Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down

O N E

'The answer is no.'

"But.." I fumbled around in my mind for words.

"I said no."
With that, I shut my mouth and with a scowl, turned tail and walked through the doors of the blacksmith shop, plopping down on a small wooden bench out front which faced the town square.

I can't believe I was denied yet another job. My reputation is really starting to hurt me. I mean, it's not like I did anything bad and that's why I can't find work; it's just who I am. Mother wants me to get an industrious job; something meant for a strong man, not a skinny weak boy like me. I don't think I'll get hired for any kind of job because everyone in this small village knows I'm not strong enough. Father got killed on a hunting trip by a bear over the winter trying to get food for us, so now we don't have anyone else who can support the family but me.

I let out a sigh as I saw my younger sister, Fawne, run throughout the town square barefoot in her long white dress, long brown hair blowing behind her in the warm summer breeze. Behind her ran her best friend Taika. They were both equally.....strange. Both disappearing for hours without a trace and then showing up again in the village acting like they were never gone. Weird.

I only wish I could I could be like Fawne, running around with my friends without a care in the world. I remember the times when I was like that too; playing games with my friends in the town square, but then I turned seventeen and father died and the whole world tipped upside down. Suddenly, I was thrown from average village kid to the head man of the Abney family, and even now, half a year after the incident, I still can't find work. The only thing keeping us with dry clothes, a roof over our heads, and bread on the table is mother working strange hours as a chef for the rich families of nearby Boston. It's not enough to keep us going for much longer. I'm really hoping I can get a job soon. I can't stand to see mother as stressed as she is now for any longer.

I reluctantly got up and began walking a steady pace back to our home. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow around the square as lamplighters walked around lighting the lamps in the town.

Soon, my house came into sight with smoke spinning in a gentle spiral up to the sky, the clothes on the clothesline gently fluttering in the breeze. I walked up to my mother who was hanging clothes up on the line. I bent down next to her to offer some assistance.

We worked in silence for the a few moments until the basket once with wet clothes became empty. My mother stood up, back cracking loudly in the process. The stress from working countless hours really took a toll on her.

"Did you get the job?" She asked, picking up the wicker basket. I shook my head.

"No."

"Have you tried to get a job as a farmer?"

"Yes. I wasn't even able to control the ox-driven plow. I was told to not come back after that."

"What about fishing ?"

"Yes. I couldn't throw the net out far enough; the people in charge sent me away."

She sighed.

"Well, anything else?"

I shook my head.

"I could always be a schoolteacher."

She closed her eyes and sighed as she hoisted the empty basket onto her shoulder.

"Brant. We've talked about this. I know you're smart; everyone in this village does too, but the people focus on agriculture here. Not many would like to learn, plus it doesn't pay enough. Maybe one day. Now go find Fawne. It's suppertime and she should've been home long ago."