3: Letter and Gift

It's been somewhere around a month since I've been staying with the Vince family. Right now I'm working as a cashier or clerk and also I'm cleaning so that I don't end up being a burden on the family. Before it was hard to communicate with the customers asking them what they wanted or telling them how much money they needed to pay. I did learn how to greet people, along with telling them the time of day such as good morning . So I learned quite fast. Whenever I went outside and swept I always greeted the next door neighbors. During the night Ms Cathleen would  teach me how to read and write my name, she also read me a storybook so that I can learn more faster before the age of 7; right now I'm 5 years old. Also I gained more knowledge and understanding on the world and city where I'm staying. It seems that I'm in a world of magic, demons, and beasts. Isn't that exciting? To have an adventure in this world and solve some of the many mysteries there are also to have companions. 

"Jack came here ''' Vince shouted inside the store, I was washing up our dishes and the counter table after we ate lunch. "I'm coming Grandpa!" I shouted back " after I'm done with the dishes'' I added. "Just leave it there for later, I need you to run an errand over to the next door house," he said. "Okay I'm coming right away", I responded; leaving the unfinished dishes and running outside the store. "Yes what is it Grandpa Vince" I asked. "Here a letter; give it to Ms Magda someone delivered it from security guards, from her son I guess" he scratched his head, with a worry on his face. I looked at the letter paper and there was a weird looking stamp. This being my first time seeing a letter; so I didn't know anything at all about the meaning of this letter, so instead I just nodded my head. Then I ran toward Ms Magda's house. She's been living there for a long time, that's what I heard from Grampa Vince. *KNOCK! KNOCK!* I knocked on the house. "Ms Magda are you home?" I shouted and asked.An answer echoed out from inside, "Yes I'm here, just a second". I stood outside waiting when suddenly there was a sound of cracking *KRIEK!*. I saw Ms Magda stepping out through the old creaky door. She looked more or less around the ages of 60 to 70 years. Her outfit was a long dress that fell all the way to her ankles and an apron. I guess she was cleaning her house. With a smile, "Hello Ms Magda" I greeted her. "Ohh hello dear Jacky boy" responded Mrs Magda. 

."So what brings you over to my house?" she asked wiping her hands off on her apron. "Ohh I got some letters for you," I responded and handed to her the letter "Grandpa Vince told me that it came from the security guard and for me to deliver the letter over to you" I added. Mrs Magda grabbed the letter, and suddenly her eyes started dripping tears that streamed down her cheeks. "Ohh no... no no this can't be happening.." she started crying "Are you okay Ms Magda?" I asked her in a worried tone. "I'm okay ma boy" she wiped her eyes and forcefully smiled at me. "Are you sure Mrs Magda..." I asked her again but then stopped, "If there's any way I can help you, I'll be glad to assist" I added. " Is okay ma boy and thank you for delivering this letter to me," she answered, with a face filled with mixed emotions of gladness and worriedness. She walked back into her house and suddenly she stopped turning around "Ohh also ma boy tell your grandpa Vince 'thank you..,and that's all ma boy. Bye" she closed the door. Before I could turn around I started hearing a sobbing sound coming from inside.

'Take it easy Mrs Magda and hopefully feel better soon" I wished for in my head. Now I know what is the meaning of that letter so I let it pass by and walked back to the store. "Grandpa Vince I delivered the letter to Mrs Magda" I told him, "Ohh I see" he said with worry. "Umm I guess that letter was bad news for her" I replied and also added "Oh by the way she also said 'Thank you'". He nodded and walked away and continued to do what he was doing. Then I went back to the kitchen to finish washing the dishes. After I finished with that, I went to my room and started reading a book and writing. 

This book was given to me by mommy Cathleen, she used to read this book when she was younger and preserved it even though it is old and has some ripped up edges; it can still be used. She also bought me a paper. I have only 5 books to read back and forth since books and paper are expensive and we're trying to save up our money. The capital money over here is 100 Coppers to 1 silver, 100 silvers to 1 gold. Also there is a sign on each of the pieces. For example, the copper has the sign of a rose, the silver a griffin with both of its wings spread open, and lastly the gold, with a Dragon and symbol of all a godly king.

After a while of reading and writing on the paper, I couldn't seem to get out of my mind the letter and was beginning to grow worried about Mrs Magda. She's old and alone also when I see her face full grief and tears in her eyes it saddens me. I stopped what I was doing and went downstairs, exiting the store. "Grandpa I'm going to Mrs Magda house, I'm worried about her" I told grandpa Vince. "Ohh I was thinking the same thing too since I'm worried about her," he said, also adding, " let's go visit her." I nodded in agreement. 

After we visited her, we talked to her for a while comforting her with the problem about her son. Also I got something from Mrs Magda but I don't know what it is. It was covered with cloth, wrapped around firmly and sealed with some rope. I thanked Mrs Magda for giving me something precious to her, even though we only knew each other for just a few months. I tried opening the object while me and grandpa Vince were returning to the store, suddenly grandpa Vince stopped me from continuing to open it, saying "Jack open it later when we get back to our store." He tapped my shoulder and smiled. I nodded my head agreeing to what he said. I felt like grandpa was giving me a warning so I looked around at the surrounding area. It's Just pretty normal though there was no danger plus there's also a guard walking around. If anything dangerous were happening here the guard would be the one to take action and protect the city people who are in danger, that's what I thought in my head. 

****

"It looks like this old man is not easy after all,  he can sense me from afar" firmly by an unknown man. He was hiding in a garbage alleyway. Suddenly a worker from the restaurant was carrying a garbage bag and he threw it right in front of the unknown man, turning back around. Without knowing he was in a dangerous situation. The unknown man attacked the worker right away with his dagger and sliced his neck. After that he dragged the worker in the alleyway and dumped his body in the dumpster changing his appearance to the man he killed. He walked back into the alley way as if nothing had happened, walking back inside the restaurant.

****

After we got back to the restaurant, I felt very excited to open it, like a kid who got a birthday or Christmas present.  So I asked grandpa Vince before I opened it, "Can I open it now?" He nodded, " You can open it now Jack and also let me see what is inside okay?" he said to which I nodded.