Keepers of the Moon

Chapter 2. A new start (2)

The street was slippery with the melting snow, which had changed into a mushy brown mess. The wind was no longer blowing me away and the temperature was quite pleasant. A watery sun shone down onto the crowded street. Slivers of conversations were filling my ears. Most of the people were talking about the upcoming celebrations of the 250 year anniversary of Caledonia. Apparently the country was named Keltia before a union with the small state Breton gave the need for a new name. At least, this is what a vendor at a fish stall was telling me, his smirk was a little bit disconcerting though. The festivities seemed to be the event of the year, since people were raving about the celebrities that had been invited and about all the food that had been ordered. The feast would last about a week and there were plenty of local events for people to go to. There were pamphlets on every corner telling people where certain activities would be held and how to sign up for competitions. There would be a sailing contest and an egg throwing competition as well as plenty of entertainment like puppet masters and dance events. The feast would start next week and as I started paying more attention to the buzzing street I saw that many preparations had already started. Lights were strung up onto the facades and on a small square in the middle of town a stage was already assembled. Unsure about the prospect of the crowds that would be filling these streets in just a few days’ time, I quietly moved towards a stand where the tomatoes smelled amazing. I knew that people from all over the world would be flocking to this place and how would I ever remain focussed on my goal? How would I continue the search for my family and for whatever was haunting me? Yet somehow there was also this glee about being able to celebrate such an important turning point in the country of my birth.

‘What do you need, lassie?’ The big, red faced man behind the stall was looking at me from underneath his bushy eyebrows. I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts and showed him the last of my savings.

‘I need some good vegetables, doesn’t really matter what. This is what I’ve got, would that be enough?’ The man frowned a bit and counted the few coins I placed in his hand. For a second his eyes flashed towards the small bag tucked away in Abi’s chubby arms. I had managed to buy some fish and beef scrapings and bones, perfect for a nice stock. Along with some vegetables this would last us a couple of days.

‘Down on your luck eh?’ He looked at me with a deep frown in his forehead. Abi however stared intensely to the plumb tomatoes right in front of her. I was glad that she wanted to carry around the bag, her hands were full, less chance of her stealing something right under my nose.

‘I’m still looking for a job, we arrived here yesterday on the last of my savings.’ No need to hide the fact that I was broke.

He smiled a wry smile and started packing some greens into a paper bag. He put in way more than my money was worth and I wasn’t sure how to react to such kindness. I even got a little bit agitated because I would never be able to repay him. However before I could tell him off, a young man came standing next to me. His hair had a dark bronze colour and small freckles splattered on his cheeks. He was a little bit shorter than I was, yet he seemed to stand taller. He radiated confidence but his smile was kind.

‘Hey, Ben. How’s Sir Macintosh doing, not too stressed about the gala I hope?’ The red-faced man clearly knew the young man and kept on packing vegetables while making small talk to him.

‘Sir, please I won’t be able to pay for that.’ Both men suddenly stopped and looked at me. The man named Ben chuckled and shook his head.

‘Always the same with you. A pretty girl and you start giving away everything you own.’ The other scowled and threw an overripe tomato towards Ben’s head. He ducked away with ease and the tomato smashed on the street without making any casualties. Abi cheered: ‘another one, another one!’ This broke the silence and we all started laughing.

‘Ben my lad, I heard that you were still looking for more personnel at Gealaí. This lass happens to be looking for a job.’ The man gestured at me and I felt my face turn into the same shade as that smashed tomato. Unable to form any words I just looked at the young man. He had beautiful green eyes and rosy cheeks. His hair was tousled, yet seemed somehow styled. I put him somewhere in his mid-twenties.

‘Really? Well we could always use an extra set of hands. Do you have any experience from previous jobs?’ Was this a job interview? Was this really how you’d get a job? Abi seemed just as intrigued by our conversation, since her eyes were glued on the young man. He smiled at her and then stuck out his tongue. This sudden gesture of humanity brought back some of my usual grit.

‘Well to be honest… No I haven’t. I can read and write, other than that I have not much to offer you.’ Realising this didn’t sound very good, I added: ‘but I am a quick learner and a hard worker. I came here to make a new start and are willing to do anything to give Abi all the things I never had.’ It came out a little desperate and my voice was shaking slightly. This however was an opportunity that I’d needed to use in my advantage. Once I had a good perspective to start a life here, I could start unravelling my past and future.

‘That’s not a problem, we are mostly looking for cleaners and decorators. If you work hard we should be able to give you more certainty in the future. You know what, come by tomorrow at eight, then I’ll see what I can do for you.’ A smile formed around my lips and I couldn’t hide my joy.

‘Thank you so much, I don’t know how I can thank you. Both of you.’ I barely resisted the urge to give the young man a hug.

‘Pretty!’ Abi thrust both her arms around Ben’s legs and immobilised him on the spot. The bag of meat scraps was just left in the melting snow. He just burst out laughing and tried to wriggle out of her hands. I wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed or to laugh.

‘Your daughter I suppose?’ He was now squatting and prying at Abi’s hands. When this proved unsuccessful he tickled her in her sides. Now it was her time to laugh and she let go of Ben.

‘No, she’s not my daughter. She is the daughter of a late friend of mine. She was all alone and I kind of just adopted her.’ She was not. She was like me, just a lost soul out on the street. I was just giving to her what someone had been willing to give me too. A warm hug and a hand to hold. The woman who took care of me saved my life, this was me returning the favour.

‘Ah, I’m sorry for your loss.’ He was sincere and I felt guilty about lying. I really needed to get better at this part of my life, because no-one could ever know the truth.

‘It’s okay, we’ve been together for a very long time. We belong at each other’s side.’ He just nodded and then waved shortly to the man at the stall.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then.’ With those words he turned around and vanished into the crowd. As soon as he was out of sight I let out a shaky sigh. I did it. I really did it. I had a job, a real time consuming, money earning job. And then it hit me. I never asked where he was expecting me.

‘Oh no, where does he want to meet me?’ I said these words to myself and I was about to run after the copper-haired, friendly young man when the other started laughing.

‘You don’t know where he lives? He’s from that big, black castle under the Cuillin. Gaelaí castle.’ The look of horror on my face must’ve been hilarious because he burst out laughing so hard people on the street looked around startled.

‘I’m going to work in a castle?’ My voice squeaked. How would I ever be good enough to work in such a high end place? I was just a street girl. What if they screened me? What if they found out who I truly was?

‘Oi, you’ll be fine. Ben’s a fine young lad and there they’ll teach you everything you need to know. No worries.’ This did nothing to improve my nerves, but I nodded anyway. He wouldn’t understand my feelings. The kind man gave me a full bag of vegetables and gave Abi an apple to chew on for the way back.

‘Thank you so much, I don’t know how I could ever repay you.’

‘Just tell every-one you meet that the best produce comes from Bold Doherty!’ I laughed.

‘Your name is Bold?’

He looked at me incredulous. ‘No? It’s Doherty, though everybody calls me Bold Doherty. You know! From the song?’ His voice deepened to a serious bass when he started singing. Some people on the street were joining in. Soon every soul in the street was singing or humming along and long after we left the crowd I could still hear his voice.

‘Lady be quicker and pour me more liquor…!’