Vows of Silence

Rain pattered on the slanted window of the storage room. A storm was brewing. Heavy, dark clouds loomed over my head as I watched raindrops race each other down the stained glass window. The glow of silver was the only source of light as lightening threatened to show itself. The ground rumbled like a stampeding herd of wild animals was coming my way. Unfortunatly for me, that was not the case. I rolled over and off the spare blanket I'd been sleeping on since I was a baby. It was tattered, beaten and patched together with a varying patches of rags that had once been discarded. I'd snuck them out of the trash and managed to steal a needle and a spool of thread. Any spare time I had was dedicated to adding scrap by scrap and then one day, I finally had created a type of franken-blanket. It was my favorite thing in the world. My only thing in the world. The digital clock flashed five thirty in bright bold red letters. I had over slept. Jumping off the floor, I ran to change into my work clothes. It was nothing special just a simple old black tshirt and pair of black pants with varying degrees of colorful stitching from loose threads I found while doing the laundry. I ran up the steps of the basement and into the kitchen. Rebecca had already started cooking the scrambled eggs and sausage. My stomach lurched at the smell of food. It had been four days since I last got to eat something and I was begining to feel the effects. The room was tilting on its axis but I did my best steady myself as I picked up the plates and the cutlery basket. ''You're late". Rebecca was quick to remind me and guilt ate away at me while I mumbled a light apology. She was nice to me. Sort of. The least I could do was my best and that included being on time. Setting down all the things I was carrying had left me winded. The ache in my arms spread into my back when I leaned over the serving cart to fix the ruffles hiding the extra serving spoons and napkins. If I got lucky, someone would leave behind some scrap of something on their plate and I'd be allowed to eat it. I wasn't allowed a proper serving of food. There was a 'don't feed the stray' rule in place when I arrived. When I was a kid people had more compassion and would throw a roll of bread and a few pieces of meat but now it was as if nobody saw me. It was a weird feeling between being invisable and also being visable enough that people know I exsist. I cleared the area for serving food buffet style and layed each lid infront the empty space where the metal tray of hot food would go. ''Hurry up! I can hear them getting ready!'' Rebecca yelled out to me just as I finished getting the area ready. I even made sure not to stain the white cloth they keep under the food. The kitchen was warm when I walked back inside. Steam was rising up from the eggs and filling the air. I'd never tried eggs before. No one ever seemed to throw them out and there was never any left in the tray or on any plate. The smell wafted up to my nose when I carried the hot pan to the dining room. There was a buttery tinge to somewhat of an off like smell. It almost smelled like the pups when they come back inside after a shifting lesson and they got caught in the rain. Maybe I'll never try eggs. I wonder why everyone likes them so much? I set the eggs in the place holder and only burned myself a little bit with the hot sides. I'd been burned so many times it barely hurt anymore. The sausges were next. wednesday's were normally a sausge or bacon with egg and toast kind of morning. I don't know why just that since the begining of time here, this is what was served for breakfast. The sausges smelled spicy. These weren't the kind that came in a bag from the freezer, these were handmade sausges made by the hunting department of the pack. Every year they went out of their way to hunt extra hogs and extra animals so they could blend them into this spicy sausage link. They were only taken out on special occasions throughout the year and something was clearly happening today because here I was setting them in the dining table buffet to keep warm. ''What's happening today?'' I questioned Rebecca while I set out the diffrernt typesof bread on the serving platters. I grabbed the muffins and laid those out as well. Thankfully, cereal had been the last thing anyone has been wanting to eat so I didn't have to hurry and refill the dispensers. Rebecca still hand't answered me. People's voices were beinging to clamor down the stairs as I rushed out with the bread and muffins. Rebecca nearly crashed into me as I turned around to go back into the kitchen. Thankfully, the jams and butter she was holding didn't spill. ''I'm sorry!'' The spreading knives landed in my hand as they slid to the side of the tray. ''Watch were you're going!'' She was mad at me. If she was mad at me, even if someone left a scrap of food she would just run it through the disposal. That things scared me with its wiring blades and loud sounds. ''I can finish that if you like.'' I reached my hand over to grab some of the things on her tray and she slapped my hand away. ''Go get the napkins. Make yourself useful!'' Napkins! how could I forget napkins! They're the first thing I bring out every morning. I laid everything out and went to hide in the kitchen. I was only allowed to come out if something was needed or there was an emergency. I was not to be looked at or speak to anybody. I stood around the kitchen for a but before I started washing the first set of dirty pans.