Bawdy Ballads

Tale Three: The Curse of Hunger

The cool crisp fall air felt like heaven as I walked out of the small bakery breathing in the night with a pleasurable sigh. “Straight to the customers and back again, little rat. Whatever you do, don’t eat any of the order,” Old Man Jenkins grunted, waving his cane at me in threat.

Yeah, yeah! I gave a nod to the man who had taken me in as an orphan and raised me to be the help in his shop. The only problem was he barely fed me a proper meal once a week if I was lucky and I felt near starved. The tantalizing scent of fresh baked breads and pressed jams was making me salivate. I walked the overgrown pathway to the customers as Old Man Jenkins instructed.

I walked for over a mile without any sign of a home and my stomach started to growl furiously with neglect. I slowed my feet glancing around the darkened woods. A fear that I might get caught with what I was about to do. I reached into the basket and withdrew a single slice of bread. Another glance around confirmed I was alone. I bit into the bread, moaning pleasurablely as the soft wheat melted along my tongue. I devoured the slice of bread ravenously.

“Such a naughty thing,” an old woman called, appearing on the path in front of me. I gasped, stumbling back in fear.

“Who, who are you? Where did you come from?” I stammered in shock.

“I am Auntie Yaga,” she said as she stared at me with cold gray eyes. “That is my order that you just ate from.”

My stomach plummeted, oh no! Auntie Yaga was a well-known crone capable of cursing those who crossed her with what she called blessings. All the villagers spoke of her in hushed whispers. I fell to my knees bowing to her apologetically as I set the basket between us. “I am so sorry Auntie Yaga,” I sniffed. “I was just so hungry. I work for the baker and he hasn’t fed me in a week. I truly meant no ill will towards you.”

“Well you are a polite young thing at the very least,” she sighed from behind me making my body stiffen. “Hunger is such a fickle thing, don’t you agree?”

I didn’t know what she meant, but I nodded in terror. “Yes Auntie Yaga.”

“I believe I shall place upon you a blessing. You seem to be a wise girl,” she said along my ear. I jolted upright looking into her soft wrinkled face beneath the cloaked hood. Her black hair was streaked with gray strands.

“Auntie Yaga I deserve no blessings from your greatness,” I insisted trying anything to prevent what I knew in my gut was inevitable.

She placed a single hand on my stomach and I felt an odd warm glow. “You are kind and this is merely my kindness to you,” she smirked. “May you be blessed to find what can sedate your greatest hunger and wise enough to find the solution that will make it yours.”

My stomach filled with such intense warmth but it didn’t hurt like I heard her curses did. I felt happy with the warmth moving through me and sorrowful as tears brimmed my eyes before spilling over. “Thank you Auntie Yaga,” I whimpered.

“You are most welcome, sweet girl,” she chuckled. “Eat your fill of the basket child, and leave to the bears the remainder.” I glanced up in confusion, but she was gone. Not wanting to waste her offer, I ate the bread eagerly. I opened jars and spread the jam filling my stomach to content before doing as she instructed. I placed the rest of the bread and opened jars of jam off to the side of the road for the bears to enjoy before walking back to Old Man Jenkins.

He scowled as I approached. “Did you see her?”

“Auntie Yaga?” I asked and he gave a fearful nod looking around in all directions. “Yes she was very kind.”

“Kind you say,” he snorted. “That woman is the devil incarnate here on earth. You must have done well with her delivery to say she’s kind. Good work. Rest up for tonight.”

I gave a nod moving to the small shack behind the bakery where I resided. I went inside, starting a fire to warm the living room before moving to the small wash basin to clean up. I lifted my tunic glancing down my torso to see the mark she left on me. It looked like a tilted bumblebee on my skin. I ran my finger over the raised image curiously. “Bumblebee huh?”

I lowered the tunic moving to the sofa where I slept most nights as it kept me the warmest. I laid down listening to the sounds of the fall wind with a soft smile. I never imagined the night turning out like this finally having a full stomach and what felt like a true blessing from Auntie Yaga. Maybe my life would turn around for the better.