam rising on the bread is starting to fill the room up with its bad smell so she took the loaf of bread outside and brew it in the trash can. Fish sandwhiches without any bread? Was that possible? Marody looks through the cabinets anyway, looking for something else to use but cant find anything just when she hears the front door open and sees her parents walk in.
"Why are you back so early? You said you'd be gone for the day" she said.
"No luck with the fish, we werent getting anywhere sitting there with our bait. we'll have to go back again tomorrow to fish" her father said sitting down at the table. "So where are the fish sandwhiches?"
"I burnt the bread and threw it out"
"We can still eat it, no use wasting the entire roll, just go get it"
"Alright" marody said and went outside to the trash cans. After taking the top off and thoroughly inspecting the contents she found no bread, not even a crumb. As if bread rolls could grow legs and jump away, so who took it?
Just a distance away was a girl walking toward the lake with something in her arms. Marody had to squint her eyes but when the girl made w turn she could see the roll of bread in her arms. Poor girl having to take food from garbage cans, if she gave the bread back she could come over for fish sandwhiches. She followed her speedwalking as fast as she can and trying to remember which way she was going as to not get lost.when the girl stopped ht the like to go fishing Marody slowly approaached her
"Hi, I'm Marody, what's your name?"

Marody Cunningham

Rosa looked a bit startled when Marody talked to her, she wondered if she was probably creeped out that she had followed her this whole way. She didn't want to scare her, just ask for the bread back and invite her over for fish sandwhiches. Marody wasn't the kind of person who went around making friends with everyone but she was for common hospitality and Rosa did not deserve to have to eat from a trashcan.

"I'm sorry if I scared you, Rosa" Rosalina was such a pretty name she thought to herself with a smile." I just wanted to invite you over for fish sandwhiches and we seem to have run out of bread so I was wondering if you might share with us some of yours."hopefully she will share she thought or Melonies parents will have to go back to fishing today. Manners. "Unless of course you need it" she was being selfish, if this girl had to get her food from the trash she obviously needed it more than her . " but you could still come for fish if you'd like" gosh stop talking so much she told herself

Marody Cunningham

Rosa agreed to come over for fish sandwiches with the loaf of bread but she sounded so unsure about it. She reminded her of the fish in the pond that always swam away or around in panic when she came to feed them. As long as Marody didn't step on them or stick a hook and bait in the pond the fish always came back to swim with her. "I'm so glad" she said. Rosa looked her in the eyes and Marody smiled. "Rosalina is such a pretty name by the way" she wondered if she should mention how she doesn't deserve to have to take food from the trash but that would be like throwing a knife into the pond of fish and she might get too scared to come over for sandwiches after that.

"we won't eat the whole loaf, maybe just half. You can keep the other half I'm sure the rest of your family would like some bread."

Marody Cunningham

Rosalina sounded genuinely glad to come and eat with Marody and her family and she was sort of excited to have her coming. The only problem was that she figured Rosa didn't have much and she thought it might be rude to go flaunting her piles of food and welcoming parents in front of her. Then she felt guilty for thinking that, she was going to share and it might be enjoyable for her to come to a relaxing house or something, not that her house isnt nice. She obviously grew up into a sweet girl so her home life couldnt be That horrible. Maybe her parents were out looking through garbage cans too, that thought scared her. She wished she could give them the whole loaf but she couldnt.

It was strange that Marody made a friend like this so quickly, it felt like someone was tricking her. In a minute some one would jump out of a bush in a camoflauge suit and shout "AS IF, go make friends with another fish!!!" and spray her with water that wasnt exactly water. She should probably check all the bushes and make sure, didnt want that incident happening again.

Keeping a friend was even harder than making them, you have to say all the right things and be cool enough to hang out with them or they'll get mad at you and usually go against you. Rosalina wouldnt do that though, she was too nice. And even if she did go against her, Marody could never squirt her with smelly and unwaterlike water but her head would probably explode from pressure. "Hope your not allergic to fish"

Marody Cunningham

Rosa smiled for the first time since Marody met her and somehow it gave her a boost of confidence about them being friends. Dont screw this up, she thought to herself. Her parents would love her too she was sure. The walk back wouldnt take long so they would have a while to talk before it turned dark. She was anxious to get to know her better. "alrighty then" she said with a grin as they started walking back the way they came"so where abouts do you live, Rosa?" she asked. It had been on her mind since the moment she saw her taking the bread, she hadnt seen her aound the district but she doesnt really know many people. Maybe she had a new neighbor or something. If she lived far away she couldnt stay as long, she'd have to leave a bit earlier to make it home but if not she could come over as often as she liked. How fun that would be!

Marody Cunningham

She wasnt looking at Rosalina when she said it so Marody couldnt even guess how Rosa felt when she asnwered her question about where she lived. All she knew is that when Rosa answered her, she got a mild tingly feeling and the air around her stiffened. Living in a little brown shack with her mother didnt sound too pleasant and she didnt sound too pleased that it had to come out of her mouth either. For Marody's whole life she had never noticed a brown shack in the main square, too distracted by the people and her mother and father leading her along. She had never really noticed any other kids there at all, just adults and other buildings and bodies of water. Thinking back at it, a mental image mapping the main square she couldnt even spot where a small brown shack might be, exactly how small she wondered. Must be pretty small or hidden for her not to notice still.

The readiness to get to her own home with Rosa increased and she sped up the walking pace but not too much that Rosa couldnt keep up. small talk was what they needed she thought. She couldnt stand hearing anything more about how rough Rosalina's life is, she would end up crying in pity for her new friend and she didnt want to do that. If this much poverty is apearant in where they live and eat she didnt want to hear more about it. "So what kind of things do you like to do?" she asked her.