Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“No Bible?”

“I’m here to learn more about you, your life and what you need. I want to find practical ways to help you and others like you. I don’t think the Bible is the way.” Caroline shrugged.

“Hmph. You want to know about my life?”

“Yes.”

“It’s hell.”

Caroline blinked.

“I service as many men as I can and I get as little coin as they are willing to part with,” Annette told her graphically.

“I see.” Caroline swallowed.

“Do you?”

Caroline nodded. “Well—“ she began.

“Something tells me you’ve never been with a man. And what’s more, you’ve probably never known a hard day in your life.” Annette began to move away from her.

“Wait! What does it matter what my life is like? What does it matter if I’ve never known hardship? I want to help you.” Caroline said quickly.

Annette turned back to her. “What’s your name?”

“Caroline. Caroline Derry.”

“I’m Annette Gardiner.”

“Can I buy you dinner? For you and your boy?” Caroline offered quickly to keep the woman talking.

“I don’t want charity.”

“It’s not charity. Please. It’s just dinner,” Caroline reasoned.

Together, the ragged woman in a torn skirt and blouse, walked beside the woman in a trim tweed suit toward the food vendors along the road. Caroline bought a penny pie for both of them and turned away from Annette as she gulped the pie down as if she hadn’t eaten in days. Caroline realized with a shiver that she probably had not.

“Here. I’m not very hungry.” She said giving Annette her own pie.

Annette smiled and took the pie from her, gulping it down as well. They saw the food vendor selling eel jelly and walked to him. The eels were chopped and boiled in fish stock with various herbs and spices and Annette savored the jelly.

Caroline returned to the penny pie seller and asked that two be wrapped up. She handed it to Annette and said, “For Dickie.”

She then went to one vendor who was selling oranges and bought several returning to the woman. “I want you to give it some thought. When I return next time, I want you to tell me how we can work together to help you out of here. I have some ideas, but I want to hear from you.”

“You’re a strange one,” Annette said eyeing Caroline.

“I’m not that strange. I just want to help. I want to make a change. For people. Is that so wrong?” Caroline asked.

“When you want nothing in return, yeah. It is.” Annette said.

“Oh, but I do want something in return.” Caroline confirmed.

“Hmph!” Annette said triumphantly. “I knew it! Out with it.”

“I want to help change the slums. I want to better people’s lives. That’s what I’ll get,” Caroline smiled. “People’s lives will be bettered.”

Annette shook her head taking the wrapped pies and oranges in her hand. “Yeah,” she nodded. “Strange.”