Sitting in the Rain | OPEN |

Food Market | 10am | Jan. 4

4:30am

Long strands of gold hair fell to the cold wood floor as Sanibelle rolled over in her bed. Amethyst eyes blinked in the darkness. She sat up and rubbed her eyes before lighting a few candles on her window sill to create more light in her small bed room. Her eyes glazed over to her small clock on the bedside table cluttered with books and scrap fabric. 4:30am huh? Well at least it isn’t 2am...Mom, Dad and Auntie are probably still asleep. The market will open in 30 minutes so waking up early today wasn’t a bad idea today after all. I do have to stop by Mrs. Ederson’s for her grocery list as well. Told me she’d post it on her front door. Sanibelle flopped down on her bed again and she stared at the ceiling. She could tell it’d be a cold day today making her not want to move, but she knew she needed to because today was one of the better days to attend the market. Alfred the fishmonger always got something new on Sundays that she never seen before. and the bread cart always had a discount for Sunday dinners.


Oh boy, I really should get up…

Sanibelle forced herself out of bed and quickly tip toed across the cold wood floor making sure not to wake her mother and father in the next room. She lit a candle and walked to the bathroom to freshen herself up. A boar hair brush ran through her long blond hair as she hummed a soft lullaby. Sanibelle brushed her teeth and splashed cold water on her face before braiding her long hair. She quietly creeped back to her room to dress. Seeing it was a wet and cold morning , Sanibelle wore a long brown wool skirt, tall black boots, a long sleeve green cotton shirt and grabbed a burgundy wool cloak lined with a thin layer of leather.

Pale hands grabbed a huge wicker basket lined with an old sheet and had a cover. Inside was the her family’s grocery list and some smaller baskets to prevent contamination. Pale lips blew out the candles and she left her room with a trail of swirled smoke.


5:15am

“I promise to get all of the groceries you need today, Mrs. Ederson.”

“Thank you Sanibelle! Be careful this morning … Heard a thunder storm is a comin’ sweety.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.” Sanibelle smiled and bowed before putting Mrs. Ederson’s list and small purse of coins into her basket. Sanibelle was quite surprised Mrs. Ederson was awake when she came to the house. Mrs. Ederson was an older, plumper woman who was known for her charity work. She had recently turned ill from visiting relatives. Hope she feels better. She looked absolutely horrid.

Sanibelle walked slowly through the thick fog on the muddy road to the early morning market. Horses and carriages rattled in the distance and loud voices of merchants trying to sell their wares. The young woman never questioned the reason as to why people wake up early to sell their wares. Well I guess for people like me..waking up earlier than the sun to get stuff. Like the merchants, Sanibelle had her reasons. She’s shopped in the markets enough to know that the best time to get supplies and food was in the early hours of the day. Also have the advantage of knowing everyone.

The Greenwood family did pretty much know everyone in the city due to their reputation of being a good business. There were times her family would come to the market in the afternoon of every third saturday for the big tri-weekly market. Soon enough after two hours, everything was pretty much gone. Her father was an amazing cobbler who worked fast but good quality. Her Aunt was a milliner and she would bring 50 hats and they too would be gone like the undershirts, under dresses, cloaks and small accessories that her mother and herself made.

9am

After finding all the fresh produce for her family and Mrs. Ederson, Sanibelle left out a soft sigh with a smile. She managed to get some good deals with extra change leftover. Well she also managed to exchange trade for trade as well which helped. Sanibelle was able to exchange to fix some of the clothes for Abel, his wife and children for some good lettuce, carrots and cabbage for both her and Mrs. Ederson.

On the way out of the market, she smiled and almost skipped down the road towards Mrs. Ederson’s home. She knocked on the door and Mr. Ederson answered the door. “Oh Hello Sanibelle! How was the market this morning?”

“It was good and busy as ever, Mr. Ederson,” she smiled. “Here’s the food plus some extra your wife asked for.” Pale hands put down her basket down and opened it up. She handed the older, thin man some sardines wrapped in paper, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, dried pork sausage, cheese, bread and a bottle of wine, and the extra change all in a smaller wicker basket.

“You’re such a sweet woman, Sanibelle. How you’re not married makes me worry… My wife and I thank you very much! I hope your parents are faring well?”

A small blush crossed her creme cheeks as Mr. Ederson mentioned marriage. It was something she thought about, but traveling outside of the city was something she came across her mind much more than finding a handsome man or pretty woman. “I’m still young for marriage, Mr.Ederson, but thank you for the concern, I’m always happy to help you and your wife, and I hope she feels better soon. My family is doing well and I will make sure to tell them that you say hello,” she replied softly closing and picking up her now lighter basket.

“Well I can respect that ideal of 20 being too young. But good luck with work and I hope to see you soon!”

“Good bye Mr. Ederson.” Sanibelle gave a small nod and headed back home.

The weather seemed to be quite nice, still cloudy and a bit foggy, but still nice. It was definitely warmer than the early morning when she left. When Sanibelle reached home, her aunt, mother and mother were up and at the table with some bread and butter and coffee. “Ah good morning, Sanibelle. How was the market?” her aunt asked still dressed in her night clothes.

“It was good Auntie! Got some good slab bacon and eggs if everyone isn’t full,” she smiled placing the basket on the wood counter near the fire pit. “I’m thinking of cooking some up anyway and sitting above the market.”

“You’re always so adventurous deary,” Alexander, her father said sipping the last bit of his coffee. “Be careful though dear...the weather seems a lil unsafe. Thunder storms and such.”

“Mrs. Ederson said the same thing.”

“Is she still ill?”

“Yes sadly… I hope she feels better soon.”

“Ahh...well I’ll have to stop by with mum and Auntie after eating. But if you’re going to sit in the market and people watch, you ought to hurry!” Alexander quickly cracked some eggs into their cast iron pan and added some bacon. The kitchen smelled like breakfast and made Sanibelle smile. She watched her father cook up her eggs and bacon and slide them onto a few slices of fresh bread. His rough hands tied the food in a muslin cloth and handed it to his daughter. “Come home right away or find the closest shelter that’s open if the weather gets bad!”

“I will daddy,” Sanibelle smiled kissing her father, mother and auntie on the cheek before running out the door again. Sanibelle was probably more excited to sit outside more than the next person, but she enjoyed the fresh air and sitting in the market and meeting new people.

When she was able to make it back the market, she hurried up a flight of stairs to her favourite spot. It lead to a small balcony roof overlooking the market. Her fingers untied the muslin cloth and dove into her eggs, bacon and bread. She ate slowly to enjoy the homemade and fresh flavors as her eyes gazed over the bustling market that was more busy than the morning. As she ate, she felt some drops of rain fall on her head. Amethyst eyes looked up as the rain began to slowly drizzle. Sanibelle shrugged and returned to eating. Rain never bothered her. She was always a fan of it and she enjoyed sitting outside when it rained and thundered even though it was against her family’s wishes.

She finished what she could and wrapped up the leftovers on the cloth. Her hand placed it in a small pocket and put her hood up. Sanibelle sat on the roof, feet dangling over the edge and hummed a soft tune as she sat in the rain and people watched.